The music genre, which originated in New York’s Bronx neighbourhood in the 1970s, has made an indelible mark on some of the region’s most talented artists.

Meet the next generation of Southeast Asian rappers that are making waves the world over.

Rich Brian

Rich Brian is a YouTube success story and more. It started with a curious boy looking for tips on solving the Rubik’s Cube, eventually leading to videos of Childish Gambino and Tyler, The Creator that influenced him to create music.

Brian has dabbled in video content since he was 11-years-old, but it wasn’t until “Dat $tick” was released in 2016 that millions worldwide caught wind of his gruff cadence and rhyming chops.

Since then, he has released two studio albums, Amen in 2018 and The Sailor the year after, both of which topped the Billboard Hip-Hop charts.

Earlier this year, Brian and labelmates NIKI and Warren Hue became the first Indonesian artists to perform at Coachella. He’s also one of the main acts of the Head in the Clouds festival by 88rising.

The Jakarta native, born Brian Imanuel Soewarno on 3 September 1999, currently shares a house in Los Angeles with a white cat named Lemon.

Suboi

Here’s what you need to know about Suboi, Vietnam’s undisputed queen of hip-hop. She raps deep and smooth, and Barack Obama has witnessed her talent live.

It happened during the former US president’s historic visit to Ho Chi Minh City in 2016. In a town hall with selected representatives of the country’s youth, Suboi broached the subject of arts and culture with an impromptu rap.

Hang Lam Trang Anh, born on 14 January 1990, adopted Suboi as her stage name during the early days when she fronted a nu metal cover band. She then found a bigger passion for hip-hop.

Her first two albums showcased an introspective look at growing up in Vietnam, drawing from her personal life, relationships and the perils of social pressure.

In November this year, Suboi launched her latest album NO-NE, together with an immersive visual and sound exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. 

Yung Raja

Rajid Ahamed, known as Yung Raja, is a musical gem and a riot. It’s just what happens when rap meets Tamil.

In his songs, the 27-year-old of Tamil Muslim descent spits hilariously precise anecdotes of life in multicultural Singapore. This is much to the delight of regional hip-hop fans and also Jimmy Fallon, who took a dig at the rapper’s song “Mami” on his show.

All is Gucci though, as Raja was positively amused by that callout, and was even happier to lend his eclectic Tamil rap to the Snoop Dogg track “Qualified”.

He also slays fashion, looking just as natural in luxury streetwear – gracing the covers of Esquire Singapore and Men’s Folio – as he does donning a sari in his colourful music videos.

In 2022, the Def Jam Southeast Asia artist embarked on a five-city tour of India, performing his top singles like “The Dance Song” and “Mustafa”.

VannDa

Sartorially speaking, Sihanoukville-born rapper VannDa, with his face tattoos, crew cut hairstyle, wife beater and wide jeans, looks more pop punk than hip-hop.

The music, however, reveals otherwise. The lanky 26-year-old raps in Khmer and English with a fluid and steady delivery that makes full use of his trademark baritone and magnetic finish.

VannDa’s career-making banger “Time to Rise” was a fetching collab with Kong Nay, a legendary chapey dang veng (traditional two-string long-necked guitar) master.

The music video, shot at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, has amassed over 100 million YouTube views since its 2021 release.

His sophomore album Skull 2 (Season 1), a product of a two-week hideaway in seaside Kep, released in March this year, was followed by a nationwide tour and full house showcase in Singapore.

MILLI

She’s petite with rollicking vocals. MILLI may be aegyo, but she has no problem commanding the room with her steadfast rhyming and boisterous stage presence.

MILLI’s claim to fame was “Mango Sticky Rice”, a cheeky number that became viral after she brought the eponymous Thai dessert on stage during her Coachella 2022 performance.

The same year, just three days before she turned 20 on 13 November, she released her debut album Babb Bum Bum.

MILLI, or Danupha Khanatheeraku as she is officially known, is currently pursuing music entrepreneurship studies at Assumption University of Thailand in Bangkok.

Her first big break was on season two of local reality show The Rapper. The self-professed BTS Army cites Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj as her major inspirations.

According to airasia.com