In 2000, Khmer American rapper praCh (Prach Ly) distributed copies of his album Dalama… The End’n is Just the Beginnin’ at a Cambodian New Year party in Long Beach (CA). The album made its way to Phnom Penh, received extensive airplay, and became number one in Cambodia — all unbeknownst to the artist. With lyrics in Khmer and English, and a focus on Killing Fields era legacies, Ly’s Dalama was not only credited with introducing hip hop to Cambodia; it introduced this history to a new generation largely unaware of its genocidal past.
Ly’s particular hip hop journey from the Killing Fields to Long Beach and back again will serve as the basis for a blended performance/lecture.
Please note that due to the nature of the performance, this is a standing room only event. Seating will not be provided. We appreciate your understanding.
The previous night on April 9, Asia Society will screen The Missing Picture, a haunting and unconventional recounting of Pol Pot’s eradication of millions in Cambodia.
About praCh
Named by Newsweek as the “pioneer of Khmer Rap” and the “first Cambodian rap star,” Prach Ly first received international acclaim with his debut hip hop album, Dalama….The End’n is Just the Beginnin’. He has since emerged as a multimedia force, releasing two Dalama sequels. Ly is the CEO of Mujestic Records, has provided scores for feature films, and coordinated and co-organized the first-ever Cambodian American Film Festival. He and his work have been featured in a number of international media outlets. Born in the farmlands of Cambodia but raised on the mean streets of America, Ly is a committed transnational activist.
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