Rhymes with Khmer

Traveling around Asia last year, I found myself at the mercy of record shop clerks more often than not: both a wonderful and terrifying experience. I'm barely a bilinguist of the latin-based variety, and thus incapable of even piercing the surface of a language like Khmer in any meaningful way. Sure, I mumbled through the pleasantries and proceeded to judge a few CDs by their covers upon entering a store, but just couldn't shake the sheer helplessness I felt... grabbing anything would be a total shot in the dark. Then I realized how ridiculous the situation really was: this person behind the counter knows all of the music in here, and I can't even read the bloody title. It only made sense to get their opinion, right? But, oh, how to ask the right questions.

In Siem Reap, Cambodia, I terrorized a few teenage girls working in a music store with my silly questions about old film stars, what's on the radio, what's underground, rock music, hip-hop, dance music, rap, and traditional tunes. They giggled at me nonstop as I tried to ask if this CD was better than that one, and made them repeat an artist's name about 30 times so I could at least get a phonetic spelling down. I scored tons of great old film tunes, and took home a CD full of MP3s that the clerks recommended, so that I could really know what the Cambodian kids were into. The cover of this mysterious MP3 CD is pictured in the top left, no other information was provided.

So what do the Khmer kids prefer? Apparently they dig schmaltzy love duets, gratuitous key changes and all (think Richard Marx and understated Mariah Carey) along with heroic and uplifting sentimental rock ballads. Bleh. C'mon, Cambodian teenagers must listen to something between this and clubby, overripe techno. Where's the edge?

And then I found these 5 gems (and a cover of Nelly's "Dilemma", but I'll spare you that one), which renewed my faith in the youth of Cambodia. No artist info, no track titles (aside from the obvious cover of "Final Countdown"), but you can look at the album cover above and try to match a picture to the music. My money's on the badass b-girl to the far left. The tunes are mostly bratty femme rap over dancey poppy hip-hop beats, quirky samples, and an occasional male vocal. Ladies of the Siem Reap record shop, I salute you.

MP3 downloads:  Kim Leakena & DJ Lux - Chang Sdap Bot Pleng Noe Neaq  |  Kim Leakena & DJ Lux - Chakralek DJ |  Kim Leakena -  Proh Anjaret  |  Kim Leakena - Chuep Neak Mien Vibak Snae  |  Pich Sophea - Final Countdown

UPDATE: Thanks to Jinja, Samphos, and Vuth for expertly identifying the artists/song titles!

If you happen to have any info about this artist or these songs, feel free to school me in the comments section.

More on Khmer hip-hop here.

Comments

[fatty jubbo]

jesus christ- that rapping is pretty damn stunning!

[Gabriel]

It's amazing what some exotic samples and a language we don't understand can add to music!!

[Steve PMX]

At the top of that picture, it says "MP3 for CD ROOM and MP3 PLAYER"

So legit it hurts!

[Nick]

The guy with the sunglasses in the middle is Preap Sovat. He's also the guy in the straw hat holding a flute. He plays mostly rock music, very popular. I don't know about the others. You could try here: http://www.khmer.org/menu/0,menu,20,36,0,0,0.htm

[Jinja]

Thanks to Samphos and Vuth in our office (http://tinyurl.com/ge379)
we have some names:

1. Chang sdap bot pleng noe neaq - (I) want to listen to pop music
- DJ Lux + Kim Leakena

2. Chakralek DJ - Poke the DJ
- DJ Lux + Kim Leakena

3. Proh anjaret - Boy (of poor character)
- Kim Leakena

4. Chuep neak mien vibak snae - Meet person with love problem
(in context of radio call-in show)
- Kim Leakena

5. (Final Countdown Cover) Unknown
- Pich Sophea

There's more Khmer Hip Hop out there if you care to look!
best
- Jinja
http://del.icio.us/slugdog/WFMU

[livejamie]

dude you have to post the cover

[sam]

the people on that cd cover are mostly artist of "Rasmey Hengmeas" thats is the number one record label in cambodia right now..

preap sovath is the guy with the flute..(a couple other also)
nop bayarith is the guy with his hand extended out
sapoun midada is the with the guitar
pich sophea is the chick next to sapoun midada (right side)
and the rest are minor artist on RHM's label..

if you want more khmer music... go to .. khmerdynasty.com

if you want to hear some really badass old school khmer music with lots of 60's and 70's american rock influence...

SIN SISAMOUTH ..he is the elvis of khmer music..
his music blows all the RHM artist away..

khmerdynasty.com has free downloads of khmer songs..

[Jeff]

By far the best Khmer music is the classic music from the 60s and 70s. Check out Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Sereysothea, Pan Ron, Meas Samon - there are so many.

[sophie]

Extreme Khmer Episode 11: Cambodian Microbrew what songs was featured in this episode

[cambodia]

nice blog here.

[Khmer]

We have a nice section on learning Khmer at Khmercity.