In case you're unaware, the hip-hop scene in Thailand is blowing up right now. Underground talents are getting unprecedented exposure on mainstream TV reality shows The Rapper and Show Me The Money. All of this crazy hype can (and should) be credited to the Bangkok-based online community Rap Is Now, which has played an integral part in the re-emergence of the local hip-hop scene. Their infamous "battles", now in their fourth season, have bestowed upon us talents like UrboyTJ, Youngohm and Twopee Southside -- all of whom are currently basking in the glow of mainstream success.
Among the country's latest crop of up-and-coming rappers is Ben Bizzy, one of the first three artists to be released on YUPP!, the freshly minted record label specialised in home-grown rap and hip-hop. Hailing from Khon Kaen, Ben started out as a SoundCloud artist before becoming part of the hip-hop collective 93 Flow. A handful of singles and collaborations later, he's now ready for a proper debut, Moodzus EP. 1.
Clocking in at just 12 minutes, the four-track EP is a concise introduction to the young artist. Inw kicks things off in a big way, setting the tone of the collection with mid-tempo trap beats while highlighting his melodic flair. The song, occasionally punctuated by random Future-esque yaps and squeaks, details his rag-to-riches hustle from "turning rap into a job" to having "too many 0s in the bank account".
The ultra-chill Bok Tee [Tell Me] sees him linking up with fellow Khon Kaen rapper FIIXD, making it the most accessible and radio-friendly number of the four. The mood then shifts on the following track, Cigarette, a sensual slow jam that reveals a softer, more romantic side he's never shown before. Closer Jesus Blesses goes the hardest here, as he masterfully deploys furious bars over spaced-out synths, trap beats and auto-tuned effects. This is a kind of artistic versatility we'd like to see him exploring more in the future.
The verdict: On the short but solid Moodzus EP. 1, Ben Bizzy proves he's the first Thai rapper with enough grit and swagger to pull off a melodic style. Listen to this: Inw, Bok Tee, Cigarette
THE PLAYLIST
Waxahatchee / Chapel Of Pines
Chanun Poomsawai
American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield has been making music under the alias Waxahatchee since 2010. A purveyor of lo-fi acoustic soundscapes, Crutchfield has crafted a sizeable niche audience for herself, thanks to a solid discography of four studio full-lengths (American Weekend, Cerulean Salt, Ivy Tripp, and last year’s Out In The Storm). Her latest offering arrives in the form of a six-track EP entitled Great Thunder and contains tracks originally recorded in 2012 for her eponymous side project with Swearin’ bassist Keith Spencer. The lead cut, Chapel Of Pines, paints a stark contrast to her last outing as she gravitates towards the stripped-down production rooted in folk and country. “Mississippi, I’m alone in the alley/ What am I supposed to be fighting for?” she croons, her voice warm and tender. “If you build yourself up tall you can tell me what the future holds/ Will you settle where you stand or keep it to yourself?” Thanks, Waxahatchee, for reminding us that sometimes a truly great song doesn’t need all the bells and whistles.
Interpol / If You Really Love Nothing
If You Really Love Nothing is the third cut from Interpol’s new LP Marauder. A follow-up to The Rover and Number 10, the song finds Paul Banks and company building forward momentum from the get-go, highlighting the interplay of garage-rock guitars and drums the group is known and loved for. “If you really love nothing/ On what future do we build illusions?” Banks muses in the opening verse in his trademark baritone. “If you really love nothing/ Do we wait in silent glory?/ If you really love nothing/ What part of betrayal do you wish to deny?” In the rest of the song, he compares finding his home to “the next artery” and how he “bled [his] whole life” in the process. Classic Interpol.
Pyra / Regret Me
For her first few singles, along with her 2016 debut Stray EP, Pyra seemed a little lost in her musical influences — influences that could be traced back to avant-R&B artists like FKA twigs and Grimes. Her new English-language single Regret Me, however, is a whole new ball game. The up-and-coming Thai artist has finally realised her artistic vision, giving us a sensual R&B jam complete with an on-point vocal delivery. The songwriting, too, has improved immensely. If she keeps this up, we’re potentially looking at one of the most innovative artists to have emerged from the local music scene.
Jamie Cullum / The Man
(From King Of Thieves)
Never one to shy away from doing covers (dude’s entire career is basically built on it), UK pianist and singer/songwriter Jamie Cullum has gifted us with yet another cover as part of the soundtrack for forthcoming British crime film King Of Thieves. Here, Cullum has chosen to give his own spin to The Man, the funk rock lead single off The Killers’ fifth studio album, 2017’s Wonderful Wonderful. And, as per tradition, he’s bringing to the party a pocketful of jazzy swagger, turning the hypermasculine original into a smoother, more suave affair. “I got gas in the tank/ I got money in the bank/ I got news for you baby, you’re looking at the man,” he sings over piano keys and horns.
Macy Gray / White Man
On paper, Macy Gray describes her latest cut, White Man, as “a reflective critique of the state of race relations and gender equality in contemporary America", which sounds a little sombre compared to how the actual track pans out. Against the backdrop of rousing gospel melodies and syncopated beats, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter takes no prisoners in her agenda, singing: “Hey white man … I’m just a lady but I think like a man/ You hating me and I don’t understand … You come for me, let me make it clear/ I’ll whip your oooooooooooooh.” Vital and tongue-in-cheek, White Man appears on her recently released 10th LP, Ruby.
