Photos: Bun Sa
20 Questions with Khmermoijivit
[Originally published in MILK Magazine, Mar/Apr '15]
Between just releasing his latest album Rhyme Motion and commencing filming for his upcoming music video, we stole five minutes and 20 questions from one of Cambodia’s most well-loved and widely successful hip hop artists, Khmer1Jivit.
1. Where, when and how did you first get into rapping?
Well, I’m originally from Cambodia but moved to the US at age 14. I began my music when I was 19 years old in high school. I started to get my own studio set up without any experience of making music at all. At that time all I wanted to do was write and record just to get stress outta my chest.
2. Did you always know you wanted to be a rapper? What did you dream you would become when you were a child?
No! As a child I don’t think I had a dream at all. I was like the rest of Cambodian villager youth – working day by day just try to survive and feed the family, you know? Maybe I can say my dream was making money and staying away from being hungry.
3. Who were your rap idols as a child?
As a child in Cambodia, I didn’t even know what rap was! When I was 15 or 16 years old in the US I found rap music pretty amazing. I think I listened to most rap artists in America – Z-Ro, Pimp C, Tupac, Bone Thug, Biggie, 50 Cent, etc.
4. Many young Khmer hip hop artists and rappers seem to struggle to find a balance between doing what they want to do (rapping) and appeasing the wishes of their family (e.g. getting good grades, becoming a professional, earning lots of money, etc.) Did your parents encourage you to follow your dream or did you have a similar struggle?
Yeah! I think I had a similar struggle. But for me, from the beginning I never considered making music a job or career. I would say this is my lifestyle. Even though it’s not my full-time job, I’m still not getting support from my parents or family to do it, but I also never let it interfere with my responsibilities in life. I don’t have to make myself choose between music and my daily life. Because I can choose both. It mean, if right now I am a lawyer, a doctor or a toilet cleaner, I’m still gonna make hip hop records because this what I like to do, and my music is about what my life goes through every day. So in life, no matter what I am, I need music.
5. What advice would you give to young rappers who want to become famous like you?
My advice to the next young generation who loves this kind of art would be: if you want to do something you have to be determined; do it by your heart and love towards the art, and choose the right way – not bias towards benefits and selling your wisdom at all. Because if we try our best to do it, we will be well-known, while money will come to us later.
6. What do you mostly rap about?
The songs I write mostly are about the reality in society, struggle in life and my personal view about my daily life.
7. Your album art and some of your lyrical content is considered by some to be quite political…would you agree?
No, the most important meaning of my songs are mostly about daily life and overall experiences of individual living in society. It aims to encourage people. If you listen to something about society and you think that it is just about politics, you are totally wrong.
8. Do you think that rap is powerful to send a message to the public? What message are you trying to send through your rap music and who do you want to hear that message the most?
Yeah, I think so. The songs I have written so far mostly focused on struggles of life, but full of positive theories, and end with encouraging words to audiences who support me.
9. What albums have you released to date?
I have released two albums so far. The first was in 2011, a 24-song mix-tape called The Break Through. The second Album in 2014 was called Rhyme Motion.
10. Which is your favourite of these albums and why?
Both albums are my favorite because every song I wrote and record. I do it from my heart, from my soul, and it’s my real passion – the music.
11. Your most recent album was released only a few months ago. Can you tell me about it and what inspired you to write it? What it is about?
The album I just released a few months ago is mostly about my personal opinion of society and life. The concept of writing is still based on real experience but it isn’t just hardcore rap, you know? There were some cool love songs, and fun songs too. I consider this album as mainstream material.
12. You have collaborated with lots of great Khmer artists, like Sreyleak and Bochan. What was it like to produce songs with them?
Oh, that was cool! I did a few classic collaborations with Sreyleak of KlapYaHandz and Bochan, an artist from the States. Those song are dope. I’m very proud that I’ve done it.
13. Who had the idea to record together?
I was introduced to Sreyleak and asked to collaborate by the producer in KlapYaHandz. Bochan…we reach out to each other. Sometimes I ask her to feature and sometimes she asks me. It depends on the track and how we feel about it.
14. Your song Saravan featuring Sreyleak became a big success. Did you expect it to be so popular?
That song is my favorite from the album. I spit my favorite verse on it. I don’t know if it became a hit in public in Cambodia or not but I would say this song is the dopest classic I ever did. I hope more people hear it.
15. How do you think the rap scene is generally viewed by the public in Cambodia? Do you think that people mostly look at it positively, or that it has a bit of a negative association with it, simply because rap is sometimes seen to be ‘bad’ or ‘dangerous’?
I think that rap should be recognised as Cambodian art. We are aware that art in this country is growing very slow due to lack of artists, lack of recognition towards artist’s talent, in particular lack of freedom of writing. Therefore, toward rap artists, some think it is bad and this depends on their personal views only. If they are open, listen a bit to the music, they may understand more about the meaning of rap which interprets the reality and aims to encourage changes of mindset of each individual.
16. Do you think the Khmer rap/hip hop scene is growing?
Yes! I notice that there a lot more young artists coming up, more artist starting to produce their own beats, write their own lyrics, create their own style. I see a lot of change in the Khmer music world right now and I’m very glad that I am part of it, being a game-changer.
17. Do you ever feel like some Khmer hip hop and rap artists are too heavily influenced by the American style of rapping? What’s your opinion on that?
I believe that every artist in the world, not just Khmer artists, have their own influence and inspiration. Every artist is inspiring each other. It means we learn from each other and try to create something new. That is how we grow in music.
18. Are there any young, particularly talented Khmer rappers believe might be good enough to as renowned as you one day?
Oh, there a lot them that I like. Rappers like Pon Ler, Khmer Tor Sue, and Serey from Tiny Toones. These young cats got some dope rhyme too. I really support and encourage artists who make music about knowledge, life and society. Because I think we need more music like that in Khmer society. It is very important to have it.
19. What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you since you started becoming a well-known artist?
Craziest thing? When kids come up to me and tell me how my songs have changed their life or make them feel strong when they listen to it. I never believe how much my music has had an impact on my listeners like that. It means a lot to me and it just motivates me to do more.
20. What are your life plans for the next year? Touring, performing, etc?
Hopefully, I get an opportunity to do that – touring and performing. But in the meantime, I just keep working, writing, and recording, depending on my daily life and how I feel. But just to let you know, Khmer1Jivit will never stop spitting real shit for Khmer people, whether he gets paid or not. Making real music is his only passion; he won’t back down and he won’t give up.
1. Where, when and how did you first get into rapping?
Well, I’m originally from Cambodia but moved to the US at age 14. I began my music when I was 19 years old in high school. I started to get my own studio set up without any experience of making music at all. At that time all I wanted to do was write and record just to get stress outta my chest.
2. Did you always know you wanted to be a rapper? What did you dream you would become when you were a child?
No! As a child I don’t think I had a dream at all. I was like the rest of Cambodian villager youth – working day by day just try to survive and feed the family, you know? Maybe I can say my dream was making money and staying away from being hungry.
3. Who were your rap idols as a child?
As a child in Cambodia, I didn’t even know what rap was! When I was 15 or 16 years old in the US I found rap music pretty amazing. I think I listened to most rap artists in America – Z-Ro, Pimp C, Tupac, Bone Thug, Biggie, 50 Cent, etc.
4. Many young Khmer hip hop artists and rappers seem to struggle to find a balance between doing what they want to do (rapping) and appeasing the wishes of their family (e.g. getting good grades, becoming a professional, earning lots of money, etc.) Did your parents encourage you to follow your dream or did you have a similar struggle?
Yeah! I think I had a similar struggle. But for me, from the beginning I never considered making music a job or career. I would say this is my lifestyle. Even though it’s not my full-time job, I’m still not getting support from my parents or family to do it, but I also never let it interfere with my responsibilities in life. I don’t have to make myself choose between music and my daily life. Because I can choose both. It mean, if right now I am a lawyer, a doctor or a toilet cleaner, I’m still gonna make hip hop records because this what I like to do, and my music is about what my life goes through every day. So in life, no matter what I am, I need music.
5. What advice would you give to young rappers who want to become famous like you?
My advice to the next young generation who loves this kind of art would be: if you want to do something you have to be determined; do it by your heart and love towards the art, and choose the right way – not bias towards benefits and selling your wisdom at all. Because if we try our best to do it, we will be well-known, while money will come to us later.
6. What do you mostly rap about?
The songs I write mostly are about the reality in society, struggle in life and my personal view about my daily life.
7. Your album art and some of your lyrical content is considered by some to be quite political…would you agree?
No, the most important meaning of my songs are mostly about daily life and overall experiences of individual living in society. It aims to encourage people. If you listen to something about society and you think that it is just about politics, you are totally wrong.
8. Do you think that rap is powerful to send a message to the public? What message are you trying to send through your rap music and who do you want to hear that message the most?
Yeah, I think so. The songs I have written so far mostly focused on struggles of life, but full of positive theories, and end with encouraging words to audiences who support me.
9. What albums have you released to date?
I have released two albums so far. The first was in 2011, a 24-song mix-tape called The Break Through. The second Album in 2014 was called Rhyme Motion.
10. Which is your favourite of these albums and why?
Both albums are my favorite because every song I wrote and record. I do it from my heart, from my soul, and it’s my real passion – the music.
11. Your most recent album was released only a few months ago. Can you tell me about it and what inspired you to write it? What it is about?
The album I just released a few months ago is mostly about my personal opinion of society and life. The concept of writing is still based on real experience but it isn’t just hardcore rap, you know? There were some cool love songs, and fun songs too. I consider this album as mainstream material.
12. You have collaborated with lots of great Khmer artists, like Sreyleak and Bochan. What was it like to produce songs with them?
Oh, that was cool! I did a few classic collaborations with Sreyleak of KlapYaHandz and Bochan, an artist from the States. Those song are dope. I’m very proud that I’ve done it.
13. Who had the idea to record together?
I was introduced to Sreyleak and asked to collaborate by the producer in KlapYaHandz. Bochan…we reach out to each other. Sometimes I ask her to feature and sometimes she asks me. It depends on the track and how we feel about it.
14. Your song Saravan featuring Sreyleak became a big success. Did you expect it to be so popular?
That song is my favorite from the album. I spit my favorite verse on it. I don’t know if it became a hit in public in Cambodia or not but I would say this song is the dopest classic I ever did. I hope more people hear it.
15. How do you think the rap scene is generally viewed by the public in Cambodia? Do you think that people mostly look at it positively, or that it has a bit of a negative association with it, simply because rap is sometimes seen to be ‘bad’ or ‘dangerous’?
I think that rap should be recognised as Cambodian art. We are aware that art in this country is growing very slow due to lack of artists, lack of recognition towards artist’s talent, in particular lack of freedom of writing. Therefore, toward rap artists, some think it is bad and this depends on their personal views only. If they are open, listen a bit to the music, they may understand more about the meaning of rap which interprets the reality and aims to encourage changes of mindset of each individual.
16. Do you think the Khmer rap/hip hop scene is growing?
Yes! I notice that there a lot more young artists coming up, more artist starting to produce their own beats, write their own lyrics, create their own style. I see a lot of change in the Khmer music world right now and I’m very glad that I am part of it, being a game-changer.
17. Do you ever feel like some Khmer hip hop and rap artists are too heavily influenced by the American style of rapping? What’s your opinion on that?
I believe that every artist in the world, not just Khmer artists, have their own influence and inspiration. Every artist is inspiring each other. It means we learn from each other and try to create something new. That is how we grow in music.
18. Are there any young, particularly talented Khmer rappers believe might be good enough to as renowned as you one day?
Oh, there a lot them that I like. Rappers like Pon Ler, Khmer Tor Sue, and Serey from Tiny Toones. These young cats got some dope rhyme too. I really support and encourage artists who make music about knowledge, life and society. Because I think we need more music like that in Khmer society. It is very important to have it.
19. What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you since you started becoming a well-known artist?
Craziest thing? When kids come up to me and tell me how my songs have changed their life or make them feel strong when they listen to it. I never believe how much my music has had an impact on my listeners like that. It means a lot to me and it just motivates me to do more.
20. What are your life plans for the next year? Touring, performing, etc?
Hopefully, I get an opportunity to do that – touring and performing. But in the meantime, I just keep working, writing, and recording, depending on my daily life and how I feel. But just to let you know, Khmer1Jivit will never stop spitting real shit for Khmer people, whether he gets paid or not. Making real music is his only passion; he won’t back down and he won’t give up.