History Malaysian hip hop




1 history

1.1 beginnings: 1989 – 1994
1.2 phase: 1994 – 1997
1.3 on verge of explosion: 1997–1999
1.4 on verge of explosion: 1997 – 1999
1.5 whutthadilly yo?: 1998-2000





history

the malaysian hip hop scene started in 1990s rap groups such kru, 4u2c, nico, naughtius maximus, so-called rap music wasn t accepted mainstream community , had change more pop-ish sound.at around same time, group called krash kozz group introduce new jack swing hip hop sound malaysian listeners, disbanded after third album. , in 1991, hqa released baguvix, lit.


those trying times, when pioneers of local hip hop scene trying hard break monotony of rock music, love ballads , pop sounds, staples in malaysian music scene, fans of these genres refusing accept new form of music. however, younger generation, in urban areas, more curious , receptive; more positively in-tuned receive new culture creating waves across globe, further expedited , cemented introduction of records american hip hop artists n.w.a, brand nubian, gang starr, cypress hill , many others.


the malaysian music scene dominated these poppy-sounding groups until 1995-1996, when poetic ammo, composed of yogi b, point blanc, c. loco & land slyde, came out classic album s nice day alive. first hit, changes revolutionized local music industry. there groups underground scene have established such naughtius maximus , rebel scum, poetic ammo made big . eventually, group split up, each member pursuing solo directions , found success in own right.


one of powerhouses of hip hop in malaysia phat, consists of malique , joe flizzow. signed emi international s positive tone division , produced first hit album, whutadilly , first single phat baby .


the beginnings: 1989 – 1994

our earliest recollection of hip-hop music in popular culture can trace movies breakin’, breakin’ ii: electric boogaloo , beatstreet. of came out in 1984. these movies may not have had impact musically, did spawn generation of breakdancers. heck, biggest local movie of 1984, azura, starring jamal abdillah , fauziah ahmad daud, had breakdancing scene in it!


as musically, hip-hop unknown many until 1989 when group of 4 people – najee, jakeman (yup, same man behind hitz.fm malaysian english top 10), dj gabriel , vocalist called suresh – released mixtape under moniker krash kozz. man behind whole thing joe siva, main person behind valentine sound production (vsp), 1 of hotbeds local fringe acts , releases.


the mixtape, pump up, hit in booming club scene @ time more 10,000 copies sold. certified billboard magazine first hip-hop album recorded malaysian artiste! new line-up – najee, noramin , joe siva- group released self-titled four-song ep in 1992.


in same year, siva hooked mohd firhad amat , friendship led musical change krash kozz. firhad, way, man responsible introducing new jack swing (njs) malaysian public. initiated launch of njs – yup, party introduced music style – held @ baze (the premier r&b/hip-hop club then) in november 1992. in december 23 of year, , siva had phone conversation teddy riley, njs godfather, told them spread njs craze in country. well, riley’s wish granted krash kozz third album, new jack streetbeat, released in april 1993, became big hit.


recorded new line-up of najee, fawzi , albert, 10-song album collection of njs tunes fused elements of jazz, gospel, r&b, classical rap , pop. songs english version of fiona (originally recorded 1 of first local pop-rap groups 4u2c), group’s interpretation of berhati-hati di jalanraya, pada kasih cinta berbunga , give you’ve got powered album national success. made njs hottest thing then. got big “king of njs”, bobby brown, flew country sold-out concert @ putra world trade centre’s merdeka hall on may 3, 1993.


on may 15, first-ever malaysian hip-hop gig, konsert rap kuala lumpur took place @ life centre in jalan sultan ismail, kl.apart krash kozz, other groups performed day included les enfants, v.i.p., city kids, feminin, res 2, d.e.f.x., m’steen, give me 5, nico , hasnol. while rest of performers neither here nor there, groups v.i.p. (a comedic hip-hop duo made of composer benny ardjuna , cartoonist poe), feminin (one of first all-female pop-rap group) , d.e.f.x. (a seven-member group, comprising 2 mcs, yogi , mc e.n.a., , 5 dancers), showed local hip-hop scene had potential go far.


speaking of d.e.f.x., arguably next important group after krash kozz in development of local hip-hop scene. dubbed human beatbox, 18-year-old yogi crowned street rap king in rappin’ badd, contest organised central market on nov 22, 1992. e.n.a., meanwhile, runner-up. both used krash kozz. group supposed cut album after penning deal record label called common networks malaysia sdn bhd, never materialised.


krash kozz, meanwhile, went on achieve bigger things after release of third album. first, invited perform @ first asian dance music convention in manila alongside lisa stansfield, black machine , apache indian in june 1993. went on perform @ world dj mixing finals held @ ministry of sound in london in january 1994. sadly, last performance group disbanded arrived home in malaysia…


phase: 1994 – 1997

the break-up of krash kozz signalled, extent, end of hope of seeing local english-medium hip-hop scene. them no longer in existence, place people local fix acts 4u2c, kru, les enfant, nana nurgaya , nico – due respect, these acts, apart nico, cam hardly classified ‘hip-hop’.


in december 1994, saw ray of hope when group called poetic ammunition (pmo) – made of former krash kozz posse , d.e.f.x members yogi b , mc e.n.a. – released debut single, you, on newly formed positive tone. (after deal record album fell through, d.e.f.x. had decided time start afresh , new name boot). on chance visit friend , lyricist cahaya pena @ kenny music studio, duo bumped producers , co-owners of positive tone, paul moss (formerly of aishah , fan club) , kenny tay.


both yogi , e.n.a. performed impromptu jam moss , tay, , time left studio, had record deal. musically, reggaeton-sounding, flying pickett’s cover nothing shout about, original number on set, run, unlike ever recorded malaysian hip hop act. tight delivery, infectious hooks , ill beats, song got lot of music execs excited – , seemed, while, malaysian hip-hop scene on right path again. proved not case. after single’s release, nothing heard pmo again.


but there silver lining. krash kozz , pmo’s trailblazing efforts spawned legion of imitators. no, there no sudden emergence of local underground hip-hop scene – new acts popping on place. instance, east coast hip-hop-inspired group, whyness, released six-track self-titled demo in 1994 – , same demo led formation of arguably malaysia’s first ever genuine hip-hop collective, naughtius maximus. apart members whyness – albert chong (albert), ismail mat aris (mail), ramesh anthony (ramesh), azrin ishak (ain), hiresh das (hiresh), calvin choi (illegal), nicholas choong (nicky c), remy kalia perumal (mista rem), azhar majid (dice), zushahron dina (lady d), nor azhar (spit), francis jesudas (jungle jerry) , moses l chan (moe) – 13 member squad made of 3 other different groups, deceased, under pressure , reffugeez.


naughtius maximus circa 1995 recorded within space of 4 months @ digitron studio, (legend has group hadn’t money book studio time, “stole” booked other acts), naughtius maximus’ debut album released on july 1, 1995, articulate sound sdn bhd. produced moe, 13- song set featured 3 songs whyness, 2 tracks deceased, reffugeez , under pressure each, , 4 songs collective. musically, without doubt malaysia’s first-ever genuine hip hop album, complete requisite beats, rhymes, attitude , spirit. if there lacking, production quality. still, songs here comes trouble, whyness’ right on time , reffugeez’s ruff wayz still regarded seminal classics who’ve been following development of local hip-hop music scene.


but when things on up-and-up hip-hop in malaysia, local scene got blow when 9 of songs summarily banned radio televisyen malaysia (rtm) 2 months after album released. reason given ban album “too westernised”. ban blessing in disguise status of being banned made group , hip-hop music notorious – factor has big appeal, among youth. majority of music lovers unfamiliar genre, controversy raised curiosity levels enough many decided find out fuss about. ban halted collective’s progress, as, 1996, of members doing own thing, both inside , outside music. illegal , moses went on become 1 of malaysia’s respected hip-hop producers; lady d went on form emberz of soul, jungle jerry , nicky c went on make names in local clubbing , dj circuit.


overall though, 1996 pretty quiet year hip-hop. however, below radar, scene developing. little information underground hip-hop scene @ time available today, know 2 groups active @ time: poetic ammo (with yogi b sole member after mc e.n.a. left in 1995); , def rhyme (featuring brother, land slyde (chandrakumar balakrishnan) , c loco (sashi kumar balakrishnan). these 2 groups later converge become poetic ammo, final piece of jigsaw coming then-16-year-old wu- tang clan-devotee ipoh, point blanc (nicholas ong). expanded poetic ammo spent of 1996 recording debut, it’s nice day alive – album going change future of local hip hop music…


on verge of explosion: 1997–1999

“it living hell. slept on floor; there times when had collect money each 1 of buy maggi mee eat,” yogi b of poetic ammo told me recording process of it’s nice day alive in unpublished interview conducted in feb 2003.“it tough time us. invested lot of money in album. slept in studios @ 1 point,” said joe flizzow, 1 half of phat in press statement announce release of debut album, whutthadilly? on dec 30, 1999. sacrifices , undying passion art form are, without doubt, important factors led explosion of malaysian hip-hop in later part of `90s.


it requirement, if 1 thinks it. when hip hop references , expertise when came producing , cooking beats non-existent then. if got right, “serious” composers , producers illegal, g-soul , yogi b. , latter producer default had produce ammo’s debut, it’s nice day alive. “it having make couple of beautiful vases , having learn how mould clay @ same time”, yogi said then. tough or not, impossible achieved when group’s first single changes released on january 5, 1998, positive response , glowing praises. in hindsight, success understandable. r&b-tinged hip-hop number hard resist casual music listener or radio programme manager.


the inclusion of landslyde , c loco (from group def rhyme – old enough might remember them asia bagus) , point blanc (from ipoh’s rap group, da’ funk squad) have added more depth , packed stronger punch made ammo tighter unit @ time. when released on february 23, 1998, it’s nice day alive took naughtius maximus did on debut 3 years ago new level.


musically, may not original – there’s bone thugs n’ harmony ( it’s nice day alive; cypress hill (especially c loco’s style of delivery); wu tang clan approximate detonation flavour here , there – tracks peluru puitis, vallavan , remake of samuel hui’s kah sang tah kong chai unlike produced here before. lyrically, evident quartet did try keep local possible, did extent, on songs changes , peluru puitis. of course, there glaring weaknesses – feeble selection of words in rhymes here , there, not-so-fluid song arrangements – compared released earlier, album best @ time , remains seminal release. group, however, had wait year before reap fruits of success.“we gave @ first because sales weren’t great. there wasn’t english hip hop scene then, , not many people in malaysia knew music about,” yogi b said.


on verge of explosion: 1997 – 1999

less year before poetic ammo dropped debut it’s nice day alive in 1998, underground gigs, key factor contributed development of local hip-hop, mushrooming. though it’s far being underground gig per se, youthquake malaysia tour in 1996 did, extent, spread awareness , interest in hiphop. spread across 5 states – penang, ipoh, kuantan, johor bharu , kuala lumpur – tour had r&b group soulstreet (its former member includes composer/producer damian seet of ve) , rapper known johan ishak performing @ each stop alongside oag. impact may not powerful underground gigs it’s no denying both soulstreet , johan offered suburban kids different take on music, in attitude.


the first local underground hip-hop gig took place in malibu cafe in november 1997. organiser, believe or not, nazri noran of now-defunct pioneering rap-rock group projekt ak , hitz.fm morning crew. performing day naugtius maximus, innuendo, suspicious (a rap group penang), soulstreet , da’ joint. speaking of da’ joint, it’s important take note trio – g (jeyakumar letchmanan), sam sneeze (samir sharman) , rez (syed riza al- attas) – among first of third generation local hip hop acts emerged in mid-’90s. in 2000, group’s debut single b.a.n.g.s.a.r. peaked @ no. 1 spot on hitz.fm malaysian english top 10. 3 years later band released ep, sound therapy via ruff selecta entertainment gave them 2 more hits singles, livin’ in streets , after party. group disbanded couple of years , samir’s pursuing solo career. debut album reinvented released late last year , success, hits r u ready, let’s go , dikir berbisa.


other notable groups came out same time (1997-1999) first borne troopz (which later become teh tarik crew), sicksiderz, illustrait (members of both group later converge , form rebel scum), integrated soul, pac of doja, m.o.b. (members of blood; 1 of former members include sein of ruffedge) , of course, phat. seed of group can traced in 1997 when 17-year-old subang jaya kid called joe flizzow , 19-year-old muar-based malique decided form creative alliance after infamous rap battle on net. in november year, after completing a-levels, malique migrated kl, , joe , doctah k (kevin felix) later rejoined local underground band foreground division, embarked on journey take them beyond wildest imagination. it’s unclear when did group call phat, in interview now-defunct tone magazine in april 2001 issue, both said phat first name came mind after gig organiser asked them group name included in gig flyer. other names in consideration way phat , nickel , rhymes.“we weren’t sure whether wanted stick phat or not,” malique said in interview.“yeah. said okay lah, we’ll come name phat, in future if don’t it, we’ll change,” joe added. stuck, of course.


when sound engineering friend wanted group record course assignment, group jumped on opportunity. result demo make round in local underground hip-hop circuit. importantly, landed group slot @ tribute east coast , west coast gig took place in malibu cafe on march 28, 1998, performed alongside poetic ammo, soulstreet, suspicious , c’est la vie. there, group went on establish reputation 1 of hottest underground hiphop acts in town largely slick rhyming, energetic stage persona, , 2 of underground hits, higgedy hey , i’ll missing p****, group interpolation of puff daddy’s i’ll missing you.


while underground scene swamped activities, above ground, ammo seeing reward hard work, player – song not on debut, on country’s first ever local r&b/hip-hop compilation, tricks & tales. released positive tone on dec 22, 1998, main highlight of 10-song compilation had comeback tune naughtius maximus (m.v.p. , born ready). other highlights include fact broke ferhad mainstream scene soul in me , believe. introduced reefa, (arguably) first solo mc in country; , naughtius maximus alumnae, lady d’s new duo in group, emberz of soul. perfect documentation of “semi” underground local hip-hop scene. familiar underground scene, inclusion of phat have made set more comprehensive.


over next 12 months, dec 1998 dec 1999, malaysian hiphop poetic ammo. in april 1999, group named best new english artiste @ anugerah industri muzik (aim) while it’s nice day alive best english album. result of wins, album sales rocketed 15,000 copies in span of less month; , having music video changes nominated in south-east asia viewers’ choice award category @ 1999 mtv video music. felt, , said, pinnacle of thriving scene, how wrong were. well, these people not blame no 1 prepared whuttadilly?


whutthadilly yo?: 1998-2000

“we not malu of, or regret world yours, it’s part of ammo chapter. commercial , pop, , people didn’t it. us, nevertheless”. one-half of poetic ammo, point blanc, told writer in unpublished interview in february 2003 in wake of comeback-of-sorts album, return of tha boombox.


in malaysian hip hop scene, if years 1998 2000 ammo, period 2001 day phat. there many reasons power shift – 2001, ammo more known endorsement deals music. didn’t follow-up 2000’s it’s nice day alive point described: commercial , pop. flashback 1998: reputation hottest thing in thriving local underground hip hop scene, trio malique, joe flizzow , doctah k offered deal record ep defunct strange culture records (scr), label local fringe music. group recorded 2 songs, give , whutthadilly?, scr before parting ways label in july 1998. determined finish they’ve started, group, had became duo when doctah k left sing hardcore band called foreground division, decided complete album using own resources.


in between recording sessions, actively performing on underground gig circuit. , biggest, if not important gig, panasonic hip-trip held @ sunway lagoon amphitheatre in late 1999. performing alongside farah, shayna, taheera, ve, soulstreet, da joint, naughtius maximums, prisheella (one of earliest local female mcs emerge), vandal, poetic ammo, kamikrazie, dj ken, dj face, dj t-bone , dj goldfish, malique , joe flizzow stole show day strong stage presence, obvious talent , hooky number, phat baby. first single off yet-to-be-released debut premiered , went down 2,000-strong crowd day. buzz on phat on street @ all-time high duo had wait until debut album 90 percent complete before record label notice potential.


how ended positive tone classic record industry tale. label’s managing director ahmad izham omar (now 8tv chief executive officer) happened hear 1 of tracks off whutthadilly? when 1 of album producers working on it. word has izham blown away , demanded meeting group immediately. things got more exciting after officially became positive tone artist in oct 1999. in november, unmastered studio mix of lil’ fingaz leaked on radio , surprisingly, became hitz.fm’s wanted hit.lil’ fingaz’s considerable success overtaken phat baby when released in december. finally, after year-long struggle, whutthadilly? saw light of day on dec 31, 1999. produced illegal, g-soul, haze , boys themselves, 15-track album established whole new set of standards production, image, presentation , importantly, rapping in local hip hop scene. call perfect hip-hop album (by malaysian standards @ time) may overstatement, considering how few missteps made malique , joe, whutthadilly? indeed local hip-hop @ finest.


album highlights aplenty, intros sampled artists diverse sharifah aini’s (seiring sejalan) , kool & gang (too hot), interpolation in phat baby , heck, demo mix of whutthadilly?, album 1 big irresistible effort. musical genius aside, there 2 other interesting things boys did. duo roped in , introduced up-and-coming underground cats inviting them guest on album.


acts literally unknown beyond local underground scene, ruffedge (too phat baby); , first borne troopz , g da’ joint (skoo tha nonsense) allowed shine alongside tricks , tales alumni reefa (bla, bla), lady dee (bo-m.o.-h). other, less generous act put down poetic ammo in 1 of tracks. in bo-m.o.-h, malique , joe mocked poetic ammo claiming – leader of pack in local hip-hop game. undoubtedly first local diss track – okay, krash kozz , kru dissed each other in tracks in time, near this: “aight man? know ain’t nothing real/check cd cover wit’ classic clown appeal/and still kinda beats me how got record deal/wit’ no skills, why tryin hard b-real?” raps malique in first verse.“damn, @ first brought hope game/now ain’t same, fame got lame,” adds joe in second verse. ammo lashed in song hit `em in second album saying: “i gave love wanna show me hate/watcha gonna when it’s late/it’s time why don’t tell em’ why/cos here hit em’ too” (yogi b); “you dissed album cover bein’ clownish yours worse/cos s*** lookin’ straight circus/for real though phat lady in clique” says point.


“we cool then, had beef other peeps and/now got album, wanna skoo nonsense?/ha! ha! see prominence imminent/why tryin’ hard eminem?/you visionary? more fictionary,” continues c loco. triggered hard tell both parties naturally had own version of stories, oh, fun fans. it’s closest malaysia hip-hop rap scene has come gang war, , kids in local scene split 2 main camps: phat family , ammo’s d’alliance.








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