Originating from the Bronx, New York in the ‘70s, hip hop has taken the world by storm, making it ubiquitous in our global culture—from the pervasive rap verses of Kpop songs, to the presence of graffiti art everywhere, to the influence of hip hop on fashion and streetwear.
In this article, we’re moving from hip hop culture in the west to the rap scene in Vietnam. SEA Wave is hitting you up with a High Five list of Vietnamese rappers at the top of their game. From fast-paced hip hop to slow rap and soulful R&B, these rappers can do it all while priding themselves in their storytelling abilities.
Check out this list to see why rap is an integral part of Vietnamese culture.
Den Vau
Den Vau is a viet rapper who specializes in contemplative rap that emphasizes the narratives of his songs. His work is heavily inspired by his humble beginnings as a garbage collector for seven years, which is why he raps about subjects that the average Vietnamese person can relate to.
Some of his famous works are “Đi Về Nhà” (“Going Home”), a song about taking whatever opportunities present themselves while never forgetting to come back home; “Cho Tôi Lang Thang” (“Let Me Wander”), which is about experiencing life to the fullest; and “Lối Nhỏ” (“Small Path”), a song about cherishing bittersweet memories.
Recently, Den set the record as the most popular artist on YouTube Vietnam, with 16 music videos topping the charts, making him the artist with the most videos to reach the number one spot. He was also chosen as one of the ten outstanding young faces of Vietnam by the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union Central Committee.
Suboi
Suboi is a singer-songwriter and rapper based in Ho Chi Minh City. She has gained popularity locally and globally for her works about challenging societal norms and gender norms, which earned her the title “Queen of Hip Hop.”
Her famous songs include “N-Sao?” (“So What?”), which talks about her hometown being changed by the fast paced world and her facing those changes head on. Another is “Cho Không” (“Give For Free”) about the selflessness of being in a relationship. And of course, “Dâu Thiên Hạ” (“Queen of the Universe”), which breaks down how society views women and subverts it by recognizing the power they hold.
Suboi was the first Vietnamese artist to perform at the SXSW Music Festival in Texas. She has also performed for then-president of the US Barack Obama when he visited Ho Chi Minh for a town hall meeting. Most recently, Suboi met with Apple CEO Tim Cook to listen to her song “Dau Thien Ha” (“People-pleaser”), showing just how Suboi has become the ambassador of Vietnamese rap.
Binz
Binz is one of Vietnam’s biggest MCs and rappers, with contemporary rap songs that tackle urban life in the city. Born and raised in Vietnam, Binz would eventually find himself living in the US and studying architecture at The Art Institute. While he eventually shifted gears to pursue his rap passion, Binz cites his fine arts experience as something that heavily influences his artistic vision.
His prominent songs flow hard and fast, which easily connects to the contemporary themes he explores in his works. His most popular songs include “Bigcityboi,” which celebrates the lavish lifestyle of living in the big city; “OK,” which evokes vulnerability and heartbreak; and “Gene,” which talks about his story as a rapper rising in Vietnam.
Binz is the first Vietnamese rapper to have his song featured in a Hollywood blockbuster, with his track “Bigcityboi” playing in the background of one of the scenes from action flick Expend4bles. He also contributed to the soundtrack of Dislyte, an urban mythological RPG that recently had its beta release in Vietnam.
Tlinh
With a unique blend of pop, hip-hop, and R&B, Tlinh emerges from the Vietnamese music scene as she stands for feminine pride and confidence. She was a contestant in the first season of Rap Viet, a talent search competition and one of the most viewed TV shows in Vietnam at the time, and was coached by Suboi as she became one of the 8 finalists of the competition.
Her notable songs include “nếu lúc đó” (“If Only, At the Time”) which talks about past relationships and how maturity can help her get out of the chaos it created; “Thích Quá Rùi Nà” (“Really Like It”), which mixes rap and pop in a pining love song; and “HOP ON DA SHOW,” a confident and proud collaboration with rapper Low G.
Most recently, Tlinh partnered with Apple to shoot “Don’t Make It Complicated”—the first ever Southeast Asian music video on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Karik
To say that hip hop is a way of life for Karik is an understatement. The Vietnamese rapper has been passionate about hip hop since the 10th grade, composing raps in school and practicing rapping with different accents. His collaborations with mainstream singers have brought Vietnamese rap to the spotlight, reshaping the culture around hip hop and playing a big role in the popularity of the genre today.
Some of his notable songs include “Người Lạ Ơi” (“Hey Stranger”), which talks about yearning for an emotional lifeline from strangers. Another is “Anh Là Của Em” (“I’m Yours”), which is written from the point of view of a lover committing his life to his partner. Meanwhile, “Khu Tao Sống” (“My Area”) is a more aggressive song from Karik’s early career where he had to survive and stay afloat amidst adversity.
His most recent album, 421, is an exploration of his career and the dual nature of his music—from his more abrasive and raw early songs to his more soft and composed current outputs.
Vietnamese rappers are a testament to the bottomless well of talent that Vietnamese and Southeast Asian artists possess. From rap being mostly an underground genre in the country, to raising its popularity to the global stage—these rappers have definitely changed the game for the better.
Which Vietnamese rapper would you like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!