Cambodian rapper impresses Vietnamese audience on hip-hop TV show

By Tan Cao   September 12, 2023 | 12:01 am PT
Cambodian rapper impresses Vietnamese audience on hip-hop TV show
Rapper VannDa performs in Rap Viet finale on September 9, 2023. Photo by VieChannel
Rapper VannDa, well-known in Cambodia for the hit song "Time To Rise," performed as a guest at the finale of Vietnamese TV show Rap Viet.

The 26-year-old artist said he was excited when he got the invitation to perform at a show that featured many talented rappers and interact with the local music scene in Vietnam.

"Everyone here is so cool," he said on stage.

VannDa performed his song "Solo" with backup dancers, then joined Vietnamese rap queen Suboi in her song "Not Ok But Sickerrr". The coaches, judges and fans present at the show all stood up and vibed to the music.

VannDa performs with Suboi in Rap Viet finale. Video by VieChannel

The Cambodian rapper arrived in Ho Chi Minh City two days before the show and only had a short time to practice. The singer complimented the director for incorporating both Vietnamese and Cambodian culture into the performance.

Suboi said VannDa is talented and believed that his career will go places. In response, he called Suboi a "queen" and felt proud to be on the same stage as her.

His performance in Rap Viet finale were also well-received by netizens.

VannDa, born in 1997, became more widely known with the song "Time to Rise" in October 2022, featuring traditional chapei artist Master Kong Nay. The music video for the song reached more than 115 million views on YouTube, the only video by a Cambodian artist to achieve this feat so far.

The song calls for young people in Cambodia to preserve traditional cultural values and promote them in modern times.

VannDa is considered by music news sites such as NME, The People, Vice and Liftedasia to be a promising contemporary artist that inspires young people. Last year, the rapper ranked sixth in LiFTED's top 50 artists in Asia.

Season three of Rap Viet - the first Vietnamese hip-hop talent TV show, wrapped up last week with rapper Double2T winning the contest.

 
 
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