Vietnamese hip-hop queen shines in Vogue Japan, Asian documentary

By Hoang Nguyen March 28, 2019 | 09:16 pm PT

Suboi has made headlines by becoming the first Vietnamese artist to feature in Vogue Japan and appearing in a documentary about Asian hip hop.

The hip-hop star is featured in the latest issue of the fashion and lifestyle magazine in clothes created by Vietnamese designer Cong Tri.

Suboi in Cong Tris design on the April issue of Vogue Japan. Photo courtesy of Vogue Japan.

Suboi in Cong Tri's design on the latest issue of Vogue Japan. Photo courtesy of Vogue Japan.

This issue honors Asian artists with a big influence, and Suboi was chosen to represent the Vietnamese music scene. Other famous artists featured in it are composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, actresses Chloe Sevigny and Rosario Dawson and hip hop artist Chance The Rapper.

Suboi will also star in a documentary about East and Southeast Asian hip-hop titled Asia Rising – The Next Generation of Hip Hop. The documentary will bring a unique and multi-dimensional perspective on the art in the region through the views of six leading hip-hop artists, the others being Rich Brian (Indonesia), Higher Brothers (China), Keith Ape (South Korea), Awich, and Jin Dogg (Japan).

It is produced by Red Bull Media House and 88rising, an American media company that has gained popularity as a musical platform for Asian artists. Suboi became the first Vietnamese to release a music video on 88rising’s YouTube channel last year.

Asia Rising - The Next Generation Of Hip Hop, will be aired today, March 29, on both Red Bull TV and the Red Bull YouTube Channel.

The poster of Asia Rising - The Next Generation of Hip Hop, featuring Suboi.

Often referred to as the "Vietnamese rap queen", Suboi has been featured on The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and CNN.

The Guardian quoted her manager as describing her music as combining genres like "dubstep, trance and electro with hip-hop to create a style of music never before heard in Vietnam."

The Ho Chi Minh City artist became in 2015 the first Vietnamese ever to perform at the world-famous SXSW Music Festival in the U.S.

She attracted international attention when she rapped for former U.S. President Barack Obama when he visited Vietnam in 2016.

In 2017 she made it to the 30 Under 30 Asia, an annual list put out by Forbes to recognize the most influential young people in the continent.

Listen to her latest single, CONG: