Diary of Random Events

Have you ever seen Asians doing rap? I mean like Asians who really live in Asia? Well I’ve seen couple of them, and sorry to say, they’re suck. Well not all of them, some of them are OK, but the others are trying too hard to “copy” the style of American rapper. And yes they’ve done a good job, in term of appearances, you know, Bling Bling kinda style, but in terms of the quality of the musicality, BIG ZERO man.

So I was kinda pessimistic about Asian rappers, because like I said before, they didn’t have their own style of music. Not that I against any of American rappers, of course not, I grew up with hip hop and rap music, and most of them are American. I mean if I want to hear American kinda rap, I would listen to American artists for sure.

Until one day I listened to this song on the radio. The intro was a Malay kinda traditional music, which was kinda weird to me, and then followed by the standard drum loop and bass and scratching and stuff, and followed by couple of guys rapping in English. And I said to my self “who the hell are these guys?!!” the song was really good. I like it since the first I heard the song.

And later on I found out that the title of the song was “Anak Ayam” or literally chick in English (really weird huh for a song title) sang by the Malaysian duo called Too Phat. I was so interested of these guys, and one of the reasons that, the fact that they were coming from Malaysia. I never heard any of Malaysian rap artists before, and once I heard one, it was damn good!!

So I started to search more information about them, and bought their album. The album was good. It has kinda “Asian Flavour”. well not entirely, it also has “American aroma” too, in fact they managed to ask Warren G to took part in one of their songs called “just a lil’ bit” and I really like the song.

I’ll put a little bit of their biography from wikipedia below. You can also go to their website, but when I checked, it was under construction, but this is the address http://www.toophat.com.my/ and yeah you can hear their song “Just a Lil’ Bit featuring Warren G” just click on the title OK?!

Ciao

Too Phat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Too Phat is Malaysian Top Hip-Hop duo that has brought Malaysian Hip-Hop scene to greater heights. The group consist of Joe Flizzow (Johan Ishak) and Malique Ibrahim.

The Duo
Joe and Malique's first recorded collaboration won so many fans that the producers quickly began work on a new and better album Plan B. At last count, Plan B had sold 45,000 copies and garnered a double platinum award. Recording label Positive Tone, a subsidiary of EMI International, saw it fit to produce a re-issue of the album. Called the Plan B Platinum Edition, the CD pack includes a music video CD featuring home video footages and two new songs "Clap to This" and "Last Song". The lyrics of the songs have also been included in the Platinum Edition.

The first time around, they weren't. For good measure, Too Phat has thrown in never before released photographs of the boys. Meanwhile, cellular communications operator Maxis has taken a chance on this very new concept of rapping Malaysian style. The company has linked its prepaid service Hotlink with Too Phat's latest music, "Just a Friend". The video that debuted on ntv7 is contemporary, slick, bold and relevant. It was innovative to have the collaboration of Maxis Hotlink, and cameo appearances of artistes M. Nasir and Fauziah Latiff, track hero Watson Nyambek and singer Ferhad on the music video. Brave because for the first time on Malaysian video and on national television (with scenes shot at locations in Kuala Lumpur) the issue of homosexuality was addressed.

It is bolder than the strong hint of a gay relationship in Spinning Gasing, Malaysia's first English language movie. The audience received the hint of homosexuality in the movie with rip-roaring laughter. How sad. It begs the question what people are actually laughing at; the slapstick antics of the parties in the relationship, or the relationship itself. "Just a Friend" is brave but admirably tactful, smoothly nonchalant, yet entertaining. Kudos to Pegasus Film's Sean Chan, whose directing gave a sensitive portrayal of the two young men's frustration over the complexities of love. No derogatory remarks or insinuations were made on that other relationship. Just hair-tearing disappointment for the supposedly hip Joe and Malique when they discover that they've been had.

At the video launch, Joe and Malique's stomping enthusiasm elicited guffaws from the audience. Having broken new ground by dealing with a controversial issue, Too Phat must now prepare for the feedback. Fans and industry watchers appreciate their audacity. Even critics may want to consider the refined manner in which Too Phat has presented a facet of life. If their brave approach is accepted, Too Phat will ride the crest of popularity to untold heights.