This is the saying in the industry. Hip Hop is dead in Malaysia. I beg to differ, I have never been to as many shows for the past 3 years as compared to those I went for this year alone. But in general the people in the scene has hustled very well. Among those that can be noted for their efforts this year alone are….

Altimet: I guess he started the ball rolling with his numerous singles released and brought to airplay. He has explored a lot and it shows in his track like Sayang-Sayang and his most recent one Chantek. He sound very comfortable rapping in Malay and has this chilled out flow. His album should be a work of art. It’s unique, colourful and pretty healthy dose of good phrases.

Dose 2: These are very hardworking boys. Ordinary Heroes, Gentlemanly Poets….their songs have a very cookies and cream feel. Their album is almost done but when exactly is it out is kept a good secret at the moment. But trust me~ if their album is sold for RM20 it is definitely worth it. Trix, Naqib with their scratches from Dj Iman (Joe Flizz younger brother) and Sonar One for the trippy beats. It’s a combo that will make all the high school girls melt over and over again. Is that a bad thing? Certainly not….I think that is a darn good thing.

Positive Calamity: 2 Guys and loads of energy. They have energy that rivals a frigate. Distinctly a friendly gangster twist. They have a lot more to do to complete their album but I guess they have the combination to add more colour into an other wise blend scene. I have seen them recording and boy they sure are perfectionists. Everything has to be spot one or else they would do it all over again. Hope they get more shows next year because they are not your typical rap duo.

Kayda: Now I don’t really know what this cute girl is up to but she has confidence more than girls twice her age. Plus she is only 17~! Kudos to her mom who happens to be Sheila Majid, this pretty thing is so good at spitting raps that I think many boys would feel very intimidated. I guess she can go far in the scene…very bubbly off stage but extremely vicious on the mic. I swear the scene has to look out for her as she has the package to blow everyone away.

Phlowtron: Senikata Warisam Malaya is already a classic to me. It’s very tight has a warm retro raw feel and is getting mad airplay. Atom did a good job on a shoestring budget for the videos and the effects are the envy of many. They have brought Malay raps to a more commercial level yet maintain such seriousness in their lyrical work. Purist should love their rhymes….very deep meaning yet extremely entertaining. Their live performance looks like a trio of jesters because that is exactly what they are….entertainers to the core. Never once I can find anything wrong with their stage presence. I say for live performance in a group they are the ones to beat.

Lastly…

KLG Sqwad: Yeah so I am a mad fan of theirs. I saw them grow up and I went to school with one of them… but even more I have been very sceptical of their abilities to entertain. But I have been proven wrong this whole year. Yes they a lot more to work on when it comes to live performance but they did have a live band (Funky Doryz) accompanying a rap group for the first time in Malaysia. That was a good set. The album is still not out yet, I bet there are some disappointed fans. But get this…they already have merchandise before their album release. What I do know it that they are gonna print 600 more of it and get them t-shirts and Baby Tees out before end of next month. Now you don’t hear that often now do you? The album is almost done and now it’s all up to them to decide on how to market it….they should know the difference between a biscuit and a cookie.

I know there are others out there but their progress is merely marginal. Now if these 4 acts hustled in 2007 that means the rest of you out there have to double up the effort in 2008 to match. So how? You up for the challenge?

The regional lion our neighbour Singapore may be small in land mass but in terms of talent you might just as well call it California. Because that is how their Hip-Hop scene feels. Young, energetic and hard working cats produce beats like there is no tomorrow. Well of course they lack experience but that comes with age. However, as far as rappers go they are mighty fine at the moment.

Richard J is part of Singapore’s Beats Society which helps promote Singapore Local Hiphop scene. What is Malaysia’s connection to across the causeway? Dose 2 of course….our boys here have been keeping in touch with them cats in Singapore. That is how I met this Bow Wow. And seriously he does sound a bit like Bow Wow plus a wee bit of Chingy. Plus he should be about 17. A good long way to go but his path is bright and iced.

Richard J @ MySpace

Mention the name Hujan and those indie rock head in Malaysia should know at least one song of theirs (Pagi yang Gelap). Notoriously popular among the Malay youth and is well known for bringing in large crowds to wherever they perform, Hujan has achieved the rock and roll band status effortlessly.

Those who have been to their shows should know that these boys can play 8 songs non-stop and clear the venue once they are done. But little do most of us know that this band has connections to the local Hip Hop scene. Noh, front man for the band hails from the land of the Hornbill and was actually in a Rap group called MIX.

Now he has parted ways with MIX which is now managed by Cat Farish of Fabulous Cats. I don’t think he has any regrets taking the rock and roll route. Hujan, a 4 man band that sounds akin to the Strokes carries a large banner and shouts who says a Malaysian rock band can’t sound as good as an Indonesian rock band. I have been to a few of their shows and my judgment is that these boys has a quality that even their seniors can’t match.

Now for your weekend listening pleasure let me bring you 2 songs. One is by MIX whose Hip Hop is infused with ethnical Borneo overtones and Hujan ala Strokes but holds their crowd by a noose with their simplistic lyrics and rustic raw production.