VannDa, Cambodia’s Most Prominent Rapper

Welcome to Golden Dragon, a newsletter by Eric Diep about Asians in hip-hop and my takes on trending topics in AAPI pop culture. Golden Dragon is a rotation of interviews, reviews, news, critical perspectives, and random blogs about music I recommend.

• My connection to VannDa’s music and why he makes music that speaks to his Khmer identity.

• An EP review of Steel Banglez’ One Day It Will All Make Sense.

• Diep Cuts featuring Ted Park, J-Hope, Yuki Chiba, RuthKo, Hanumankind, and Rich Brian.

• Send It: Awich has an EP with RZA!

Cambodian New Year usually falls around April 12 and April 13 in the U.S., and it’s the only time I visit the Buddhist temple in Dallas. Last April was the first time I went without my mom after her passing. I kept our family tradition going by enjoying the festivities.

It is a bit of a drive from where I live. Coming from North Dallas on the highway, I exit and drive past The Potter’s House, a megachurch where Bishop T.D. Jakes serves as senior pastor. I take a left and then a right down a plain road. Once I arrive, I usually park in the grass if spots inside the temple are taken.

Celebrating the Cambodian New Year or Chol Chnam Thmay emphasizes honoring ancestors and elders. I felt happy to come and pray for my mom and grandma. The day consists of prayer, receiving a red string by a monk to wear around your wrist for good luck, health, and protection, and partying with food and drink. There are street vendors who sell a variety of Cambodian dishes from skewers and Cambodian sausage to sugar cane drink and nom banh chok, a green fish-based curry with rice noodles. My mom always enjoyed the performers because she got to dance while smiling and having fun with her fellow Cambodians.

Earlier that month, VannDa was featured on Norith’s “ក្រមុំស្រុកណា.” The lyric video has Norith and VannDa dancing, exuding the cheer you have at the temple. I played this song so much because it was sung in Khmer style over a Khmer instrumental and released just in time for the New Year’s. I blasted it as we drove to the temple and after we left, feeling joyful after a day filled with high spirits.

When I listen to VannDa’s music, my sense of Khmer pride is strong. Born in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, VannDa had to leave his coastal city to find his voice. His aspirations to become a singer/rapper led him to Phnom Penh, where he signed to talent management company Baramey Production and began his music career. Cambodia doesn’t have an identity in hip-hop yet, but VannDa has shown the possibilities by fusing traditional Khmer instruments with hip-hop.