#Music You Missed – VKL, ZENTYARB, 1ST, YOUNGGU & KINGLING

The Southeast Asian country is fast becoming a hub for one of Asia’s most dynamic musical scenes, particularly in contemporary hip hop. To welcome in a new week, we’ve gathered some of the latest releases over the weekend from some of the most prolific Thai artists right now.

VKL – “พรเเสวง”

VKL, one of Thailand’s most prolific rappers, released a music video yesterday (October 10) for “พรเเสวง,” (Self-Pursued Talent), a track off his sophomore album Only which premiered earlier this year. The video is a representation of the artist’s frustrations throughout his journey. Themes of authenticity amidst stardom are examined in-depth throughout the album.

According to HIP-HOP CULTURE TH, the song also gives a nod to Thai pop act THE TOYS, which claims to have written around 100 songs in two years, while VKL can “only” churn out 70.

“I’m more than a shadow I don’t guess / You’re a shadow, a capitalist, useless,” he raps in Thai. Channeling this energy might help you power throughout the week.

ZENTYARB – “ฉบับสุดท้าย” (ft. SARAN)

To ease you into the groove of things this week, ZENTYARB of hip hop collective Yarb Crew and frequent collaborator SARAN dropped their latest track last October 9 titled “ฉบับสุดท้าย” (Final Edition). Paired with the mellow production of the song, care of Trilogy and Bhomkij, the video is a relaxed visual of the two artists at ease in a recording studio.

The duo cemented their creative partnership in their 2019 track, “กลั้น” (“Hold Back”). And from the looks of it, this release marks the beginning of a new chapter in their collaboration yet to unfold.

1ST – “เข้าฟิล”

Up-and-coming rapper 1ST dropped a music video for his newest solo track “เข้าฟิล.” The promising young artist has been on a roll recently, premiering his Ready to Grow collaborative EP with fellow rapper SARAN just the week before. After only a year of making music, 1ST has been pulling all the stops to make a name for himself in the Thai hip hop scene.

YOUNGGU – “Yee Bai” (ft. Young J)

One of the country’s biggest names in hip hop, YOUNGGU, premiered a new single featuring rising rapper Yee Bai from his upcoming album set to release tomorrow (October 12), Trap King. With a musical career spanning over five years, the visual gives us a peek into the artist’s highly anticipated sophomore album.

The single follows the Mayojames-produced “เนื้อของฉัน,” a previously released cut from Trap King.

KINGLING – “Offline Ting”

Merging disco influences and electronic elements, rapper KINGLING released his latest track, “Offline Ting,” with an animated visualizer. The English track is a playful departure from his earlier single this year, the R&B-inspired “Toxic Love” featuring That Beanie Dude. The artist released his first track only a little over a year ago and has since shown off his range as a singer, songwriter, and rapper.