Nico performing at the Konsert Rap KL.
(Source: WordPress / The Documentist Ride)

It only lasted a few months before being replaced by indie and mainstream music bands like Hujan in early 2007. The RAP scene was unable to compete with the long-standing genre that Malaysians have traditionally adored. RAP music has died off in the mainstream. Many young people have been motivated to preserve and expand their own HIP-HOP scene, and they are doing it UNDERGROUND.

South East Asia is quickly establishing itself as a hotbed for various performers with enough star power to capture the hearts of a cosmopolitan audience. The city has progressively developed its own hip-hop culture, and the rest of the globe is finally taking notice.

It is home to young, multi-racial, and multilingual communities. Malaysia has one of the most diverse music scenes in Southeast Asia, representing the country's multicultural blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous peoples. Not many people are aware of the underground Hip-Hop scene, but for the past few years we can see that a new wave of artists and producers are setting a new standard for the RAP culture in our country.

Each one of us has their own struggle, 21-year-old artist popularly known as Vertgin direct his struggle making music since 15-years-old.

“My surroundings shape my creative sense because I started rapping first during high school but since I did not have a microphone I reverted to producing. It started as a coping mechanism and looking at my friends performing at Good Vibes Festival 2019,” he said in an interview with Berita DIMENSi through video conference.

He has produced for K-Main, Forceparkbois, Adam Imanullah, Chronicalz, Aye Darko, B-heart, Guccimith, Tashey and many more unreleased projects throughout the year. He is hoping to produce Sxph, Sonaone, and Aesop Cash after getting on the same track in the LOTUS ALL-STAR REMIX.

“Local underground hip hop for me is where people can say anything they want, any sound that they want to bring without having the mainstream trying to gatekeep everything and I hope soon the local underground scene can break through the mainstream,” he added.

Vertgin has been making music since 15-years-old.
(Source: Vertgin)

Malaysian Underground Hip-Hop is a jack of all trades, the songs' vocabulary, double interpretations, and depth opened a whole new world for the listeners. Despite its interesting lyrics and rhythm, the new wave of hip-hop that is produced by our young talent is not gaining enough attention from the public.

“I think it is mainstream hip-hop that is holding us back, I am sure one day we will get there. We have Gard and Forceparkbois already making their way through with their music,” said Vertgin.

ForceParkBois is the uprising artist looked up upon by many other underground rappers because this rap group along with Slatan, Clumsygang became a catalyst in changing how the society accepts their music. The mix of culture and language in their song gives Malaysian something that they can relate to and something to call our own sound.

Vertgin with his colleagues (Afiq, Dinho, Vertgin, PFTD, Mika, Ek).
(Source: Vertgin)

The song ‘Syndicate Bois’ produced by Vertgin gained almost two million views on Youtube and he made the beat using only a smartphone.

“Sxph showed me that producing on a pirate FL Studio could also win awards like Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM). He produced Budak Flat for Aman Ra,” he said.

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