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In Search of Khmer Hip Hop Part 8 : Tiny Toonz

Dec 16th, 2006 by Jinja

In Search of Khmer Hip Hop Part 8: Tiny Toonz

We’re climbing up the stairs in a house in Central Phnom Penh when I hear the unmistakable beats of ‘Planet Rock‘. Right away I’m feeling at home.

Young people ranging from about five to twenty-five are giving it their all.

‘KK’ oversees Cambodia’s only established hip-hop dance group. Deported to Phnom Penh, he had little to fall back on, but breakdancing was a unique job skill that put him on the map.

Now, nightly, up to 20 kids, male and female, come to practice their routines and get schooled in hip hop culture. I’m visiting with Claire, who’s checking out ‘social enterprise’ organizations, and some filmmakers. But for the first half hour we’re just slackjawed at all the moves.

KK and some of the others wear protective gear. Just like any variety of sports, there are hip hop related injuries to watch out for – mainly for the back, wrists and head.

While the group has performed at a number of prestigious events, they are still running on a shoestring. There isn’t a huge demand for breakdancing here, and the kids are a little cocky sometimes because they are the *only* game in town.

The majority of the regulars are from lower-income families. KK has a story about each kid and lots of tales of the daily struggle to keep the troupe on track. He works by day for KHANA, an NGO involved in HIV awareness/prevention.

Some days he arrives home and there’s no time to eat, just dance. They’ve got a pretty spiffy website that was done for them, but don’t let it fool you, it’s pretty much run on goodwill and optimism. Bridges Across Borders has pitched in for some help on the admin side, when people want to donate money.

The few older people involved in Tiny Toonz seem to be part of the KHANA network. ‘People at risk helping people at risk’ is how I would sum it up.

And there may be changes ahead – with all the evictions underway in Phnom Penh, the troupe is unavoidably being split up. Their biggest need right now? A van to get the kids to and from practice and gigs.