Like many Cambodians who fled the country, Ly and his family risked their lives to escape the chaos. They stayed for a year and a half in a Thai refugee camp before coming to the United States. His family arrived in America with next to nothing, but Ly said they were grateful they had each other.
Growing up in Long Beach, Ly was surrounded by the hip-hop scene. In 2000, he began his rapping career through experimenta-tion. After fooling around with a karaoke machine in his parents' garage, Ly produced his first CD, "Dalama: The End'n' Is Just the Beginnin'." The album is a way to tell of his family's survival of the Khmer Rouge.
"It's my self- expression," Ly said. "I just write what's on my mind about myself and my culture. It's a way of telling my side of the story."
After making about 1,000 CDs, Ly passed out "Dalama" during Cambodian New Year in 2000. Eventually the album made it to Cambodia, where it became No. 1 on the charts.
Ly's music continues to receive international attention and has even been used by educational institutions to shed light on the genocide. He recently discussed his music at Harvard University.
"I never thought it would be educational, but now it is," Ly said.
"I just want it to be heard, and if people can learn from it, great." |
