SATURDAY 21 | At the headquarters of Tiny Toones, where artful graffiti adorns the walls, kids of sex workers, drug addicts, the violent and parents otherwise unable to cope come to immerse themselves in the head-spinning, beat-boy culture that was the first wave of hip hop. Founded by ‘KK’ (real name: Tuy Sobil) in 2005, the organisation is today based in a bustling Chba Ampov alleyway on the far side of Monivong Bridge and supports hundreds of youngsters. “The major change is how I feel,” says one boy clad in a Manchester United football shirt. “I’m more happy than I was before I came to Tiny Toones.” “My favourite is the singing and dancing,” volunteers another. “It has opened my eyes to different aspects of art, especially coming from foreign places. I understand more now.” One boy giggles. “I never believed I could be a superstar.” Says KK’s sidekick, Shhort: “I was born in 1980 so I grew up listening to the first rappers back in the day. To me, rap was a movement. That’s why I fell in love with rap music. It was people living in the ghettoes speaking their minds. People were uniting through hip hop back in the day, with Queen Latifah and all those people. There wasn’t no gangster rap back then. Back then it was the b-boy, unity, love approach. We’re trying to bring back that original love and unity aspect.” At tonight’s fundraiser (entry is $4), expect guest appearances from spoken word artist Kosal Khiev and MC Gobshite; a mass dance performance and a breakdance battle.
WHO: Tiny Toones
WHAT: Home-grown hip hop show and workshop
WHERE: Show Box, #11 Street 330
WHEN: 7:30pm September 21
WHY: If you’ve never seen kids head-spinning and beat-boying, the time is NOW