For more than a year now since his release from jail, Sokun has been trying to raise awareness on social issues — toeing the line between rebellious social commentary and avoiding offense.
Many young Cambodian rappers are steering clear of social commentary in their lyrics, making artists like Kea Sokun part of a small cohort of musicians rapping about social justice and economic inequity, though laden with nationalistic overtones.
After a year in prison on an incitement conviction for his music, 22-year-old rapper Kea Sokun was released from a Siem Reap prison on Friday and returned home with no regrets about his songs or his refusal to apologize for the lyrics in court.
A 22-year-old musician who rapped nationalist lyrics about “the bravery to stand up” has been found guilty of incitement and jailed for 12 months, while an underage collaborator who apologized in court was handed a suspended sentence and freed.
Siem Reap judges on Thursday probed two young musicians over their defiant, nationalist rap lyrics, questioning whether songs extolling “the bravery to stand up” constitute incitement as alleged by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.
A prominent singer is speaking out to defend young musicians as a second rapper was arrested this month for incitement after posting songs about the problems he sees plaguing Cambodia.
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