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Mondega is a hip hop artist whose music is well acclaimed by human rights activists, universities and Asian youths throughout the United States, Canada and Southeast Asia. Some say he is a future influential emcee, while others say his music is uplifting and inspiring. Mondega is not your ordinary rapper or musician. His music receives attention because it raises awareness for human rights in Southeast Asia as well as empowerment for Asian youths living here, in America.
Bom “Mondega” Siu was born on October 14, 1987 in the 2nd district of Gia Lai, central highlands of Vietnam. As a young boy growing up, he spent his days roaming the streets, chasing money and gambling the little money he had in bau cua ca cop, a Vietnamese game with 3 dices. Being raised through poverty, political corruption and genocide, Mondega lived and experienced what most people took for granted. The idea of becoming a hip hop artist never existed in his mind, but everything changed when his family fled to the United States as refugees seeking asylum in 1996.
While living in a refugee housing community in Raleigh, North Carolina, Bom, his older brother and two sisters went to school as poor immigrant kids trying to adjust in America. They lived and played in a neighborhood where drugs were sold next door and where bullets often shattered glasses at the dumpster. Bom first experienced music when his older brother formed a Montagnard band called Bajaraka. While making friends was a challenge in Raleigh, he began going to Bajaraka’s weekend practices and became a helper and a guest singer. While attending community events and performing on stage, he noticed how separated the youths were against their own culture and identity. As a young man adapting and learning the cultures of America, he watched as he saw his friends joined gangs and sold drugs. Through Bajaraka, he wanted to change that factor, but Montagnard music was not enough to reach out to the crowd he wanted.
Hip hop first gained his attention when a friend played 2pac, Wu Tang and DMX’s record on his stereo. At first, it sounded odd to him, but as he became fluent in English, this weird sounding music became the very tool he is using now to reach out to his youths. Life in America have never been a walk in the park him. Over the years, Mondega have shared the same struggles as his listeners, but no matter what is going on, hip hop is his own form of therapy and escape from a world full of ups and downs. Mondega’s overall goal is to reach out to everyone who can relate and empower them through peace, understanding, philosophies and hip hop. People are extremely caught up in their views of Asian Americans but Mondega speaks the truth in the purest format with creative melodies, catchy hooks and self reflecting lyrics.
YO DID U SEND THE TRACK YET MY DUDE...JUS IN CASE MY EMAIL IS GGSTATUZ@YAHOO.COM...HOLLA AT ME...AND OH YEA...WE NEED PERFORMERS OUT HERE FOR THE LAST SUNDAY IN FEBRUARY...THERS A VENUE AT THIS SPOT DOWNTOWN OUT HERE...GET AT ME THO AND LET ME KNOW SUMTHIN CUZ IF U TRYNA PERFORM IMMA NEED A CD WIT YUR SOLO MUSIK ON IT AND YUR CONTACT INFO
sup homey...did u get my message bout the ross beat song we did...hit me up and let me know sumthin...cuz im tryna put it on my page...and we got a rap event cummin up in february so get at me cuz i want u to be in it
Hey Bom! well i graduated and started in the career world w/two pt jobs but one of them is in the field i studied, so thats been great. Hope you are having luck this year! Let me know how the music thing is going, i'm hoping one day to have my own video editing/recording equip some time soon so keep me in mind if you ever need help on a project!
I know boo! You know you've got some serious fan loyalty going on when you can completely disappear for over a month and have them checking up on you so frequently that they've already heard your new track by the same day you post it :)
They're always eager to know more about or hear something new from Mondega...I know how that goes.. ;). It shows all of your fans are here to support you, and that the anticipation is worth the wait 'cuz they know you'll won't disappoint them. <3
Haha yup! It's Bethany Joy Galeotti's (from ONE TREE HILL!!! lol) remake of the duet with Enation called "Feel this". I'm gonna make you listen to some other stuff of hers..she's an amazing vocal/pianist.
man that song wake up.. that gave me chills. keep doin yo thang cuzz your music speaks the truth is real to the people that struggles. Especially our (south east asians) people who struggle and people don't even know how much our people are voiceless. DId you know Southeast Asian males are the second highest incarcerated young adults next to black males. Just that our population is so small incomparison to the larger API communities that encompasses many different cultures and many different languages that it is hard to disect the actually disparities within the API community. But your music is real and I still wanna cop an album. Let me know where I can go to buy it because I really want to show some luv and support your music? Truthseeker..
wasap man, i'm from portland,oregon. Where can I cop your album??? I don't dl music because I want to support the artist that puts out real music that comes from the heart. ANd your music definitely does that. I can't believe you are only 21, with your lyrics and the content of music and how deep it is. Keep it man! PeEcE
Asians up, what's good with u? Ain't much hea jus tryin to do my part for the World, u dig? But im jus stoppin by to show some love and support. Regardless where u at now in the rap game....i don't give a F***...im all ears to ur words and i got my people out hea in Ballin' River, Mass. in the corner bobbin to ur tracks...even got the lil homies catchin on to u! Nothing for nothing....u tellin our stories in ways we can't and it really goes to the mind and the heart. Much RESPECT and LOVE to you and ur Movement. Ur people....Little-B We hea with you!
Dega , whats really good. I seen ur update baby.Hope everything is a hundred wit ya. I been alright just one day at a time. But be easy and keep ur 3rd tite. It gets ugly out here but at the end ov the day survival is only measured by ones motivation.I been gettn buisy wit my muay thai , yea nigga the boy hasnt dropped any lines yet in the studio but i'm gettn real juicy in the gym, ya dig?I figured one way or the other I'ma shine and at the end ov the day i'll do my part to keep the movement strong. Do like pac say and smile dawg , thats all u got wen shit get hot. 1!
damn..ur shit is deep bra.....i ran through all ur traccs a couple of nites ago...hip hop gotta stop sleeping on u...gotta stop sleepin on us....mad props homie....
