Thaikoon is a Thai-American hip hop group based out of Los Angeles, California. Known for their hit singles “Turp Noi” and “Nar Darn”, Thaikoon came together in late 2007 with one goal in mind – to unleash their brand of LA-style hip hop to Thai audiences. Their 2009 debut album “The Movement” is widely regarded as an instant classic, gathering both mainstream and underground buzz. With a second album on the horizon, Thaikoon continues its tradition of creatively blending hardcore rap with R&B soul for Thailand and the rest of the world to hear.
The group is comprised of members each coming from different backgrounds and diverse musical influences, with each member seeing moderate success individually. A chance meeting one night at a local restaurant in Hollywood’s Thai Town with artists Menace, KK and Big P led to the inception group. It was not long before the group pulled its resources together and built a small studio with plans for a debut album.
During the production of debut album “The Movement”, Thaikoon found themselves opening for the likes of famed Thai musical pioneer Jay Jetrin. With the momentum of that show’s success, Thaikoon went on to open for famed Thai acts such as Bodyslam, Thaitanium, Zaza, Nat Myria, Clash and legendary Thai comedian Note Udom, performing in world-class venues such as Avalon, the Key Club, Level 3, the Cabana Club and, most notably, the world-famous Palladium. Musically the group also found time in its busy schedule to release an underground favorite, “Thaikoon Mixtape Volume 1: Straight Outta Thai Town.”
Late 2009 saw the official release of Thaikoon’s debut album, “The Movement.” Written, recorded and produced solely by Thaikoon, the album generated heavy buzz within the Thai community, establishing a loyal fan base and garnering widespread attention. Following the success of “Turp Noi,” the follow-up single “Nar Darn” landed heavy rotation on Thailand radio and music video outlets.
On the album’s Thailand promotional tour, Thaikoon gained further notoriety performing at various music festivals including Seed Show, Blend United Laser Show and the Pattaya Music Festival alongside Thailand’s hip hop pioneers Thaitanium. With the “The Movement,” Thaikoon became the first officially signed artist to represent the budding Thaitanium Entertainment music label.
With a vast accumulated wealth of knowledge gained from their first release, Thaikoon is poised to make louder noise in 2011 and beyond with more of the sound that has set Thaikoon apart from most Thai hip hop acts. As Thaikoon’s loyal fan base remain hungry for the group’s sophomore album and mixtape releases, they remain humble in their cause. The mission remains the same – to bring LA-style hip hop to Thailand and the world.
Thaikoon is composed of Dennis “Menace” Dhajobhars, Krisada “KK” Boonmark, Watcharaphon “Big P” Haklindee, resident singer Phakphoom “Danny B” Bunnathong and Somsakul “DJ SG” Nareewong.