About Me
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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.
