Three members of Big Toe hip-hop dance group will join an international hip-hop contest in Denmark after finishing their largest-ever tour in Vietnam, together with two of the world’s leading hip-hop dancers, Storm and Sebastian Ramirez.

VOV: Big Toe members have been invited to take part in an international hip-hop contest in Denmark. Do you think that Vietnam’s hip-hop will achieve success?

Mr Thanh: This is a good chance for Vietnam’s hip-hop in general and Big Toe in particular to gain more experience. We don’t expect prizes although we have already secured a remarkable position for Southeast Asia. In fact, Vietnam’s hip-hop has developed long after the world’s hip-hop development. More importantly, through the contest we can know at what level we are standing compared to other hip-hop groups in the world.

VOV: Achieving success in the region is thanks to a good combination between modern dance and traditional musical instruments. Which performance will Big Toe display at the international contest in Denmark?

Mr Thanh: We will not prepare any performance, but have to practice more with new techniques. The rhythm and tempo are complicated and that require good performance techniques from artists. The contest is a common playground for artists, but each of them has his own performance techniques.

VOV: Today, hip-hop is considered a trend that makes a strong impact on the fashion and lifestyle of young people. Many people still have biased view of hop-hop dance. What do you think about this?

Mr Thanh: The society only recognizes you as a good person when you make 10 good things. But, if you make only bad things, you will get a bad reputation. Hop-hop is a new type of art form that is easy to catch people’s attention. Therefore, if there is something unpleasant to the eyes, it is easy to get a bad reputation. Hip-hop is a common noun indicating dancing. The concept of Hip-hop was primarily understood improperly, even hip-hop dancers themselves did not have a proper understanding about this form of dancing. Most hip-hop activities take place spontaneously. Obviously, hip-hop represents personalities, and hip-hop dancers have their own fashion taste and wish to express their personalities.

VOV: Hip-hop has become the world’s common body language. Could you elaborate on the hip-hop development situation in Vietnam?

Mr Thanh: After ten years performing in Vietnam, only until now does Vietnam’s hip-hop get a chance to shine on the international stage. Cultural identity can create a sustainable development for hip-hop. We won high prizes in Southeast Asia thanks to our performances using the Central Highlands’ musical instrument called “Dan Da” (Lithophone - an ancient musical instrument with 11 slabs of stone) with the rhythm of the song “Tieng chay tren soc Bom Bo”. This affirmed special characters of Vietnam hip-hop.

We were invited many times to perform at Vietnamese Embassies abroad, showing that we secured a certain international rank. Being a body language, hip-hop in each country has its own cultural color. Vietnamese people’s daily lives are illustrated through hip-hop performance, which makes Vietnam’s hip-hop different from others in foreign countries.. We plan to combine hip-hop with traditional musical instruments to create new attractive performances.

VOV: When creativeness does not receive audiences’ sympathies, it is easy to become eccentric. What is your point of view about this?

Mr Thanh: It also takes time for members of our group to accept creativeness of another member in the same group. However, hip-hop is an art form rich in imagery, it does not require audiences’ immediate understanding. Some performances focus on techniques, but others are moved inclined towards entertainment. Artists do not require audiences sympathy, but they desire to realize their creativeness and show their personalities. For instance, I like joyful things, hence I will make a programme entitled “Music” that has a sense of humour, demonstrating impacts of music on daily lives. Nevertheless, Storm, a world-renowned artist, wants to interpret Vietnam’s chaotic street traffic in his performance called “Traffic”, because he was very surprised at Vietnam’s traffic network when he arrived in the country for the first time. This is a performance with the participation of foreign artists and clearly depicts Vietnam’s identities.

VOV: You are mapping a plan to set up an art college for students, in which hip-hop will be trained professionally, aren’t you?

Mr Thanh: Hip hop itself takes place spontaneously and becomes street performance. It is essential to have a professional training school for this art form. I desire to develop hip-hop into a modern art form in Vietnam.

VOV: Thank you and wish you a great success in your performance in Denmark.