A hip-hop group known for hard-hitting verses today put out a new song skewering the state of Thai politics and expressing hope for the coming election.
Garnering more than 290,000 views in two days on YouTube, Only I Decide (rough translation) by Rap Against Dictatorship depicts the rappers as candidates encouraging the younger generation to get out and vote.
“I think people need some encouragement from artists or influencers. I think the music is working as encouragement,” rapper Dechathorn “Hockhacker” Bamrungmuang said in an interview. “We’re going into the election to change the country, to change the generation gap, to change the problems made by the old generation.”
On addition to Hockhacker, Protozua, Liberate P, and NLHz are featured in the video, which eschews pessimism to get out the vote days before Thais go to the polls Sunday. Like many of their videos, it was directed by Skanbombomb.
“Set the alarm clock, must not wake up late today.
So the day of democracy doesn’t die.
Two pieces of paper that must not be lost.
Our voice must have meaning.
For the future … of myself!
There are some things that need to change!
The one who makes decisions… is myself.
I will choose on my own, I will choose on my own!”
Hockhacker, a father of two, has been one of the hardest hit members of the group, accused of sedition under the Section 116 of the Criminal Code. He said he must go to court every month and has been the victim of state-sponsored hacking and passport revocation.
Fans of the group would be well-advised to see the video while they can, as many of the group’s more popular anthems can be censored on YouTube. RAD’s biggest hit on the video platform came four years ago with My Country’s Got…, an anthem that has garnered nearly 110 million views on YouTube alone.
“I think our music can reach young people, a lot of young people. And in our new song, we try to bring out the new voters to go and vote,” said Nakhon Sawan native Protozua. “They have their rights, and it is their decision whether to stay at home or go out to vote and which party to pick.”The group release regular award-winning songs with new and regular members and have filmed previous videos live at protests.
This story originally appeared in BK Magazine.
