Silliboi JiZO: Hey what's up Darun?! I really appreciate you taking the
time out of
your busy schedule to do this interview with us at
www.JiZO-Entertainment.com!
Darun:
No problem Silliboi! I'm always up for something
positive and supportive of our Asian community. And you
represent just that!
Silliboi JiZO: I'm really diggin' the name Darun
(Da-Run), you're the first "Darun" that I know
of!!! Can you explain how you got the name?
Darun:
Well Darun is my real name and was given to me by my
mother who named me after a general that she admired.
She said he was very handsome, disciplined, charming,
modest and fair. He died during the war , so she named
me after him.
Silliboi JiZO:
In one word, how would you describe yourself?
Darun:
Rare.
Darun:Silliboi JiZO: According to your biography, I
noticed that you were born in Cambodia during "The
Killing Fields" with no doctor or hospitals. If that was
the case, where did you
exactly get born at?
Darun:
I was born during the era of communism. In the middle of
polport, with the help of experienced elders inside our
cabin.
Silliboi JiZO:
Are you full Cambodian? If not, what else are you mixed
with?
Also, Do you speak Khmer fluently?
Darun:
Both my ancestors are Chinese. So I am Chinese
Cambodian . And yes, I do speak Khmer fluently... as
well as some Chinese and French.
Silliboi JiZO:
Have you gone back to Cambodia ever since you left? If
so, tell us your experience
there. If not, do you plan on going back anytime soon?
Darun:
Yes I have gone back about few years ago. During my
last trip there, I have had the chance to travel to a
few different places . In the beginning, I was a lil
confuse of how undeveloped the country is still. I mean
the roads were still unorganized and not clean. Poverty
is overly heavy there. If you’re not rich, then you're
really poor. And if you're poor, then your life is
really bad. I guess it’s like any other 3rd world
country. But this experience made me also see the good
side of my country, like how innocent and hard working
everyone are and how beautiful and respectful ppl can
be. I fell in love with my country all over again.
Silliboi JiZO: Out of all the music genres out there, What made you decide
to choose
Hip-Hop/R&B/Reggae as your genre?
Darun:
Well first of all, I would like you to know that I love
all genres of music and that I started out as a singer
in my very early days. Traveling with a live cover band
across the u.s. performing for weddings and parties.
This was all b4 I was 10 years old, so my love for music
has always been there. As I grew up in my teens, my
life became more experience and my curiosity always
questioning through my mind. So therefore, through
certain stages and experiences I went through, I began
to write alot of poetry about love and life itself. So
the reason why I chose hip hop is because I feel like
there is more depths and expressions I can cover and put
out there. Compared to any other type of music, its
repetitive and all about the melody and tune. But Hip
Hop I feel is very expressive and has no boundaries.
It's more challenging and sorta like freedom of speech!
Hopefully through my lyrics I can inspire, make ppl
laugh, teach and show a new path for the future.
Silliboi JiZO: Where do you currently reside again? Have you thought about
moving to a different location? Why?
Darun:
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY all my life. I currently
reside in ATL, GA. I have been thinking about moving
here for awhile now because my family migrated here from
NY but I never could leave NY because all my people and
everything I knew was in NY. But I finally dropped
everything and moved to ATL because my mother was
getting really sick and only had a few months to live.
So ATL is where I live now and is the place where I will
expand my name.
Silliboi JiZO:
Do you write/produce all your songs?
Darun:
Yes, I write and produce all my songs. But I also write
and produce for others as well. Between me and my
nephew YoungPrez, we both produce , write, record all
our own songs. But I am open to working with other ppl.
I believe it takes a great team to do great things.
Silliboi JiZO:
Which musical artists influenced you mostly?
Darun:
To me, I think Nas is the best rap artist and most
influential because his music is street, creative and
knowledgeable and never sell out. I don't think any
other album in Hip Hop was better than Illmatic. His
lyrics, vocabulary, flow and meaning behind each line
was a poet of his environment.
Silliboi JiZO: Are there any Asian American musical artists that you
admire?
Darun:
Well, to be truthful, the only Asian artists that have
been on the charts was Yo Yo Ma ( the violinist) and
William Hung. So therefore, there are no real Asian
American artists that I admire. That's why I chose the
path that I’m in. Because If I don't do it, I can't
guarantee anyone will. The only ones that I truly feel
that’s really talented and authentic is my nephew
YoungPrez which is truly gifted and a guy by the name of
G-Kay that is in prison now for robbing JIN (Tha Mc) in
Chinatown NY. He is a kid that grew up in the streets
of Chinatown and lived the real gangsta life since 12.
He was sorta born into it because his fam was
affiliated. Sorta like me, my brothers and cousins were
already crazy when I was a kid. So I was sorta born
into it.
Silliboi JiZO: I'm really feelin' that "True
Hustla.." t-shirt! Got anymore? Haha!
Also, tell us the story behind that title (True Hustla..)
Darun:
Well, I have always wanted to brand my own fashion line
in the future after this music thing is successful. It
started when I was touring with Hot Import Nights.
After doing a few shows in different cities I realize
that damnn, I could sell CD’s all day but it will take
me forever and a lot of CD selling in order to make this
money. So besides performing at these shows and selling
my CDs at my booth, I thought that if I had a fly shirt
that people would buy a lot of , I can just give my cd
away for free for every shirt I sell. This way I can
make more money and have ppl listen to my music. So I
created a design and made shirts of what can be
inspiring and represent the real hustlas that knows what
it is to make something outta nothing. If you're a dude
that makes money from hustling one thing on the streets
that’s one thing. But if you're a person that does 5
things and accomplished at least 3, you're a True Husta!
A real boss is a True Hustla. He created jobs for
everyone that’s working for him and makes a lot of money
from it. I was doing these HIN shows performing on the
main stage, selling t-shirts, having other models sell
t-shirts for commission and taking instant pics on a
King's Throne for $20 with 2 models. So I was making my
money in 3 ways and getting my music out. You can get
my t-shirts through myspace.com/darun or my website
www.HeavenlyEnt.net !
Silliboi JiZO: How did you team up with your nephew YoungPrez?
Darun:Well a few years back, I did a few songs that I produce and
recorded. Out of nowhere, he came up to me and said
that he wrote something and asks if I wanted to hear
it. So I said "hell yea, whatchu got?" . So he wrote
this song that was 4 long 24 bar verses and a hook
already made. It blew my freaking mind! The song was
equivalent to a song and a half with a hook? I was like
daamn, my first rhyme was just a 16 bar verse. He did a
song and a half! and not only that, his lyrics was very
expressive and creative, his vocabulary was better than
half the industry and his story was twisted and sick.
The only thing that was not polished was his flow!
But after a few short weeks, it was inevitable. There is nothing
that this boy can't accomplish.
Silliboi JiZO: I see that you and YoungPrez are currently on Tour with Hot
Import Nights. How's that going for you so far? Are you
into Import Cars? What kind of car do you currently drive?
Darun:HIN is cool but very tiring! And No, not many cars impress me. I
don't see anything good about taking a cheap car and
hooking it up when you can spend the same amount of
money on a more authentic vehicle and ride with class
and authenticity. I am currently driving a Benz s430
skyblue exterior and white leather interior with light
purple tints. I don't need to be flashy just elegant
and different.
Silliboi JiZO: How many CDs have you sold so far?
How many do you plan to accomplish?
Darun:Individually through meeting alot of ppl and doing shows, I've sold
over 5000 copies. But I don't wanna do that anymore
because it is a waste of material if you're not gonna do
it big. I plan to have my situation set right first
before I put out any more albums, meaning I have to have
my music on radio and heavy promotions and distribution
first before I put something out. Other than that, it’s
not worth it. Being an artist is like fine wine the way
I see it. The older you are the wiser you get and the
better situation you're in because real good music is
timeless.
Silliboi JiZO: If you had the chance to choose
any famous artist(s) to work with, who would it be and
why?
Darun:
Nas , 50, Dr. Dre, Em and JayZ . simply because all of
them are powerful and creative ppl that can make this
music expand worldwide. I feel like if there is an
official Asian American artist that any of these
pioneers can help push, will have the chance to take
this music game to a new level that will make history.
Think about it, the whole world looks up to this country
as far as hip hop goes. Once that 1 artist is in that
position, a wave will form throughout Asia and
underestimating it, just 1% of that is over 50 million
copies already.
Silliboi JiZO:
I know your mother is in a better place now but, if you
were able to see her once more, what would you do and/or
say?
Darun:I would tell her I love her, thank her
for everything she's taught me and that I am a man now.
She doesn't have to worry about me anymore. I just wish
I can be truly successful before her passing. I always
wanted to prove to her that I can make it and buy her
the world!
Silliboi JiZO:
Out of all the gigs that you have had, which one was the
most memorable and why?
Darun:
Out of all the gigs, I have to say last year during HIN
in Miami. I mean, I opened up for DJ Khaled and I did 3
songs. From the 1st song to the last one, the crowd was
making more noise for me than they did for DJ Khaled
after. I had the crowd participating hard. Im talking
about screaming, putting their lighters in the air,
hands up and all that. And you know how tough the HIN
crowd is, all they want is free giveaways. But during
my performing, I had the crowd, security and everybody
feeling me and participating to my songs. So that was a
good show.
Silliboi JiZO: That "Work that Body/Amazen" video was pretty cool man! The
ladies were HOT! haha! Anyways, Do you plan on doing
another video anytime soon?
Darun:
Yes, actually I've been planning on making a DVD with a
few more videos in it with Kaba Modern . I was thinking
about making a compilation DVD with dancing instructions
from Kaba and music from myself and others. It will be
like a full ENT. package!
Silliboi JiZO: If you had the
chance to choose a current major record label to sign
with, who would it be and why?
Darun:
Dr.Dre , Em or 50 because with them , I know I have a
chance to take it to international heights. But
honestly , as long as I can get a major distribution
deal thats all I really need. I'll fill in the rest
myself.
Silliboi JiZO:
If there's one thing that you could change about
yourself, what would it be
and why?
Darun:
I wish I would've started on this when I was in High
School. This way, I would've set it off already. But
growing up where I was, I had no guidance and help. I
had to experience everything first b4 going for what I
wanted.
Silliboi JiZO: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Darun: I
like to hang out with my niece and nephews to keep me
grounded. Like to go to the movies from time to time .
And, dammn I need a vacation!
Silliboi JiZO: Do you freestyle? If so, have you battled
anyone? Explain
Darun:
Yes I do freestyle. I honestly think that battling is
part of hip hop and is a healthy thing, but not every
battle rapper made it . Only one is Eminem and thats
because he's white and signed to Dr.Dre so I don't
concentrate on that, but its a natural thing. I have
battled a few heads b4 beat every one of them. After I
kill'em , they tell me I should go to a battle contest
and Im like , nah there's no money in it. You should
concentrate on making club hits!
Silliboi JiZO: Got a girlfriend bro? If yes, who is the
lucky lady?
Darun:
Well as of this moment, I dated a few but no I don't
have a girlfriend. It's not easy finding the right
person to build something with. Especially doing what I
do, I feel that every girl don't trust me because they
think i'm always surrounded by women and couldn't be
loyal. But I know what I want and exactly who I am. I
don't waste time with the wrong person. I'm focused on
my business and career and that itself is already taking
all of my time. They say you'll find someone when
you're not really looking. I gotta let it find me. If
the right one comes along that has the passion, mind and
understanding of what I'm trying to do and could make me
lust and love her at the same time. Then she might be
the one! Other than that, I don't think I will waste
anyone's time.
Silliboi JiZO: Us Asians love "Asian Food!!!" What's your favorite Asian
dish?
Darun: Man,
I love food. I love everything hot and spicy. just not
sweet, I think sweet should be in dessert not dishes.
Silliboi JiZO: How excited were you when Obama was officially declared our
new president? Do you think he truly bring something new
to the table?
Darun: haha..
I knew Obama was gonna be president one day when I heard
him give a speech as he was elected as Chicago senate. I
just didn't know it would be this soon.But yea, Bushed fucked it up soooo bad that it took a black man to
take over! How crazy is that? hahaha . But i always
knew he was gonna win cuz he spoke of what the ppl
needed and not just the political side of it.
Silliboi JiZO: Okay, if you were the President of the United States of
America, what laws would you come up with?
Darun: I
would take the money budgeted for war, which is billions
of dollars a month and put it into the education of kids
and homelessness and fund new businesses that can employ
ppl in their communities.
Silliboi JiZO: Is there anything else that you would like to
say to our readers and/or to the rest of the world?
Shoutouts to anyone?
Darun:
I'd like to say to all Asian Americans nationwide. We
gotta find a way to unite and support one another. We
are like African Americans 50 years back. If we don't
support each other and create more leadership in our
community, there will be no future for us. We are
unstoppable as one but are nothing as individuals. I
see alot of Asians working behind the scenes on major
music labels, magazines and television. But it seems as
if they don't know how to help one another and are not
leaders but followers and order takers. Please open
your eyes and think about our future. Cuz we gotta start
somewhere!
Silliboi JiZO: Well Mr. Darun,
again I appreciate you doing this interview with us
today and I wish the best of luck to you. Don't forget
about us at www.JiZO-Entertainment.com!
Darun:It's been a pleasure.
Hopefully we can link up again soon. Dallas was a good
experience to me and Kaba Modern. Let's do it again
sometime .
