Music
A look into indie rap realm through Zet Legacy.
Being a Malaysian indie rap artiste is no walk in the park, Zet can tell you that much. As one-part of the 10-person rap crew, The Bat Cave, Zet draws his musical inspiration from within the pack through brotherhood and friendly rivalry.
“Like most of the local rappers here in Malaysia, I started out online through this community called The Bazement,” he recalls. “Then one day, Zain Azrai brought me into his “Evil Poet Society” crew, where they would participate in rap battles at some of the local events like Raising The Bar.” It was here where Zet met some of his future crew members before joining ranks with them a couple of years later.
Sound Seekers is an online platform that aims to shine the spotlight on upcoming local talents in Malaysia. A special curation of talents across all genres will be introduced over a period of time through a series of interviews and music videos. Now, we open the floor to Zet Legacy to tell us all about it and himself.
As an indie artiste, can you tell us about some of the challenges you face?
One of it is definitely gaining exposure and getting a chance to showcase our music to the public. Another issue is the fact that a country like Malaysia, where hip-hop is not widely acclaimed, it can be tough to get the right audience. This is why projects like Sound Seekers are great for us. Other than giving us a platform to perform our music, it also helps introduce the genre to a wider audience.
You chose “Batcave by the Moonlight” and “Gua di dalam Gua” as your featured songs for Sound Seeker. Any particular reason why these two songs made the cut?
I chose “Batcave by the Moonlight” because it was from my first album and I felt that it was only right to perform something that would represent the starting point of my music career. “Gua di dalam Gua” on the other hand, is a song from my next EP. The former had a hip-hop vibe, whereas the latter was more experimental. This allows me to show the different takes on hip-hop and how it is a diverse genre.
How did the name Zet Legacy come about?
Zet Legacy is actually derived from two things. “Zet” is from my name, Faris Azizi. As for “Legacy”, it stems from me wanting to leave a legacy behind in whatever I do, so voila, Zet Legacy was born.
Tell us about how you get along with more than 10 other members in The Bat Cave. Do you find that it helps you as an individual?
I like this question, haha. I feel like I am competing with both; the actual local hip-hop scene in Malaysia and The Bat Cave. There is an internal rivalry amongst ourselves (in The Bat Cave) where we try to outdo one another and constantly strive to be the best individually and as a collective. I believe that this has benefited me greatly. In a way, we keep each other in check and ensure that we keep improving. These guys are like my brothers now and I go to them whenever I need some advice.
Can you tell us more about where you grew up and how it has influenced the way you write your raps?
I spent my former years in the United Kingdom where I was influenced a lot by the UK grime scene. After being exposed to all of the different scenes while I was there, I just wanted to come back and represent what my home, Malaysia, is to me.
The rap scene in Malaysia isn’t the biggest and most times, rappers don’t get enough recognition. Coming from the underground rap scene here in Malaysia, what keeps you hungry and motivated to create more tracks?
I think when it comes to the underground scene, it doesn’t matter if you’re in hip-hop or punk or rock, it’s all about the passion. We all started with nothing but the love for music, so we’re used to not getting anything in return. The hunger really comes from wanting to put our masterpieces out there and making sure that the scene remains alive and well for the next generation.
How important is it to be able to rap in at least two languages in a multilingual country? Is it a must?
I don’t think it’s a must but right now in Malaysia, bilingual rapping has definitely opened more doors and given us a wider audience. I personally want to put our language out there and let it be known, like what the Koreans and French have done. It helps set us apart from the west.
Being constantly away from Malaysia during your youth, did the local rappers here have an influence on you as a kid abroad?
Yeah! I’m a big fan boy of Too Phat, The Rebel Scum, and the whole Rogue Squadron. I used to listen to Sleeq too. Even now, I have love for SonaOne and Akeem!
What is your take on the current Malaysian rap/hip-hop scene and how do you think it can grow further?
I think before we can go international, it’s important that the locals here accept our sounds first and understand that we aren’t trying to copy the west anymore. Instead, we are trying to establish and express our style through hip-hop. The good news is, the demand for rappers have been growing and there are more hip-hop songs playing on air now. Even corporations are using rappers for their radio advertisements. Now, the most important thing is to ensure that it continues to grow and expand.
In recent years, more Malaysians have broken through to the international market but none who are from the rap scene here in Malaysia. How long more do you think it will take for a rapper in Malaysia to gain international recognition?
I think right now is a good time for hip-hop. You can see a lot of artistes and producers collaborating on tracks to put their stuff out. I feel that it is important to have this mindset because it should be about getting out there and working with artistes from the ASEAN region – people from the west are just waiting to hear our stories! You can already see their interest in Korean and Japanese music, so I think one day soon, it could be Malaysia’s turn.
Any words of encouragement to aspiring rappers out there?
Plan and believe. Planning because you need a game plan for a chance at success but you also have to believe in yourself. The law of attraction will run its course when you have faith and put your trust in God.
Watch this space for upcoming artists from the Malaysian music scene.
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