Hip-Hop in Saudi Arabia is always on the move despite the difficulties facing the artists with regards to a venue to perform or when it comes to the perception of the people on this art-form/culture. Releasing albums can be challenging but things are slowly happening for local artists in Saudi Arabia; they will only improve with the support of the people and the continuous hard work of the artists.
Run Junxion, a Jeddah-based Hip-Hop group is a family even though they come from different parts of the world. The artists are from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Canada, America, Indonesia and Eritrea. But they have succeeded in using their differences to unite under one group.
On Friday Aug. 15, 2014 they officially released their 2nd album to date calling it “Shock N Awe” in an event that featured many local artists and community members who enjoyed a thorough listen to the album and even got some “live” performances from the artists. The Junxion group is considered “hardcore”; they are lyrically strong not to mention that the album was fully produced by local artists, which in my opinion is a huge step in advancing the Hip-Hop scene in Saudi Arabia. The event also had Qusai “Don Legend” Kheder as a guest; he has been supportive of the underground Hip-Hop scene in Saudi Arabia and had some good things to say when asked about his thoughts on the album launch. “I have been waiting for this!” Qusai said hyping up everybody with his hosting skills. He went on to say, “We need the artists to keep releasing tracks. I am proud of these guys that I call brothers!” The event also included a “FREE” distribution of the CD along with T-shirts for the group. It is important also to make mention of the sponsors who support these local artists. For this particular event, it was G-SHOCK and the Printing company ‘EKTIMAL” that helped make it a reality.
Arab News had a quick Q/A with Tim Granite, one of the members of Run Junxion and here’s what he had to say about the event:-
Arab News: What is the initial feedback on the album?
Tim Granite: The initial feedback is good. Of course, nothing is ever perfect and we constantly strive to improve. We want to thank everyone that liked, shared, and listened to our music. We encourage feedback and are curious of our fans’ thoughts on the album too.
AN: In your opinion, what is needed to see more album launches for local hip-hop artists in Saudi?
TG: Venues. Venues and Venues. Then more recording. More Work. Performance is a vital component and we wish that the entire scene had more of it. That said, we have more events in the pipeline coming up.
AN: What are some of the messages you are discussing in this album?
TG: The message will change from song to song and rapper to rapper; but perhaps the underlying theme is always a reflection of our lives in the Middle East. We are reporters after all, so themes can vary from brotherhood, the struggle of oppressed people, to lighter topics as well. As our producers’ music changes so do the rappers. So the topics can be as ever changing as the emotions that music inspires.
You can support Run Junxion and listen to their album “Shock N Awe” right HERE:
https://soundcloud.com/runjunxion/sets/shocknawe
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Email: [email protected]
Saudi hip-hop band ‘Run Junxion’ releases #ShowNAwe
Saudi hip-hop band ‘Run Junxion’ releases #ShowNAwe
Cambodia takes back looted historic artifacts handled by British art dealer
- The objects were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, a British art collector and dealer who allegedly had the items smuggled out of Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian officials on Friday received more than six dozen historic artifacts described as part of the country’s cultural heritage that had been looted during decades of war and instability.
At a ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, the 74 items were unveiled at the National Museum in Phnom Penh after their repatriation from the United Kingdom.
The objects were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, a British art collector and dealer who allegedly had the items smuggled out of Cambodia.
“This substantial restitution represents one of the most important returns of Khmer cultural heritage in recent years, following major repatriations in 2021 and 2023 from the same collection,” the Culture Ministry said in a statement. “It marks a significant step forward in Cambodia’s continued efforts to recover, preserve, and restore its ancestral legacy for future generations.”
The artifacts were described as dating from the pre-Angkorian period through the height of the Angkor Empire, including “monumental sandstone sculptures, refined bronze works, and significant ritual objects.” The Angkor Empire, which extended from the ninth to the 15th century, is best known for the Angkor Wat archaeological site, the nation’s biggest tourist attraction.
Latchford was a prominent antiquities dealer who allegedly orchestrated an operation to sell looted Cambodian sculptures on the international market.
From 1970 to the 1980s, during Cambodia’s civil wars and the communist Khmer Rouge ‘s brutal reign, organized looting networks sent artifacts to Latchford, who then sold them to Western collectors, dealers, and institutions. These pieces were often physically damaged, having been pried off temple walls or other structures by the looters.
Latchford was indicted in a New York federal court in 2019 on charges including wire fraud and conspiracy. He died in 2020, aged 88, before he could be extradited to face charges.
Cambodia, like neighboring Thailand, has benefited from a trend in recent decades involving the repatriation of art and archaeological treasures. These include ancient Asian artworks as well as pieces lost or stolen during turmoil in places such as Syria, Iraq and Nazi-occupied Europe. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the prominent institutions that has been returning illegally smuggled art, including to Cambodia.
“The ancient artifacts created and preserved by our ancestors are now being returned to Cambodia, bringing warmth and joy, following the country’s return to peace,” said Hun Many, who is the younger brother of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
