Big Ups to C. Luk!
Today’s post was penned by Charles Chear. Charles Chear hails from Philadelphia and is pursuing a Masters of Social Work at Boston University (asserting his academic pursuits first and foremost is a habit he picked up in New England). He cares a lot about faith, homelessness, poverty, and race relations. I [Eugene] know him as an awesome freestyler and creator of interesting beats. I’m honored to have stepped into a freestyle circle with him…
I first met C. Luk, a Cambodian American emcee from Lynn, Mass., when we both performed at Ballot Bayan Box in 2004. It was a show organized by Boston Progress and held at the VietAid Community Center in Dorchester, Mass.
I performed before him, also rapping, and spitted some now-regrettable lyrics. I had spit some junk and gave four minutes of nonsense I couldn’t even memorize.
If I remember correctly, C. Luk immediately came afterward. To be honest, he was non-suspect as an emcee because of his chill and humble manner, and off-stage he didn’t seem like a loud, in-your-face person.
But he flipped the switch when he got on stage. He had immense stage presence, clever rhymes, and had the crowd moving. When I watched him, I saw someone who loved the art and didn’t need the aesthetic flashiness of “hip pop” to garner attention. C. Luk is truly an original cat who relies solely on talent.
According to his website (http://www.myspace.com/clukhiphop) and our mutual friend Bobby Pres, C. Luk recently moved to Philly, PA. As a native of Philly, I know that everyone and their mother is rapping—including me! It’s a highly competitive environment known for its legends (e.g. Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, Cross Movement, and the Roots) and upcoming natives (e.g. Chic Raw, Cyssero, and Reed Dollaz). I knew C. Luk had talent, but admittedly, I cast doubt on emcees that move to the region. It’s not enough to have rhyme schemes, excellent PR, and the freshest attire. You need to have passion, fire in your eyes, confront endless competition, learn to never blink, and never sleep. It’s like going to Harvard Business School and pursuing a doctorate on the side.
Sorry to digress a bit but it’s there to make a point:
During his most recent endeavor in Philly, C. Luk entered a two-day competition at the 100.3FM The Beat Music and Entertainment Conference, one of the largest events of its kind in the region. It garnered talent from all over Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware (a.k.a. the Tri-State). In front of a panel that included Sheek Louch, Styles P, and Michael Bivins (of BBD and New Edition), C. Luk performed with heart and killed it, winning the competition and a contract with Koch Records!
Congrats to the dude. He’s worked really hard and deserves it.
Below is a video he made after being crowned:
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