And recently, it got a huge boost when an international superstar gave one of our local hip-hop talent shows a shout out on social media.
Seal of approval
The show is none other than '16 Baris', a talent show started by arguably the most famous hip-hop artist in Malaysia, Joe 'The President' Flizzow.
Every episode, '16 Baris' -- shot at Flizzow's barbershop in Subang Jaya -- features undiscovered talents from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia who get the chance to show off their rapping prowess in 16 bars.
The show became so popular, it got its own spin-offs in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand.
And now, it got the attention of arguably one of the most popular hip-hop artiste of all time: Snoop Dogg.
On 15 September, Snoop Dogg uploaded an Instagram Story recognising '16 Baris'.
He wrote that '16 Baris' was a "dope show with unsigned international rappers" and even provided a link to one of the show’s older episodes.
How big of an honour is that?
Collaboration incoming?
Taking to his own Instagram account, Joe Flizzow thanked Snoop Dogg for giving his show a shoutout, calling it the "ultimate co-sign".
But it wasn't that Instagram Story that got fans excited though.
Interestingly, Flizzow later another Instagram Story which showed him sitting in a conference call with the crew of Def Jam Southeast Asia and Snoop Dogg himself.
Side note: we don't know why the name under Snoop's Zoom window is labeled 'Jasmin', but maybe because he didn't want people to know who he was?
Anyway, that Instagram Story got local hip-hop fans super excited.
The episode that was hyperlinked in Snoop Dogg's Instagram Story blew up, amassing more than three million views to date.
You can check it out below:
Many viewers are speculating that a collaboration with Snoop Dogg may be on the horizon soon.
That interesting Instagram Story by Joe Flizzow sure further added more fuel to the fire.
Will, it become a reality? We’ll just have to wait and see.