For nearly a decade, 88rising \u2014 label, artist management company and marketing powerhouse \u2014 has made its name off of spotlighting contemporary Asian culture and those at the vanguard of it for a global audience with a dedication like no other label in the industry. Artists such as Rich Brian and Warren Hue have left their stamp on trap space, whereas Joji has become synonymous with the contemporary lo-fi sound. And NIKI, meanwhile, has risen with the new wave of singers taking inspiration from \u201890s R&B.<\/p>\n
In the eight years since its inception, the only genre 88rising had yet to break ground in was the electronic music space. That is, however, until the recent signing of Laotian DJ Knock2. The San Diego native, whose real name is Richard Nakhonethap, has gradually accrued a following for his unique take on house music, infusing the groove-centric genre with the bass-heavy notes of contemporary trap. The eclectic, energetic result is a sound attuned to appease the room of a dim-lit warehouse and the bustling crowd of an outdoor music festival alike. In fact, Knock2 recently played both kinds of stages, the latter of which took place at the inaugural New York iteration of 88rising\u2019s Head in the Clouds fest.<\/p>\n
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A post shared by Head In The Clouds Festival (@hitcfestival)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Some DJs are surprised by their professional success as they begin to attain a following, never having considered mixing tracks beyond the confines of their bedroom-studio, but for Knock2, performing live thousands in front of fans was not only always in the cards, but also a feat over a decade in the making.<\/p>\n
As of yet, there are few published interviews with the DJ, though Knock2\u2019s come-up has been charted over the years on a few music-dedicated Reddit threads. One fan recently dug up an article from his high school newspaper, entitled \u201cJunior Nakhonethap sets out to develop professional DJ career.\u201d In the interview with a then 16-year-old Knock2, he details how he had already been making remixes for five years and would perform at weddings and the occasional club, despite not being of legal age for entry himself.<\/p>\n
Knock2 initially fell into DJing in the sixth grade by virtue of being in a b-boy (breakdancing) club at his middle school. \u201cI’d go home every day from school and watch YouYube videos of battles and try to find the records,\u201d he tells Hypebeast. \u201cThe recommended videos spiraled into things like DMC championships, MPC showcases and music videos.\u201d The DJ says he simply \u201cfell in love\u201d with the thought of being involved in the scene on a professional level, but not as a breakdancer: he wanted to be behind the decks.<\/p>\n
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A post shared by Knock2 (@knock2music)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
After listening to Skrillex\u2019s \u201cScary Monsters and Nice Sprites,\u201d one of the most definitive tracks of the 2010 EDM craze, he entered another YouTube wormhole of music creation tutorials. True to the times, he embarked on his first internet search with the leading question, \u201chow to make a [sic] dubstep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naturally, Knock2\u2019s sound shifted over the years as he built out his resume of gigs and began to collaborate with other electronic music artists. A major breakthrough arrived four years ago when he collaborated with Cheyenne Giles for a remix of the fellow San Diego native\u2019s track, \u201cLosing It.\u201d The \u201cfestival flip\u201d edition of the party rocker-style song circulated both at live events and on Soundcloud, putting Knock2 on the radar of the local EDM community.<\/p>\n
By the time Knock2 found himself under the spotlight once again in 2021, he had garnered a loyal fanbase and begun using more trap elements in his music. This time around, it was for a solo effort, the bass house anthem \u201cdashstar*.\u201d The song is still his most popular release to date at nearly 20 million streams on Spotify \u2013 and add another 16 million for Knock2\u2019s \u201cdashstar* VIP\u201d remix.<\/p>\n