Hip Hop in Bangkok: The Top 10 Hip Hop Venues/Nights in Bangkok
Sometimes, when you get "Tipsy" and it gets "Hot In Here", you just want to "Drop It Like It’s Hot", and when "It’s Goin’ Down" "In Da Club", you need to "Lean Back" and "Crank Dat". From J-Kwon to Nelly, Pharrell to 50 Cent, if this introduction brought back some iconic moments in your life, then you know you are a hip-hop head.
Whether you were rocking do-rags on the daily, sagging your pants all the way to your knees, or throwing up hand signs to represent a crew for every single photo op – your love for hip-hop has not died over time.
But with the emergence of EDM and most venues playing almost exclusively dance music now, what can a hip-hop enthusiast like you do? Lucky for you, Bangkok is still as diverse as ever, and there are still places that will still cater to your taste buds. Here are our Top 10 venues for hip-hop nights (in no particular order):
Dirty Bar (DEMO)
Dirty Bar is often referred to as the “small room club” strategically located in front of Demo. The rustic venue is one of the few left in Thonglor that specializes exclusively on hip-hop beats and never seems to drop in energy each night.
Expect a full house here over the weekends packed with people ready to get down and dirty on the dance floor or popping bottles on the long couch stretched across the room to hip-hop anthems that any 80s or 90s baby can chant by heart.
Expect to see resident DJ Gus and a few Bangkok Invader DJs pop up in rotation.
Tha Beatlounge
Tha Beatlounge does not classify themselves as a bar, rather they are a community. The venue located on the RCA strip lives and breathes hip-hop – often hosting rap battles or underground performances.
There is always something going on here, with MCs, DJs, artists and B-Boys from around the world frequenting the homey vibe of Tha Beatlounge to share new material.
With both outdoor and indoor seating available, start off the night here with some food and drinks then progress to leave your seats to show off your moves later in the night. Hands down, this is one of the friendliest places in town.
Route 66
Having been around for over a decade, the famous Route66 continues to be a strong player in the nightlife game.
Unlike many other clubs who have had to close down or rebrand themselves on the RCA strip, Route66 has simply evolved over time.
The one constant they have however, is that their hip-hop roots have always been the backbone of the venue – with the Bangkok Invaders crew, arguably Thailand’s largest hip-hop party crew, calling Route66’s main room home for as long as we can remember.
Being an extremely large club, the venue has 2 other rooms focusing on either live music or EDM.
Sway
Sway is known for its 30 different flavors of chicken wings, but it might as well also be known for the quality of hip-hop that gets blasted through its doors weekly!
It is the perfect place to just hang out and eat while listening to some old school tracks that you may not have heard in a while.
As the night picks up, people start to pack the spot and it is only a matter of time before you are standing rather than sitting at your table.
Clouds: Seenspace Invasion
Seenspace is made up of multiple bars and restaurants including Clouds, Brew, FatR Gutz, and BonBon to name a few. Each of these places surrounds the open-air courtyard that gives Seenspace the community feel that it has.
On Tuesday nights, the courtyard gets lit up with the Seenspace Invasion Party by the Bangkok Invaders who put on a fire hip-hop show!
If you expected to just hang out and sit it out, by the time your second drink comes around believe us your hip-hop soul will lift you up to dance to the music.
Sing Sing Theater: Bling It
Normally when you walk into Sing Sing Theatre you will be encapsulated by a mysterious and sensual atmosphere. The venue is basically a theatrical performing entertainment venue that is wrapped in a veil of Chinese luxury with a modern twist.
Every Tuesday, that modern twist comes in the form of a hip-hop party which turns the theater a hip-hop hotspot with their Bling It! Parties hosted by Djaybuddah, DJ Ono, and the Bangkok Invaders entourage.
It is unlikely you will be able to find another place where red Chinese lanterns make the backdrop of such awesome hip-hop music.
The Club at Koi: Crush Wednesdays
The Club at Koi benefits from being on the 39th floor of the Sathorn Square Building, making it one of the highest clubs on the Bangkok skyline. Being all the way up ensures that a night out here will make you feel like you are on top of the world.
For all the hip-hop heads out there, what can be better than popping champagne in such a dope spot overlooking the city every Wednesday night when the Crush Crew (Djaybuddah, DJ Ono, and MC Calo) take over.
Wednesday nights also happen to be ladies’ night where there is an abundance of free flow sparkly for all the beautiful women out there!
BEAM: Dal Feelin’
If you thought BEAM catered to only one unique sound, then you are very wrong. The venue is still a place where anyone can find a phenomenal musical experience with ear-shifting sound systems and brain-messing visuals, but since its opening, it has expanded its reach.
More recently, BEAM has given hip-hop a new home in its Dalmation Room on the 1st floor of the club on Wednesdays. Often packed to its capacity, the Dal Feelin’ nights will play some of the best hip-hop Bangkok has to offer alongside some of the hottest MCs and it is without a doubt a treat for those down with the movement.
Knock: Thirsty Thursday
Knock BKK lives and breathes hip-hop. The brainchild of Khan Thaitanium – a powerhouse in the hip-hop game in Thailand in his own right – the spot rocks a street style sneaker store and a bar-restaurant in the same 3-storey building.
Recently the bar-restaurant also became what they call a Collab Kitchen with the team of La Monita taking part in adding their specialties to the menu.
For those seeking an exclusive hip-hop vibe, Thirstday parties happening every Thursday is your time to drop in to eat, drink and dance. But let us be frank, every day at Knock is a good day for hip-hop.
Sugar
As a relatively young club, Sugar exploded on to the scene with their late night hip-hop after parties. Located in a small building along “expat nightlife road” Sukhumvit Soi 11, the club is accessible through some fancy pathways and elevators.
You will feel the energy as you arrive into the spacious room with a VIP second floor overlooking the dancefloor. The sexy in-house hip-hop dancers are always there to complement the international DJs that make an appearance alongside the Bangkok Invaders crew.