Hip-hoppers Thaitanium take on the big boys of the music industry with an online digital label

Thai hip-hop sensations Thaitanium have ditched old-fashioned CDs and are actively promoting digital technology through their online music label www.FUPM.biz.

"The download is the future," says Khan-Ngern Nuanual, a member of the hip-hop trio and managing director of the website.

"Officially, FUPM

is derived from

'For You, Play

Music' but it

also stands for 'F—k You, Play Me', a heartfelt message from all artists who are being ripped off.

"Our label is a download service that helps an artist do business. A lot of artists don't know how to market themselves so we're there for them, no matter what kind of music they play," he adds.

And the label is certainly drawing interest, with more than 20 hip-hop artists now using its online services, among

them BMT, Young Che,

Plerny and Southside.

It helps them to promote their songs on radio as well as organise events and showcases. There are also links to other labels including Sobchai "Ford" Griyoonsen's Fatboy-staff.

"Making a full-length album isn't easy due to the high costs involved. Often an artist has only one or two songs, so he doesn't dare approach a label. But sometimes one track is all it takes to become known. FUPM supports the small                

  music maker," he explains.

"And we are also focusing

on putting Thailand on the global map so people know what we're doing."

FUPM's debut project, the "Asian Hip-Hop Festival", will be held at Impact Arena on October 11 and will feature rappers from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand.

"We want to be a port for Asian artists to dock in," grins the dreadlocked MD.

xtra

>> Artists wishing to send     their songs to the website can visit www.FUPM.biz/main/   audition and click on the audition upload file, or e-mail fupm.biz@hotmail.com.

>> Thaitanium opened for  50 Cent on the Bangkok stop of his "Get Rich or Die Trying" world tour and have won several awards for  their albums.