hip hop saves lives

August 5, 2024

BOOK RELEASE: Hip Hop & Hope

We are excited to announce the release HIP HOP & HOPE, One woman’s journey in the slums of Cambodia, released Aug 1st, 2024.

50% of all proceeds from the sale of paperback, ebook and audio, go back to Tiny Toones centre.

Part memoir, part history, part travelogue, this is the inspirational story of one woman’s journey in the slums of Cambodia.

When Romi Grossberg decided, at thirty-five, to give up her job as a social worker in Australia for a two-year contract at Tiny Toones, a hip hop youth centre in the slums of Cambodia, she could never have imagined that the experience would change her life forever.

Hip Hop & Hope is part memoir, part history, part travelogue, and completely engaging. Its portrait of Phnom Penh is complicated and indelible. Its story of work in an NGO is inspirational. At Tiny Toones, Romi evolves from a frightened burrung to a respected manager who knows the words, the tunes, and the moves.

This is the story of trust and friendship, faith, and belief in oneself even when the world is against you. NGO’s founder KK, Romi, and their kids forge unbreakable bonds and eventually breakdance their way onto the TEDx stage and to sold-out performances in Australia.

Hip Hop & Hope will make you laugh and cry as Romi shares with brutal honesty the highs and lows of life for the forgotten in Cambodia.

“A must read for those believing in hope and making a difference in the world we live.”

—PRINCESS SOMA NORODOM, Princess of Cambodia

“A powerful heartfelt memoir.”

—AKIL TALIB of Jurassic 5

“Fierce, full flight and full of love and courage… Grossberg shares their extraordinary story.”

—DR SALLY BREEN

“A delight to read, full of tragedies and triumphs that will make you cry but leave you feeling ultimately optimistic, as lived by real people you will fall in love with as you read.”

—JAMIE GILL

“Rich with character, incident, and insight, with hip hop as its lingua franca, Hip Hop & Hope is a hugely compelling read. It made me laugh, cry, and dance as I tore through its pages.”

—TIM TOMLINSON

Romi Grossberg is  the former General Manager, and current Board of Directors member.  She spent the last ten years working on her memoir. This is her true story of work at Tiny Toones, and life in Cambodia.

OUT NOW and AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

Amazon       List of outlets

June 30, 2024

And The Winners Are …

And the winners are ….Bboy Suicide and Bboy Freeze!
Suicide and Freeze, who are both Tiny Toones alumni, just WON the Breaking Battle at the IFC –  Institut Francois Cambodge in Phnom Penh. This was a really big competition with some incredible breakdancers. Their skill and raw talent saw them take it over the line. We could not be more proud of the dedication, resilience and perseverance of these two shining role models and dancers.
And as if the prestige and recognition is not enough, their prize, as outlined by the IFC is that, “They are going to France in October for two weeks as well as participate in the Trophy Masters Competition in Toulouse…. The Trophy Masters Competition will be amazing, breakdancers from all around the world will be there to compete.”
This is incredible exciting news for the boys and also for Tiny Toones centre. We are always so thrilled to see our kids thrive and to show the young ones, the next generation, that anything is possible.
What we (the Board of Directors) love most about this? Well there is SO much to love about this, but … the very first thing that these two boys, or we should say, young men, did was drive with DJ Kdep (a famous local DJ and also Tiny Toones alumni) straight to KK’s house to share the news and celebrate with him.
A huge congratulations goes out to Bboy Suicide and Bboy Freeze and best of luck for France.

December 13, 2023

New Documentary on KK underway

We were so honored to have the incredible Kevin Frilet and Nicolas Petris, two talented French movie producers, visit our centre at Chba Ampoev. They are here making a documentary about Tiny Toones Founder, Tuy Sobil – better known as ‘KK’, and his influence on the hip hop and dance community in Cambodia.

KK started breakdancing at 8 years old in Long Beach, California. When he was deported to Cambodia in 2004, he brought his dancing experience and skills to Phnom Penh, where Tiny Toones was born. KK’s influence in Cambodia’s hip hop culture is undeniable and through his resilience and reputation, he not onl started this centre but also started breakdancing championships, international breakdancing competitions, and much, much more.

We, Tiny Toones, are so excited about this documentary. Although we are only in the beginning stages right now, once it is complete it will be featured in Radikal Magazine or @RadiKal_Magazine (on Instagram) and beyond.

Congrats to our Founder on this wonderful opportunity for him to, once again, share his love of hip hop, breakdancing, creative art, and continuing to help the Tiny Toones students and community.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2022400/?fbclid=IwAR0y-KxM2ySzI43POYHsrvavL71dMGMk31lXP5R8J_lVeykWy6Dy5HYr8bo
October 15, 2023

Asia Insight TV Episode: ‘Cambodia’s Hip Hop School for Children’

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NHK World-Japan television, Asia Insight episode, Oct 2023.

Founder and CEO of Tiny Toones, KK says: “Hip hop is like a colour to me. Who’d want to live in a world without colour?”

“In this episode, we chronicle a the day spent at this alternative school, striving to give all children there, a bright future.” In 2005, Cambodia’s first alternative school, Tiny Toones, was opened in Phnom Penh. In addition to general subjects, it adds courses on rap and dance into the mix. It was founded by a Cambodian man raised in the United States, who discovered a new purpose imparting his unique knowledge to young people. Most of the students come from impoverished backgrounds, and some enroll after dropping out of the public school system, or fleeing a turbulent family life.

“Today, we meet the staff and children who have created a new place to belong through their shared love of hip-hop.” 

Learn here about Tiny Toones, the hip hop centre that offers free education for any student – to learn in school subjects based on their academic level.

Listen to an interview with founder and CEO, KK, and meet some of the students including two new students, 15 and 17 year-old brothers who had until now, missed out on all facets of childhood. At Tiny Toones they get to study, play, sing and dance.

Meet Tiny Toones graduates (alumni) including Vouich, a professional rapper and music producer who teaches words games as part of their practice before teaching children to rap, saying, “Rap builds confidence.” Female Tiny Toones graduate (alumni) Serey also visits the centre. She is one of Cambodia’s most recognised female rap artists and comes to rap and sing with Vouich and other graduated artists. We also meet Tiny Toones graduate (alumni) Bboy Frog who continues to work at the centre and is the caretaker on the ground. Lastly we meet Tiny Toones graduate (alumni) Bboy Slick and other graduate dancers who return to the centre daily to practice as a team whilst rehearsing for a television dance competition. Naturally the newer kids love it when the alumni arrive and they get to watch and learn from their heros.

 

A huge thank you to NHK-Japan for this short documentary, episode news piece. What a joy and pleasure to work with this team of professionals who spent some real time at our centre, truly getting to know and understand our staff, volunteers, former staff and the kids we work with.

 Watch full episode

 

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