M.E.M., shortened from Money Exchange Movement, is an English-language rap trio set to introduce
their hip-hop currency across the globe. Formed in Bangkok, Thailand, the dynamic squad is comprised
of Way, Big Calo and Dandee, three rappers whose backgrounds are as diverse as their individual
sounds. Money Exchange Movement is not only their name but is indeed a movement. From its very
start, Hip-hop, more than any other music, has been about where you’re from. What city or borough
or street you rep has forever identified the sound and expectations of the listeners. Nas will always be
Queens bridge, as Too $hort is Oakland, and Outkast, Atlanta. It’s been more than a decade Hip-hop
has outgrown these local boundaries and has infiltrated the global popular consciousness, sprouting in
its wake locally grown movements in every town in every nation. Money Exchange Movement carries
the banner for this charge, representing a new Hip-hop generation of Internationally savvy, multiple
visa holding, multi-lingual and multi-cultural artists that can’t be confined to a single town and a single
rap category. Hip-hop has gone global and so must be its new diplomats. Way is a New-York raised,
Bangkok based rapper whose charisma, wordplay and feverish energy brings raucousness on any track.
Big Calo is a Florida born Puerto Rican rapper with a bassy, funk-laden lyricism that never fails to leave
all heads in the room bopping. Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, the half Thai half German MC,
Dandee, channels the silkiest flows through his rough-as-gravel vocal style. M.E.M has recently emerged
on the music scene in mid 2008, but the three members are no strangers to the industry. Way,
a founding member of Thaitanium, Thailand’s hip-hop pioneers selected to open for such big-name
talents as 50 Cent, Fort Minor and Jay-Z for their Thai stops on their world tour. Thaitanium’s credit also
includes a long list of chart-topping hits and accolades including the prestigious MTV Asia Awards for
Best Group Artist., When he is not performing on stage or in the booth with Thaitanium, Big Calo can be
found hustling the hottest clubs in Bangkok and SE Asia with leading DJ crew Bangkok Invaders. He
recently released The Adobo Mixtape and the M.E.M. Mixtape through the Thaitanium mixtape series.
A recognized Bkk Invaders MC in his own light, Dandee as part of Silksounds released two underground
Lp’s, and is featured on “Freakshow,” a No.1 hit single by Malaysia’s PopShuvit. Which lead to the
founding of Project E.A.R., a collaboration of artists throughout southeast asia (Thailand, Malaysia,
Philippines and Indonesia). The super group burst on to the scene with their performance of the hit
single “Marabahaya Rmx” at the MTV ASIA AWARDS last year, which was followed by the music video
shown throughout Asia. Unapologetically brazen and charismatic, M.E.M.’s goal is simple: to blow the
fans’ mind and make them move to the beat. Way: “We want to take it back to where music is just fun.
Whatever we feel during that day, wherever music takes us, we just go.” The anticipated debut album
won’t hit the shelves until the end of this year, but the hype has already attracted a devoted following
throughout Thailand and recently in Japan with their collaboration with Japanese counterparts on
“Tom Yum Samurai” released in Osaka in August 2008. In March 2009 money exchange was the
headlining single on the “Thaitanium Compilation Vol. 1 The Beginning with their song “Ape Shit” the
music video is currently on rotation on MTV Thailand. M.E.M. ,as a part of Project E.A.R., just released
their second single “Southeast A” and shot the video in Bangkok which will be shown also on Music
channels throughout Asia. The group followed up “Ape Shit” a few months later with the second official
single “Proper Tings” which is featured on the Thaiatnium Compilation Vol.2 Back At It. Currently
M.E.M. is cemented in the studio putting the final touches on the upcoming album set to release some
time this year.
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