Khmerican’s Must Watch Top 12 for 2012 [PHOTOS]

1. PRACH LY, RAPPER

This year’s top honor goes to Khmer America’s most influential citizen, praCh Ly. In over a decade of work and service, we witnessed the Long Beach native continue to rise in the arts and the community. Already with two successful full albums, praCh released the critically acclaimed third album “Dalama 3: Memoirs of the Invisible War” in 2008 to high praise (and even a death threat). According to “The Strand” of BBC, “Memoirs” is “one of the best and [most] important albums I have heard.” Outside his music, praCh is a pillar in Long Beach’s Cambodian American community through his dedication to the Cambodian Coordinating Council and Cambodia Town initiative. In late 2011, the Cambodian American Business Association recognized praCh with the “Successful Business, Entrepreneurship and Community Service Excellence” Award. We can only speculate what 2012 has in store for praCh, but we assure you, there will be much fanfare surrounding everything he touches.