Hella Chluy
| Hella Chluy | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Phanit Duong |
| Roles | Musician; Content creator |
| Active | since 2012 |
| Based in | United States |
| Website | https://www.hellachluy.com/ |
| Subjects | Music & Sound; Migration & Diaspora |
Cambodian American comedian, musician and content creator known for parody songs and comedy about Cambodian American life.
Hella Chluy (born Phanit Duong) is a Cambodian American comedian, musician and content creator known for parody songs and comedy about Cambodian American life, sometimes described as "a Khmer Weird Al". His stage name roughly translates as "Hella Disrespectful". (Hella Chluy, official website; PhillyVoice, South Philly's Cambodia Town Drake parody (August 2016))
Career
A second-generation refugee, he began writing and recording music at 15 in the Pacific Northwest. (United Cambodian Community (YouTube), conversation with Hella Chluy (January 2021)) He is from Seattle, and in 2016 he was living in Brooklyn. (Philebrity, Meet Hella Chluy (August 2016))
- 2012: his breakthrough came when a YouTube video he released went viral. (United Cambodian Community (YouTube), conversation with Hella Chluy (January 2021))
- 2016: he starred in "Cambodian Town", a parody of Drake's "Controlla" filmed in South Philadelphia's Cambodian district. (PhillyVoice, South Philly's Cambodia Town Drake parody (August 2016))
- Chluy Talk: he hosts a variety podcast of conversations with other content creators and small businesses. (Apple Podcasts, Chluy Talk)
- January 2021: the United Cambodian Community in Long Beach hosted a conversation with him. (United Cambodian Community (YouTube), conversation with Hella Chluy (January 2021))
- Recent work: his channel has moved into travel vlogs and food content, and he posts short comedy on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. (Hella Chluy, official website)
His work has also appeared in the visual arts. A 2025 exhibition by Joe Bun Keo at Specialist gallery in Seattle included sandals decorated with Hella Chluy stickers, and described him as a popular Khmer American musician, comedian and social media influencer. (Variable West, Joe Bun Keo at Specialist gallery in Seattle (April 2025))
Performances
- September 24, 2026: he was on the lineup of the Cambodian Heritage Night Afterparty in Seattle, hosted by the Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy after the first Mariners Cambodian Heritage Night. (Eventbrite, Cambodian Heritage Night Afterparty)
See also
Sources
- Hella Chluy, official website
- PhillyVoice, South Philly's Cambodia Town Drake parody (August 2016)
- United Cambodian Community (YouTube), conversation with Hella Chluy (January 2021)
- Philebrity, Meet Hella Chluy (August 2016)
- Apple Podcasts, Chluy Talk
- Variable West, Joe Bun Keo at Specialist gallery in Seattle (April 2025)
- Eventbrite, Cambodian Heritage Night Afterparty