From refugee camps to global stages
Star2 and Ler Mu Dex share a powerful story rooted in resilience and hope. Both artists were born in refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, Star2 in Mae La and Ler Mu Dex in Mae Ra Moe. In 2025, they returned to those very camps, delivering food, treats, and joy to children still living under difficult conditions. For Ler Mu Dex, it was an especially emotional homecoming – his first visit back to Mae Ra Moe in over 15 years, where his brother still resides.
Their new single “By My Side” is a heartfelt ode to loyalty and those who stand with us through everything. Sweet yet bold, it blends tenderness with the rappers’ signature style and swagger. The accompanying music video, filmed in Thailand, radiates culture and nostalgia, with a vintage warmth that mirrors quiet afternoons spent with someone special.
Through raw storytelling and high-profile collaborations with rap heavyweights like Soulja Boy, Mozzy, Luh Kel, HoodTrophy Bino, $tupid Young, and Sprite, Star2 has built a powerful voice in hip-hop, earning millions of streams and placements on editorial playlists like Apple’s Cloud Rap and Fresh Finds R&B.
Star2 began his life in a Thai refugee camp where he was forced to flee genocide from the Burmese army in Myanmar who burned his village to the ground. A lottery in the camp brought him to San Diego with his grandmother and her four children, where he began a new life. Now, under the mentorship of esteemed producer Chico Bennett, his collaborations with acclaimed rappers include Soulja Boy, $tupid Young, Mozzy, MBNel, Luh Kel, Lil Poppa, HoodTrophy Bino, YSN Flow, and MarMar Oso to name a few. While not on tour, he documents his journey in the popular ‘Adventures of Star2’ series on YouTube. As an influential figure in Asian-American music, Star2 entwines heartfelt stories with captivating visuals, chronicling a tale of resilience and ascent. Esteemed platforms like Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, GQ, HotNewHipHop, Ones to Watch, BET, and Lyrical Lemonade, among others, have celebrated his contributions.
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