Kezang Dorji
Kezang Dorji | |
|---|---|
| File:Kezang's KUZUZANGPO pictures.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 22, 1989 Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, songwriter, social worker |
| Years active | 2011-present |
| Labels | M-Studio |
| Website | www |
Kezang Dorji (born October 22, 1989) is a Bhutanese rapper, social worker, and a youth leader, who is known for rapping about social issues and rising above difficulties in life.
He was named "The Rising Star of Bhutan" in 2016 by Kuensel.[1]
Kezang was also featured on BBC News[2] in 2018 and on CNN's The Wonder List with Bill Weir on the episode "Bhutan: The Happiest Place on Earth"[3] in 2016.
Early life
Kezang Dorji was born in a remote village called Wooling Village in the eastern Bhutanese district of Samdrup Jongkhar.[4] Hoping for a better life his family moved to a small town in Samdrup Jongkhar called Dewathang.[5] His parents were separated when he was six years old and he had a difficult childhood.
"My family had a very hard life. My parents separated when I was about six years old. My siblings and I were raised by our single mother with whatever she could earn from weaving. Conditions worsened that I even thought of quitting school at one point of time. Coming from a broken and a disadvantaged family, my childhood had been fraught with tough times."[6]
Kezang found strength from his experiences. "I don't feel scared of things that scare others as I have been through worse," he says. Music was the only thing that gave him some solace.
Education
Kezang studied in the then Dewathang Middle Secondary School in his hometown Dewathang till tenth grade from 1996-2006. He studied science in Baylling Higher Secondary School (now Baylling Central School) in Trashiyangtse.[7] Kezang graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Dzongkha from Sherubtse College in 2012.[8]
Career
Music
While in university, Kezang released an album titled Sherubtse Rockers Vol#1 Make A Difference (2011).[4] One of the tracks, "Chegi Denley", was released on YouTube with a music video.[9] After graduation, he released additional songs with M-Studio, a Bhutanese recording label.
He got his musical break when one of his songs was used in the Bhutanese movie Gachivey in 2014.
In 2017, he released a compilation album of sixteen of his songs released from 2011 to 2017, titled The Kuzuzangpo Album.
Kezang was influenced primarily by Eminem and learned to rap by listening to Eminem.[3][6] He also followed rappers like 50 Cent.
“Although, I did not fully understand the lyrics of the songs, I could relate to what the song said,” he said to Kuensel. “And knowing that rappers like Eminem and 50 Cent also came from separated families and that their lives were also filled with challenges before they became successful inspired me to keep moving in my life. Later on, my own life would inspire me to write my songs.”
Youth leadership
Kezang was elected the President of his college (FINA President)[10] in 2011 and served till graduation in 2012.[8] At the National Graduates Orientation Program 2012, he was elected as the Chief Councillor.[7][11] Kezang also served as the elected Speaker of the first cohort of the Youth Initiative in 2014[12].
Awards & achievements
i. International
1. Global Summit, 2018, Austria
Kezang represented Bhutan at the Global Summit of the Generation Democracy network of youths organised by the International Republican Institute, US in Vienna, Austria from May 25-27, 2018.[13]
2. Generation Democracy, 2017, Indonesia
In recognition of his dedication to social work and for making music with social messages Kezang was nominated by International Republican Institute, US to participate in the second annual Generation Democracy Asia Regional Academy, held in Jakarta, Indonesia from December 8-10, 2017.[14]
3. LEAD Alliance 2017 (Fellowship), Mongolia
Kezang was one of the five Bhutanese youth leaders to attend the Leaders Advancing Democracy Summit in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia in May 2017.[15] He was a co-recipient of the LEAD Alliance grant with one of the other Bhutanese Fellows and through the grant a project called Sustainable Waste Management was initiated in Bhutan.[16]
4. World Thinkers & Poets' Peace Meet-2010, Kolkata, India
For his contribution to performing arts in university Kezang was sent to Rabindra Bharati University in 2010 where he was awarded a "Certificate of Excellence" at the "World Thinkers & Poets' Peace Meet 2010."[7][17]
ii. National
1. Grand Jury Award, 2007 (Children & Youth Festival 2007)
While in Baylling higher secondary school Kezang stood first in a national level poetry competition in the Children & Youth Festival 2007 [7].
2. Director's Medal in Social Service, 2012 (Sherubtse College)
On his graduation from Sherubtse College Kezang was awarded the prestigious "Director's Medal for Social Service" for his social works while in university.
In May 2017, Dorji represented Bhutan in a youth summit in Mongolia called the LEAD Alliance 2017 where he gave a talk on his musical journey titled "The Power of Music".[15][18]
Tours
The Kuzuzangpo Tour
In 2016, Kezang became the first Bhutanese solo artist to tour the country with The Kuzuzangpo Tour.[4] Dorji toured nine districts and performed in twelve venues from September 17, 2016, to October 22, 2016. After the tour, Bhutan Broadcasting Service interviewed him on the objectives of his tour. The show was titled The Rise of a Rapper with Kezang Dorji.[19]
Discography
Albums
- Sherubtse Rockers Vol#1 Make A Difference (2011)
- The Kuzuzangpo Album (2017)
References
- ^ "Rising Star of Bhutan". Kuensel. November 6, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "The wholesome rapper inspired by Eminem". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
- ^ a b "The Wonder List With Bill Weir-s02e04-The Happiest place on Earth 2016-04-10". CNN. April 10, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c Tshering (November 29, 2017). "First Bhutanese Rap Album Released". Bhutan Today.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ [1] Kezang Dorji Speech at Mongolia (LEAD Alliance 2017)
- ^ a b "Narrative of changing Bhutanese music". Kuensel. November 6, 2016.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d "About". www.kezangdorji.com.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b "Sherubtse graduates to donate thongdrel of Jamyang to college". May 12, 2013.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UwcSw2wkCE
- ^ https://wynten37.wordpress.com/
- ^ "Love Your Country Intelligently, His Majesty". The Bhutanese. August 22, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ The First Sitting of the Youth Initiative [2]
- ^ International Republican Institute (2018-06-11), Youth Influencing Change: The Generation Democracy Promise, retrieved 2018-06-20
- ^ Kezang Dorji Speech at Jakarta, Indonesia (Generation Democracy)[3]
- ^ a b "Young leaders represent Bhutan at LEAD Alliance 2017". BBS. May 10, 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Seldon, Pema (February 7, 2018). "Youth Leads Waste Management Project In T/Yangste". Business Bhutan.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ [4] Kolkata City and World Peace Thinkers and Poets Meet 2010
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REKd-gFf3oI
- ^ "The Rise of a Rapper with Kezang Dorji". Bhutan Broadcasting Service. January 24, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
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