Kezang Dorji
{{Short description|Bhutanese rapper, social worker (born 1989)}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kezang Dorji
| image =
| image_upright =
| caption = Dorji's YouTube icon.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|22}}
| birth_place = Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan
| occupation = Rapper, songwriter, social worker
| years_active = 2011–present
| label = M-Studio
| website = {{url|www.kezangdorji.com}}
}}
Kezang Dorji (born October 22, 1989) is a Bhutanese rapper, social worker, and a youth icon. He was named "The Rising Star of Bhutan" in 2016 by Kuensel.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/rising-star-of-bhutan/|title=Rising Star of Bhutan|date=November 6, 2016|work=Kuensel|access-date=May 20, 2017}} He is also the recipient of the prestigious South Asian Youth Award 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.saarcyouth.org/south-asian-youth-award-nomination | title=South Asian Youth Award 2019 | SOUTH ASIAN YOUTH SUMMIT }}
Kezang is the first Bhutanese artist to be featured on BBC News{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-43905865/kezang-dorji-how-eminem-inspired-bhutan-s-star-rapper|title=The wholesome rapper inspired by Eminem|work=BBC News |language=en|access-date=2018-06-20}} (2018) and CNN ( The Wonder List with Bill Weir on the episode "Bhutan: The Happiest Place on Earth",{{Cite news|url=http://vidzi.tv/kvl20rx1l5f4.html#.VwyMwHE1T8Q.facebook|title=The Wonder List With Bill Weir-s02e04-The Happiest place on Earth 2016-04-10|date=April 10, 2016|work=CNN|access-date=May 20, 2017}} 2016).
Early life
Kezang Dorji was born in a remote village called Wooling Village in the eastern Bhutanese district of Samdrup Jongkhar.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bhutantoday.com.bt/first-bhutanese-rap-album-released/|title=First Bhutanese Rap Album Released|last=Tshering|date=November 29, 2017|work=Bhutan Today}} Hoping for a better life his family moved to a small town in Samdrup Jongkhar called Dewathang.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REKd-gFf3oI Kezang Dorji Speech at Mongolia (LEAD Alliance 2017) 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."{{Cite news|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/narratives-of-changing-bhutanese-music/|title=Narrative of changing Bhutanese music|date=November 6, 2016|work=Kuensel}}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 to 2006. He studied science in Baylling Higher Secondary School (now Baylling Central School) in Trashiyangtse.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kezangdorji.com/about/|title=About|website=www.kezangdorji.com|date=20 April 2016 }} Kezang graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Dzongkha from Sherubtse College in 2012.{{Cite news|url=http://bhutanobserver.bt/7179-bo-news-about-sherubtse_graduates_to_donate_thongdrel_of_jamyang_to_college.aspx|title=Sherubtse graduates to donate thongdrel of Jamyang to college|date=May 12, 2013}}
Career
=Music=
While in university, Kezang released an album titled Sherubtse Rockers Vol#1 Make A Difference (2011). One of the tracks, "Chegi Denley", was released on YouTube with a music video.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/3UwcSw2wkCE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131009163014/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UwcSw2wkCE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UwcSw2wkCE| title = Che Gi Denley - kezang Wangdi ft.Kezang Dorji | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} After graduation, he released additional songs with M-Studio, a Bhutanese recording label.
He got his musical break in the Bhutanese movie "Baeyul-The Hidden Paradise" with the song "Gachibey" in 2014.
In 2017, he released a compilation album of sixteen of his songs released from 2011 to 2017, titled The Kuzuzangpo Album. Kezang dropped his second album 'Kuzuzangpo 2' on digital platforms in 2019 and launched the physical album on an 8GB USB drive in 2021.{{Cite web|last=admin|title=Rapper Kezang Dorji's Album "KUZUZANGPO II" – Kezang Dorji|url=http://www.kezangdorji.com/2021/08/08/rapper-kezang-dorjis-album-kuzuzangpo-ii/|access-date=2021-08-28|language=en-US}}
Kezang was influenced primarily by Eminem and learned to rap by listening to Eminem. 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.”
Awards & honours
= i. International =
=1. South Asian Youth Award 2018=
Kezang was awarded the South Asian Youth Award 2018 by the International Youth Committee.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=104682|title=Rapper Kezang Dorji wins South Asian Youth Award 2018|date=2018-10-04|website=BBS|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-19}} He received a gold medal at the South Asian Youth Summit in Sri Lanka in November 2018. The award was given to him in recognition of his efforts in social work in his country and using his music for a positive cause. More than 240 youths from 41 Asian countries were nominated for the prestigious award.
= ii. National =
== 1. Grand Jury Award, 2007 (Children & Youth Festival 2007) ==
== 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".{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=71784|title=Young leaders represent Bhutan at LEAD Alliance 2017|date=May 10, 2017|work=BBS}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/REKd-gFf3oI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170517024212/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REKd-gFf3oI&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REKd-gFf3oI| title = Kezang Dorji Speech in Mongolia (LEAD Alliance 2017) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Youth leadership
Kezang was elected the President of his college (FINA President){{cite web |url=https://wynten37.wordpress.com/ |title=Home |website=wynten37.wordpress.com}} in 2011 and served till graduation in 2012. At the National Graduates Orientation Program 2012, he was elected as the Chief Councillor.{{Cite news|url=http://thebhutanese.bt/love-your-country-intelligently-his-majesty/|title=Love Your Country Intelligently, His Majesty|date=August 22, 2012|work=The Bhutanese}} Kezang also served as the elected Speaker of the first cohort of the Youth Initiative in 2014.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa6KyvWvqK4 The First Sitting of the Youth Initiative]
As an active youth leader Kezang was invited to represent Bhutan in the following international youth summits;
= 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.{{Citation|last=International Republican Institute|title=Youth Influencing Change: The Generation Democracy Promise|date=2018-06-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUqgP8rphl8|access-date=2018-06-20}}
= 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.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt40gNCOPX0 Kezang Dorji Speech at Jakarta, Indonesia (Generation Democracy)]
= 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. 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessbhutan.bt/businessbhutan/youth-leads-waste-management-project-in-tyangste/|title=Youth Leads Waste Management Project In T/Yangste|last=Seldon|first=Pema|date=February 7, 2018|work=Business Bhutan}}
= 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."http://www.radford.edu/gmartin/kolkata.and.Peace.Meet.Dec.10.htm Kolkata City and World Peace Thinkers and Poets Meet 2010
Tours
= The Kuzuzangpo Tours =
In 2016, Kezang became the first Bhutanese solo artist to tour the country with The Kuzuzangpo Tour. 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyQjQadqh4k|title=The Rise of a Rapper with Kezang Dorji|date=January 24, 2017|work=Bhutan Broadcasting Service|access-date=May 20, 2017}}
In 2019, Kezang did his second tour, "The Kuzuzangpo Tour 2" in which he covered all the 20 districts of Bhutan. The tour had 25 shows and it was done in 36 days (April 25, 2019 to May 29, 2019).{{Cite web|last=admin|title=Kuzuzangpo Tour 2 (2019) Concluded – Kezang Dorji|url=http://www.kezangdorji.com/2019/10/20/kuzuzangpo-tour-2-concluded/|access-date=2021-08-28|language=en-US}}
Discography
=Albums=
- Sherubtse Rockers Vol#1 Make A Difference (2011)
- The Kuzuzangpo Album (2017)
- Kuzuzangpo 2 (2019)