Kobazzie
{{short description|Liberian singer (born 1989)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = person
| name = Kobazzie
| image =
| landscape = yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Korte Dorbor Bazzie
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|29}}
| birth_place = Voinjama, Lofa County, Liberia
| genre = {{hlist|Afropop|Afrobeats}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2016{{endash}}present
| website =
}}
Korte Dorbor Bazzie (born November 29, 1989), who is known professionally as Kobazzie, is a Liberian singer and songwriter from Voinjama, Lofa County. He was inspired to pursue a career in music after listening to "State of Emergency", a track jointly recorded by Quincy B and Tan Tan B. Kobazzie is the recipient of several accolades, including New Artist of the Year at the 2016 Liberia Music Awards and Afropop Artist of the Year at the 2019 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.
Early life and career
Korte Dorbor Bazzie was born on November 29, 1989, in Voinjama, Lofa County.{{cite web |author1=Adrienne Tingba |title=A Chat With Musician Kobazzie: The Boy Who Can’t Listen |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/2016news/a-chat-with-musician-kobazzie-the-boy-who-can-t-listen/ |publisher=Front Page Africa |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310175649/https://frontpageafricaonline.com/amp/news/2016news/a-chat-with-musician-kobazzie-the-boy-who-can-t-listen/ |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |date=February 13, 2018 |url-status=dead}} He relocated to Monrovia to further his education and graduated from St. Michael Catholic School. He studied accounting and business management at Cuttington University and graduated in 2017. Prior to pursuing a career in music, he worked as an accountant. Kobazzie met singer and record producer Quincy B while in school and was inspired to sing after hearing "State of Emergency", the singer's collaborative single with Tan Tan B.{{cite web |author1=Linda Poon |title=If Salt-N-Pepa Told You To Brush Your Teeth, You'd Surely Listen |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2014/08/20/341869218/if-salt-n-pepa-told-you-to-brush-your-teeth-youd-surely-listen |publisher=NPR |access-date=19 March 2023 |date=August 24, 2014 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203091617/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2014/08/20/341869218/if-salt-n-pepa-told-you-to-brush-your-teeth-youd-surely-listen |url-status=live }} In 2017, he released the Quincy B-produced track "Sleep for What", which appeared on Bilikon Entertainment's compilation album Press Play (2017).{{cite web |title=Sleep for What |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/351eTd1tJ8QdwmCpjo4Gdo?autoplay=true |publisher=Spotify |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317031227/https://open.spotify.com/track/351eTd1tJ8QdwmCpjo4Gdo?autoplay=true |url-status=live }} Kobazzie said he received the song's instrumental from the producer and freestyled the lyrics.{{cite web |title=Press Play by Bilikon Ent |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sleep-for-what-feat-kobazzie/1231687382?i=1231687938 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=April 16, 2017 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317031231/https://music.apple.com/us/album/sleep-for-what-feat-kobazzie/1231687382?i=1231687938 |url-status=live }} He told FrontPage Africa that Liberian women inspires him to make music. Kobazzie performed at the 2017 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and appeared in an episode of BBC African Voices and VOA African Beat series that same year. Kobazzie left Bilikon Entertainment and told the Daily Observer newspaper that his record deal with the label wasn't profitable. A week after leaving Bilikon, he released the single "Shout Out", which was recorded prior to his exit from the label; he debunked rumours about the song being a diss track.{{cite web |author1=Robin Dopoe |title=Liberia: Shout-Out From Kobazzie - 'No Beef With Bilikon' |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201707200698.html |website=allAfrica |publisher=Daily Observer |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723145846/https://allafrica.com/stories/201707200698.html |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |date=20 July 2017}}
In 2018, Kobazzie told FrontPage Africa he was working on his 6-track debut extended play, and confirmed that the previously released singles "Check Mike" and "Abelaibah" would appear on the project. On August 3, 2018, Kobazzie released the single "Bounce",{{cite web |title=Bounce - Single by Kobazzie |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bounce-single/1434341429 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=August 3, 2018 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316022734/https://music.apple.com/us/album/bounce-single/1434341429 |url-status=live }} which won Song of the Year at the 2019 Liberian Entertainment Awards and was nominated for the same award at both the 2018 Liberia Music Awards and 2019 Tunes Liberia Music Awards. The remix of "Bounce", which features guest vocals by Nigerian singer Davido, was released on March 3, 2019.{{cite web |title=Bounce (Remix) [feat. Davido] - Single by Kobazzie |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bounce-remix-feat-davido-single/1512518002 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316022736/https://music.apple.com/us/album/bounce-remix-feat-davido-single/1512518002 |url-status=live }} The song was jointly produced by Kizzy W, Benny Sound, and DrumPhase.{{cite web |title=Kobazzie – "Bounce" ft. Davido |url=https://tooxclusive.com/video-kobazzie-bounce-ft-davido/ |publisher=TooXclusive |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317031237/https://tooxclusive.com/video-kobazzie-bounce-ft-davido/ |url-status=live }} Its accompanying music video was directed by Simplicity Visuals Studios. The remix of "Bounce" was nominated for Afropop Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year at the 2019 Liberia Music Awards. Moreover, the song's music video was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2020 Liberian Entertainment Awards and for Best Video of the Year at the 2020 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.
On September 24, 2021, Kobazzie released the Stonebwoy-assisted single "Everyday".{{cite web |title=Everyday (feat. Stonebwoy) - Single by Kobazzie |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/everyday-feat-stonebwoy-single/1582130949 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=16 March 2023 |date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316022734/https://music.apple.com/us/album/everyday-feat-stonebwoy-single/1582130949 |url-status=live }} He chose to collaborate with Stonebwoy because he wanted to blend afrobeats with dancehall, and believes the singer has a "different vibe of music".{{cite web |author1=Rodney Sieh |title=Liberia: 'Amazing' Kobazzie Project Pairs Liberian Musical Sensation With Ghanaian Afropop Icon, Stonebwoy |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202106140319.html |website=allAfrica |publisher=Front Page Africa |access-date=16 March 2023 |date=11 June 2021 |archive-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310175710/https://allafrica.com/stories/202106140319.html |url-status=live }} After winning an award at the Liberia People's Choice Awards in 2019, he was told he could collaborate with any African artist and video producer of his choice. "Everyday" and its accompanying music video were originally slated for release in the final week of August 2021. In May 2022, Kobazzie performed at four musical concerts held across Nimba, Margibi, Grand Bassa, and Montserrado counties.{{cite web |title=Liberia: Orange Celebrates 5th Year Anniversary with Explosive Free Concerts |url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-orange-celebrates-5th-year-anniversary-explosive-free-concerts |publisher=Liberian Observer |access-date=18 March 2023 |date=May 26, 2022 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318004409/https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-orange-celebrates-5th-year-anniversary-explosive-free-concerts |url-status=live }} The concerts commemorated the fifth anniversary of Orange S.A.'s arrival in Liberia, and featured additional performances from MC Caro, Stunna, and Kpanto, among others.
Humanatarian work and criticism of a charity foundation
Kobazzie spoke out against rape and gender-based violence issues, and was among a panel of speakers advocating for youth empowerment at the United Nations Symposium in New York.{{cite web |title=BackToSchool Enrollment Drive with Kobazzie |url=https://bridgeliberia.org/backtoschool-enrollment-drive-with-kobazzie/ |publisher=Bridge Liberia |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310175654/https://bridgeliberia.org/backtoschool-enrollment-drive-with-kobazzie/ |url-status=live }} He released the anti-rape song "Say No to Rape", and worked with Stunna and Cralorboi CIC to release the politically inspired track "Say No to Election Violence". Kobazzie urged the Liberian government to prosecute Katie Meyler, the founder of the More Than Me charity organization. He accused her of covering up the sexual abuse scandal at the organization and said her actions were "inhumane and neglectful".{{cite web |author1=Lewis S. Teh |title=Liberian Artist wants Katie Meyler prosecuted |url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/liberian-artist-wants-katie-meyler-prosecuted/ |publisher=The New Dawn |access-date=16 March 2023 |date=October 22, 2018 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316103847/https://thenewdawnliberia.com/liberian-artist-wants-katie-meyler-prosecuted/ |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Awards and nominations
| class ="wikitable"
|colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Liberian Entertainment Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
|---|
| 2017
|Himself |Best New Artist |{{nom}} |
| 2019
|"Bounce" |rowspan="2"|Song of the Year |{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|2020
|"Pro Poor Life" |rowspan ="2" {{nom}} |
| "Bounce" (Remix) (featuring Davido)
|Best Music Video |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Liberia Music Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
| 2016
|rowspan="3"|Himself |New Artist of the Year |{{won}} |
| rowspan="3"|2018
|Artist of the Year |rowspan="8" {{nom}} |
| Male Artist of the Year |
| "Bounce"
|Song of the Year |
| rowspan="4'|2019
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |
| Male Artist of the Year |
| rowspan="2"|"Bounce" (Remix) (featuring Davido)
|Afropop Song of the Year |
| rowspan="2"|Collaboration of the Year |
| 2022
|"Party" (featuring Bucky Raw) |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Tunes Liberia Music Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
| rowspan="3"|2019
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{won}} |
| "Bounce"
|Song of the Year |rowspan="5"{{nom}} |
| rowspan="4"|2020
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |
| Afropop Artist of the Year |
| rowspan="2"|"Bounce" (Remix) (featuring Davido)
|Best Collaboration |
| Best Video of the Year |