Vietnam’s ‘Hip-Hop Queen’ plays live on German streaming platform
Vietnam’s top female rapper Suboi become the first local performer to appear on Germany’s music platform COLORS earlier this month.
She performed on the platform’s February 2 episode, treating audiences to a new piano-accompanied rendition of « Best Friend, » a track from her album « No Ne » (rough translation: Full).
It was the first time Suboi had played the song live since it was released in 2021.
« Featuring a stripped-back, piano-led instrumentation that creates an intimate atmosphere and gives weight to the lyrics, the track sees Suboi alternate between singing and rapping about a sour relationship, » said a post on the COLORS website.
Suboi spent three years working on the album « No Ne, » which was completed in 2020 and then released in 2021.
She has said that thematically, each of the album’s 10 songs features one of five « tastes »: bitter, spicy, salty, sweet, and sour. « Best Friend » falls into the sour category.
Born in 1990, Suboi, real name Hang Lam Trang Anh, discovered her love for rap at 14. The young autodidact immediately began studying the lyrical styles of like Eminem and Will Smith. She memorized all of the two diametrically-opposed legend’s lyrics.
Hailed as a prodigy, Suboi gained nationwide popularity after performing with Vietnam’s biggest pop star Ho Ngoc Ha. Her combination of « feminine » sensitivity and unafraid « reckless » rap style has won her a huge youth following in Vietnam.
Suboi’s life story, popularity and outspoken lyrics have attained international renown. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and on CNN.
She also caught international media attention when she rapped for former U.S. President Barack Obama when he visited Vietnam in 2016.
When considering the world’s most influential young people, Forbes placed Suboi on its 30 Under 30 Asia list.
COLORS has been compared to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series for it’s simple staging and « anything goes » latitude given to artists.
Alicia Keys, Quavo & Takeoff, Drake, 21 Savage, Ne-Yo, Gunna, Billie Eilish, Joji, and many more worldwide stars have performed on the show.
By Dang Khoa – VnExpress.net – February 6, 2023