On 16/9, Tien Dat premiered his music video "Bo ban tay do ra" (Let Go of That Hand) in Ho Chi Minh City, with guest appearances by stars Ngoc Son, Phuong Thanh, and Kim Thu. After watching the rapper's performance with his dance crew, Ngoc Son commented, "Tien Dat dances well, keeping up with current trends while maintaining his unique style,".

Tien Dat began his music career in 1995 as a dancer with the Hoang Thong Dance Crew, which gave him the opportunity to perform in one of Ngoc Son's songs. During their collaboration, he admired Ngoc Son’s ability to rap and dance well despite being a folk and traditional music singer. Recognizing Tien Dat's passion, Ngoc Son encouraged him to pursue music. Guided by his mentor, Tien Dat collected numerous CDs and learned more about hip-hop and rap performance techniques.

Tien Dat's first rap performance was in Thanh Thao's song "Chang & Nang" (Boy & Girl), thanks to an introduction from Ngoc Son. This performance earned him recognition, leading him to pursue a solo career.

Tien Dat and singer Ngoc Son (right). Photo: Provided by the artist

"Bo ban tay do ra" is the first release from the rapper's EP "Toi:30" (Me:30), which includes six songs and will be released over the final three months of this year. Tien Dat was drawn to the catchy rhythm of Pham Viet Hoang's demo and decided to invest in a music video. In the video, he plays a waiter in a bar who discovers his girlfriend's infidelity.

Tien Dat says he isn't pressured to compete with Gen Z singers and rappers, instead focusing on self-improvement. He admits that he used to only sing the correct notes. After a year of vocal training, he learned how to convey emotion through lyrics. "I still rap, but I sing more now, trying ballad and R&B to offer more variety to my audience," he said.

The 44-year-old Tien Dat began his artistic journey as a member of the Hoang Thong dance group, specializing in breakdancing. He later transitioned to rap and quickly gained recognition in the underground scene. Tien Dat rose to fame in the 2000s under the stage name Mr. Dee, with popular tracks like "Vui cung Mr. Dee" (Fun with Mr. Dee) and "Chi Pheo". The rapper has released several albums, including "D", "Romeo", "Hip Hop", "Mr. Dee Collection", and "Giao thong" (Traffic).

Hoang Dung