Den Vau - the rapper who always knows how to give...

(PLVN) - In 2023, singer Den Vau (real name Nguyen Duc Cuong) was the only artist to receive the National Volunteer Award and Artist for the Community Award for his music video "Cooking for You". Recently, Den was also nominated as one of the 20 nominees for the Outstanding Young Vietnamese Faces of 2023.

Over 30,000 children in mountainous areas receive free meals.

“...We learn to give because we know that giving will bring much in return…/Because when we give away smiles, worries will drift far away…/Giving away happiness will bring back double, triple…”. These are the emotionally charged lyrics of Den Vau's song "Cooking for You" that have touched the hearts of the audience.

Rapper Den Vau, whose real name is Nguyen Duc Cuong, was born in 1989 in Ha Long (Quang Ninh). Den Vau is the first artist to be named four times consecutively on Billboard Vietnam's Top Vietnamese Songs chart in 2022. He received the Green Wave Award in 2023 in the categories of Male Singer of the Year and Song of the Year.

The music video "Cooking for You," released in mid-May 2023, features a melodious tune and simple lyrics, telling the story of young people's journey to the highlands to visit children at two schools: the Sa Tong Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School (Muong Cha, Dien Bien ).

In particular, after the release of "Cooking for Children," Hoang Hoa Trung, the head of the "Nurturing Children" group, emotionally shared that more than 1,000 children had been adopted. On social media, young people also contributed to spreading the message from this MV and introducing the project to everyone. However, few people know that even before that, the rapper of numerous beloved hit songs had been silently supporting and participating in the project's efforts to raise children for the past 6 years, since 2018.

“Before I built this school, hundreds of schools had already been built. Before I started raising this child, tens of thousands of children had already received meals. I'm not the first, and I certainly won't be the last. Doing good doesn't necessarily mean you need to do something extraordinary, nor do you need to be a great person to do good. A hair clip for a little girl, a ball for a little boy, some teddy bears, a delicious meal for a child. Anyone can do those things. And to do good, you also need to learn. Fortunately, in this life, there are countless people who are dedicating themselves to society every day. These examples and actions are the lesson I learn from. I think that when everyone looks to good deeds to learn from and follow, society will become so much better,” Den Vau expressed.

What was particularly special was that when he saw the images of the "Nurturing Children" group, he was reminded of his own childhood, when he also received much help from others. He was deeply moved to see so many charitable groups coming to the school to give the children milk, pens, notebooks, and other supplies.

Those things, of course, don't immediately change the children's lives, but they bring them joy, and that joy motivates them to go to school, making them more enthusiastic about it. From that, I thought, if we bring such joy to the children, they will love going to school, won't they? And their lives will surely change when they gain knowledge…

With the money earned from YouTube for the song "Cooking for You," Den Vau has sponsored over 1 billion VND to build two schools in Lai Chau and Cao Bang. Den Vau has also sponsored 690 million VND to build two schools in Son La and Dien Bien; sponsored the "Nurturing Children" project with over 160 million VND, supporting 30 students for 4 years; and sponsored the "Spring Journey - Tet Reunion 2024" program of the Ho Chi Minh City Student Support Center to provide transportation for 2,000 disadvantaged students to return home for Tet.

When writing the song "Cooking for You," Den Vau only thought of the children in the highlands, but it was his philanthropic heart for the community that brought him immense happiness that he probably never imagined. It's not just about awards, the love and respect of many people, but also about the positive values ​​he has brought and spread to the community, "awakening" compassion to join hands for the community, because, as Den said: "Compassion and solidarity are deeply ingrained in the Vietnamese people; it's an identity that can never fade away."

This is clearly demonstrated when the song "Cooking for You," with its positive message from the "Nurturing Children" project, reached over 39 million views on YouTube, creating a buzz among young people. Over 100 articles, television channels, and TikTok accounts reported on it, resulting in over 30,000 highland students receiving subsidized meals and generating over 30 successful fundraising construction projects for the "Power 2000" project – a project within the "Nurturing Children" ecosystem aimed at raising funds to build schools in mountainous regions…

Beautiful, healing lyrics, not just for young people.

Den Vau was honored with the 2023 National Volunteer Award. (Photo: Facebook of the person).

"A Vietnamese person who raps," is the concise, unpretentious self-description of Den Vau on his Facebook page with 5.1 million followers. Once a sanitation worker, he later entered the world of music and rose to fame. Den has transformed rap music, often perceived by the mainstream audience as edgy and powerful from American culture, into melodies and lyrics with profound meaning that are distinctly Vietnamese.

Before achieving fame, Den Vau struggled as a beach cleaner in Ha Long (Quang Ninh) for seven years. In his rap song "Thank You," he describes those days as a time when he "lived aimlessly without ambition." Behind the complexities of life, Den Vau maintained his passion for music as a way to heal his soul amidst the uncertainties of youth. Den Vau mainly learned through self-study, drawing inspiration from early rappers like LK, Eddy Viet, and DSK.

Den Vau confided that the computer his mother bought him was the tool that fueled his passion for rap music and helped him compose his first songs. Later, he never forgot the moment he bought his mother a washing machine with the meager earnings from his first show.

And the hit song "Let's Run Away Together" was a dream that seemed beyond the reach of Den - a sanitation worker who only considered music a simple joy in life. Before that, no one expected that this rugged young man, who pursued street music, would step onto the awards stage, bringing the most genuine emotions of himself and his life to touch the hearts of millions of viewers.

Subsequently, Den Vau continued to release and achieve success with many musical products. In addition, he won numerous awards at prestigious award ceremonies, most notably winning six categories at the 2021 Green Wave Awards with the song "Hide and Seek".

Having lived in many places and worked many different jobs from a young age, Den's music is always real, simple, like storytelling. All his energy is poured into the deeply personal lyrics. Behind each of his rap verses is a story about himself.

The song "Thank You" reflects the past seven years working as a beach garbage collector. The journey from hardship to success is encapsulated in ten years: "Some people come, some people go, and some people stay / Sometimes wise, and sometimes foolish / Sometimes sad, sometimes glorious, and sometimes triumphant / Some days laugh, some days cry, and some days rejoice."

Drawing from his own emotions, Den Vau has "hit the mark" with the problems young people face in life and evoked empathy from them. These include feelings of "boredom and lack of enthusiasm," the harsh rules and judgments of society, the pursuit of fame, and the unintentional humiliations that draw us into an inescapable vortex of the "crowded and bustling city," making us want to leave everything behind.

This is the story of me and my work in front of a computer. The days of going to work early and coming home late, with meager wages, seem to be something we can encounter anywhere, with anyone in modern life. Every word, along with the harsh realities faced daily, sometimes forces young people to choose to "smile like the summer sun, but feel the chill of winter in their hearts."

However, Den Vau's songs don't express pessimism at all. Den's music is simple and open. Because ultimately, he wants to bring positivity and beauty, making the listener's soul feel comfortable and peaceful.

Although Den Vau's music reflects life, containing both harshness and sometimes deep emotions, it ultimately offers answers for many young people still struggling in the fast-paced modern world.

After more than 15 years in showbiz, Den Vau realizes that his passion for work is even stronger than when he first started his career. He makes music because of his own urge, not to achieve this or that title…

According to Den Vau, his actions stemmed purely from his innocence and a desire to serve, yet they were recognized by the community and his audience. This served as a reminder for him to always contribute and share with the community.

And with a philanthropic heart, Den Vau said that in the future, using his songwriting abilities and singing skills, he hopes to continue participating in community support activities to spread positive values ​​in life to a wider audience.

In life, success is primarily due to one's own efforts. But sometimes, a push or inspiration from someone is needed. Den Vau's first source of inspiration was Gabrielle – a foreign volunteer who came to Ha Long Bay to teach English to children in the floating villages. Wanting to improve his English, he often spoke with her.

Once, he inadvertently shared that he was practicing writing rap, but lacked confidence and didn't dare let anyone hear it. Gabrielle offered to listen and commented that it was "quite good." Den didn't believe her and thought she was just praising him for fun. But the volunteer insisted: "You're doing well, trust me, because I've been listening to rap music since you were a kid." For Den, that was a huge encouragement that gave him the courage to put his music online.

Therefore, he advised young people that passion is something they should have, and if they find a passion for themselves, they should find a way to pursue it. Even if they have to worry about making ends meet, they should still dedicate some time and effort to it. Regardless of where their passion will lead them, at least it will bring them joy. That joy is the energy that makes them enthusiastic about life…

Source: http://baophapluat.vn/den-vau-chang-rapper-luon-biet-cho-di-post506733.html