Over the years, Den's music has brought positive energy to the community, giving this 1989-born artist a prominent place in the music market.
Not just on social media, but also on stage. It's not just young people who like Den's music; even young children sometimes hum along to Den's rap lyrics…
Last March, Den became one of the 10 outstanding young Vietnamese figures of 2023 of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; and was honored in the Dedication Music Awards in two categories: "Male Singer of the Year" and "Music Video of the Year" (with the song "Cooking for You").
Standing on stage to receive the Dedication Award, Den expressed his surprise at winning such an important award: "I still thought that Rap music wasn't widely accepted, but I can't believe that people have given me such a great honor, to stand here at the Dedication Award Ceremony, at the Grand Theater. I believe that the shining star of the Dedication Award will always be a guiding light, helping artists shine and bring music to the public."
Den further revealed: "I'm not exactly humble either; being a rapper, I have my own kind of arrogance, but thankfully my eyes can still take in the images of so much effort, and my ears can still hear the sounds of so much hard work out there, so I know I'm truly lucky."
He also admitted: "I know for sure that I was lucky. Without that luck, a rapper wouldn't even dream of winning the Dedication Award! I'm fortunate to have emerged in an era of open and tolerant music. Thank you for all the love and appreciation."
Let me also elaborate on the music video "Cooking for You," which has been widely listened to and talked about recently. Released on May 13, 2023, this MV tells the story of Den Vau and young singer PiaLinh (Huong Linh) visiting children at the Sa Tong Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School (Muong Cha, Dien Bien ).
The music video captivated viewers with its simple, sincere storytelling style, focusing on the journey of children in mountainous regions as they seek literacy. Through this, the humanistic message of sharing and love between people is highlighted.
Den stated that all revenue from listens and views of this song will be donated to charitable organizations and funds to provide meals and build schools for children in remote areas.
The revenue from the music video "Cooking for You" to support this noble cause comes from two sources: revenue from the music video on YouTube and the audio version on digital music platforms and social media (Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, etc.).
On his fan page, Den shared very specific and transparent information about the source of the money, including photographic evidence and transaction photos, which further reassured and gained the trust of his fans.
As of March 18th this year, Den has publicly disclosed the revenue from his music video "Cooking for You" three times, totaling approximately 1.3 billion VND, so that generous donors can closely track it.
Rapper Den Vau, whose real name is Nguyen Duc Cuong, was born in Ha Long (Quang Ninh). His musical journey is quite unique. After graduating from high school, he immediately started working as a beach cleaner in Ha Long City (Quang Ninh), a job he held for seven years. However, he also took unpaid leave and, together with his younger brother, opened a coffee shop to earn a living and connect with like-minded people. The shop was losing money, but he continued working to cover expenses and maintain the business, ultimately keeping it a source of joy. He finally quit his job and closed the shop in 2016.
He loves rap, writes rap, and sings rap. 2009 is considered the year Den first ventured into rap. His early rap songs, such as "Let's Run Away Together," "Small Path," "Hide and Seek," and "Two Million Years," were well-received by friends and some others, which motivated Den to delve deeper into music.
"I once wanted a safe and stable life, so I chose to be a sanitation worker. Then I realized that society changes every day, and nothing is truly safe. When you bravely close one door, another will open. If you feel too stuck, find a different path. You can only do your job well if you feel comfortable," Den once shared.
Den initially came to rap to express the feelings of a young man yearning to pursue music. The major, decisive turning point was when he and his friends went on a cross-Vietnam trip. At each stop, Den sang for everyone.
And during that journey, Den was unexpectedly invited to sing in Hue. “That was the first time I performed on a professional stage and received a fee of 4 million VND. It was a very special experience because I had never received such a large sum of money before, and I never thought I could perform in front of an audience.”
Then, during a trip to Ha Giang, witnessing many people there who were suffering more than himself but still always smiling, made Den realize many positive things and he followed them.
Now, for Den, rapping is about "motivating himself and encouraging others." Den's latest music video, "Music of the Forest," released on March 4th, revolves around a group of children going into the forest to plant trees and explore nature.
Composing his first song about nature and the environment, Den wanted to convey the message: "Even a small but practical action from each person can help protect the environment. Let's plant more trees together, contributing to a greener living space. Den believes that protecting the environment is also protecting our own lives."
The reason for choosing the stage name "Den Vau" stems from a story. Den recounted: "When I was little, a neighbor saw that I was dark-skinned and called me Den. When I started playing music, people started calling me Den Vau, so I kept it. A bad name makes it easier to raise me."
The "personal narratives" of Den Vau
* There is no single formula for gaining audience support for a song. Therefore, everything Den does is completely spontaneous, stemming from a desire to serve the community.
* People keep saying Den is humble, but in reality, Den isn't humble at all. Den knows what the audience and the public give him; otherwise, he would just remain a social media phenomenon.
* Music changes every day and every hour. Sometimes, after waking up one morning, Den realizes his music has become very outdated.
* Den believes that music that touches the hearts of the audience will be well-received. Audiences will always support all artists who produce quality artistic works.
* Passion is something you should have, and if you find a passion for yourself, find a way to pursue it, even while worrying about making ends meet. You should still dedicate some time and effort to it. Regardless of where your passion will lead you, at least it will bring you joy. That joy is the energy that makes you enthusiastic about life.
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