‘Godfather’ of Tibetan rap MC Tenzin spits karmic rhymes, a pioneer of home-grown hip-hop scene
- Some younger rappers with Tibetan roots are nudging boundaries by expressing cultural pride and Buddhist identity in coded lyrics
- Chinese hip hop had a huge boost with the 2017 launch of the ‘The Rap of China’ and Tibetan fans say Buddhist chants fit rap’s rhythms
In his tracksuit, silver chain and sparkling trainers, MC Tenzin would look like any other rapper if not for the backdrop of towering Himalayan peaks in his videos and rhyme-dropping about karma.
The self-described “Godfather” of Tibetan rap is a leading light of the region’s hip-hop scene, where tight social constraints are at odds with the in-your-face art form.
Most, however – MC Tenzin included – give politics a wide berth to be able to continue creating their music.
“I am a little bit different [from Western rappers]. I do my best to create a positive experience,” says the 36-year-old, whose real name is Tenzin Dhondup.
He discovered hip hop listening to American giants like Eminem and 50 Cent in his home village of Pasum near the foot of Mount Everest, connecting so much with the music that it felt like “home”.
“I listened to them so much sometimes my ears hurt,” he said during an interview at a bar in the Tibetan capital Lhasa’s nightlife district.
