29 August 2018, Kathmandu
Suraj Lamsal is a brightly shining star in Nepal’s hip hop and rap music firmament. Kathmandu-born Suraj started his foray in rap music over 10 years ago as a rapper in the Nepali language song “Hereko Timilai” sung by Sapana Shree.
“Generally hip-hop and rap music are treated synonymously”, says Lamsal, “but there are people who treat rap music genre as part of the broader hip hop music genre.” Then he explained the birth and growth of the rap music genre starting from the inner city African Americans in the 1970s to the present times.
Lamsal has given voice in about 125 songs, which includes both hip hop and rap genres. His songs have also made their way to 20 Nepali language films.
He has collaborated with professional singers like Himal Sagar, Rajesh Payal Rai, Pramod Kharel, Sapana Shree and Manisha Pokharel.
Lamsal’s recorded songs have been broadcast by radio and FM stations. Besides, he has sung live in TV concerts as well as outdoor concerts.
Asked to “define” rap music, his simple and short reply was “rhythm and poetry”. He added: “In rap music, the singer ought to have the ability to sing lyrically and rhythmically and also be mindful of the musical beat.”
When asked what it takes to succeed as a rapper, Lamsal explained: ” The understanding of rhythmic and rhyming speech is the essential prerequisite.” He added, “Lyrics for rap music ought to be suited for rap flow.”
43-year old Lamsal, however, is more than just a rapper. He has also been into event management for quite some time and also has a deep longing for spiritual evolution. Therefore, despite the substantial amount of time consumed by his rap and event management commitments, he finds manages time for meditation and several activities aimed at inner development.
“Music is an art wherein you give expression to the feelings of the heart by way of lyrics and arrangement of sounds of musical instruments in a particular way”, opined Lamsal.
Asked about his philosophy of life, Lamsal disclosed with a smile that “there ought to be a balance between body, mind, heart, and spirit … My goal is to attain that critical balance.”
