Here are a few things to know about the politician.
A rapper known for socially conscious lyrics
Born in Naradevi, Kathmandu on April 27, 1990 to a father who practiced traditional Ayurvedic medicine and a homemaker mother, Shah stands out among Nepali politicians, not only for his signature black rectangular glasses, but for his roots in hip-hop.
An aide of Shah told Reuters that Shah had an early penchant for poetry that evolved into an affinity for rap music. Shah drew inspiration from American musicians Tupac Shakur and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
Shah earned a civil engineering undergraduate degree and a master’s in structural engineering. But while pursuing studies, Shah was already making an impression in Nepal’s hip-hop scene in the early 2010s, after he released the single “Sadak Balak,” a song about street children and income inequality, and joined a popular rap battle series on YouTube.
That rap battle put Shah on the map. Shah swiftly rose to prominence, winning Nepali youth over through rap songs containing socially conscious lyrics. One of his biggest hits, “Balidan,” has almost 13 million views since its 2020 YouTube release and starts with the lines: “All the people who protect the country are cowards / All the leaders are thieves, they are looting the country.” His other song, “Nepal Haseko,” became an anthem during last year’s protests, and already has more than 10 million views on YouTube.
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