Kobazzie
Birth nameKorte Dorbor Bazzie
Born (1989-11-29) November 29, 1989
Voinjama, Lofa County, Liberia
GenresAfropop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2016–present

Korte Dorbor Bazzie (born November 29, 1989), who is known professionally as Kobazzie, is a Liberian singer and songwriter from Voinjama, Lofa County. He was inspired to pursue a career in music after hearing Quincy B's collaborative single with Tan Tan B, titled "State of Emergency". He is the recipient of several accolades, including New Artist of the Year at the 2016 Liberia Music Awards and Afropop Artist of the Year at the 2019 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.

Early life and career

Korte Dorbor Bazzie was born on November 29, 1989, in Voinjama, Lofa County.[1][2] He relocated to Monrovia to further his education and graduated from St. Michael Catholic School.[2] He studied accounting and business management at Cuttington University and graduated in 2017.[2] Prior to pursuing a career in music, he worked as an accountant.[2] Kobazzie met singer and record producer Quincy B while in school and was inspired to sing after hearing the singer's collaborative single with Tan Tan B, titled "State of Emergency".[2][3]

In 2017, he released the Quincy B-produced track "Sleep for What".[4] Kobazzie said he received the song's instrumental from the producer and freestyled the lyrics.[2] "Sleep for What" appeared on Press Play, a 2017 compilation album released by Bilikon Entertainment.[5] Kobazzie told FrontPage Africa that Liberian women inspires him to make music.[2] He was one of the performing acts at the 2017 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and appeared in an episode of BBC African Voices and VOA African Beat series that same year.[2] Kobazzie left Bilikon Entertainment, a record label owned by Lyee Bility.[2] He told the Daily Observer newspaper that his record deal with the label wasn't profitable. A week after leaving the label, Kobazzie released the single "Shout Out". He recorded the song prior to exiting the label and debunked rumours about the song being a diss track.[6]

In 2018, Kobazzie told FrontPage Africa he was working on his 6-track debut extended play, and confirmed that the previously released singles "Check Mike" and "Abelaibah" would appear on the project.[2] On August 3, 2018, Kobazzie released the single "Bounce".[7] It won Song of the Year at the 2019 Liberian Entertainment Awards, and was nominated for the same award at both the 2018 Liberia Music Awards and 2019 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.[8][9][10] The remix of "Bounce", which features guest vocals by Nigerian singer Davido, was released on March 3, 2019.[11] The song was jointly produced by Kizzy W, Benny Sound, and DrumPhase.[12] Its accompanying music video was directed by Simplicity Visuals Studios.[12] The remix of "Bounce" was nominated for Afropop Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year at the 2019 Liberia Music Awards.[13] Moreover, the song's music video was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2020 Liberian Entertainment Awards and for Best Video of the Year at the 2020 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.[14][15]

On September 24, 2021, Kobazzie released the Stonebwoy-assisted single "Everyday".[16] He chose to collaborate with Stonebwoy because he wanted to blend afrobeats with dancehall, and believes the singer has a "different vibe of music".[17] After winning an award at the Liberia People's Choice Awards in 2019, he was told he could collaborate with any African artist and video producer of his choice.[17] "Everyday" was initially scheduled for release in the last week of August 2021, along with its music video.[17]

In May 2022, Kobazzie performed at four musical concerts held across Nimba, Margibi, Grand Bassa, and Montserrado counties.[18] The concerts commemorated the fifth anniversary of Orange S.A.'s arrival in Liberia, and featured additional performances from MC Caro, Stunna, and Kpanto, among others.[18]

Humanatarian works and criticism of a charity foundation

Kobazzie spoke out against rape and gender-based violence issues, and was among a panel of speakers advocating for youth empowerment at the United Nations Symposium in New York.[1] He released the anti-rape song "Say No to Rape", and worked with Stunna and Cralorboi CIC to release the politically inspired track "Say No to Election Violence".[1] Kobazzie urged the Liberian government to prosecute Katie Meyler, the founder of the More Than Me charity organization. He accused her of covering up the sexual abuse scandal at the organization and said her actions were "inhumane and neglectful".[19]

Personal life

Kobazzie has a girl child.[2]

Awards and nominations

Year Recipient Award Result Ref
2017 Himself Best New Artist Nominated [20]
2019 "Bounce" Song of the Year Won [8]
2020 "Pro Poor Life" Nominated [14]
"Bounce" (Remix) (featuring Davido) Best Music Video
Year Recipient Award Result Ref
2016 Himself New Artist of the Year Won [21]
2018 Artist of the Year Nominated [9]
Male Artist of the Year
"Bounce" Song of the Year
2019 Himself Artist of the Year [13]
Male Artist of the Year
"Bounce" (Remix) (featuring Davido) Afropop Song of the Year
Collaboration of the Year
2022 "Party" (featuring Bucky Raw) [22]
Year Recipient Award Result Ref
2019 Himself Artist of the Year Nominated [10]
Afropop Artist of the Year Won [23]
"Bounce" Song of the Year Nominated [10]
2020 Himself Artist of the Year [15]
Afropop Artist of the Year
"Bounce" (Remix) (featuring Davido) Best Collaboration
Best Video of the Year

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "BackToSchool Enrollment Drive with Kobazzie". Bridge Liberia. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Adrienne Tingba (February 13, 2018). "A Chat With Musician Kobazzie: The Boy Who Can't Listen". Front Page Africa. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Linda Poon (August 24, 2014). "If Salt-N-Pepa Told You To Brush Your Teeth, You'd Surely Listen". NPR. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sleep for What". Spotify. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Press Play by Bilikon Ent". Apple Music. April 16, 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Robin Dopoe (20 July 2017). "Liberia: Shout-Out From Kobazzie - 'No Beef With Bilikon'". allAfrica. Daily Observer. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bounce - Single by Kobazzie". Apple Music. August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 "2019 LEA Full Winners List". Plus Liberia. March 18, 2019. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Liberia Music Awards (LMA) 2018 Nominees". Plus Liberia. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "TunesLiberia Music Awards 2019 Full Nominations". Tunes Liberia. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Bounce (Remix) [feat. Davido] - Single by Kobazzie". Apple Music. March 3, 2019. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Kobazzie – "Bounce" ft. Davido". TooXclusive. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. 1 2 Bolaji Alonge (19 November 2019). "Liberia Music Awards 2019: All the winners". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Liberian Entertainment Awards (LEA) 2020 Nominations". Plus Liberia. January 3, 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  15. 1 2 Bolanji Alonge (25 February 2020). "TunesLiberia Music Awards 2020: All the winners". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Everyday (feat. Stonebwoy) - Single by Kobazzie". Apple Music. September 24, 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 Rodney Sieh (11 June 2021). "Liberia: 'Amazing' Kobazzie Project Pairs Liberian Musical Sensation With Ghanaian Afropop Icon, Stonebwoy". allAfrica. Front Page Africa. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Liberia: Orange Celebrates 5th Year Anniversary with Explosive Free Concerts". Liberian Observer. May 26, 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  19. ↑ Lewis S. Teh (October 22, 2018). "Liberian Artist wants Katie Meyler prosecuted". The New Dawn. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Check out the nominees for the 2017 Liberian Entertainment Awards". Talk Media Africa. January 11, 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "2016 Liberia Music Awards Complete Winners List". Liberian Stars View. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  22. ↑ Gabriel Hansen (28 November 2022). "MTN Liberia Music Awards 2022: All the winners". Music in Africa. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  23. ↑ "The Complete List of Tunes Liberia Awards 2019 Winners". Liberian Stars View. February 14, 2019. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
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