Thanapat Bunleang (born Khazitin G. Bonleunge; 11 October 1994), better known by his stage name Thaiboy Digital, is a Thai-Swedish rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Bunleang moved to Stockholm, Sweden at the age of eight[1] and is now based in Bangkok. In addition to his solo work, Bunleang is a member of the group Drain Gang.[2]
Thaiboy Digital | |
|---|---|
 Thaiboy Digital in July 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | 11 October 1994 Khon Kaen, Thailand |
| Origin | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels | Trash Island |
| Member of | Drain Gang |
Biography
editBorn in the Isan region of Thailand, Bunleang's family moved to Sweden from Thailand in 2003 after his mother became a chef in the Austrian embassy in Stockholm.[1]
In his teen years, Bunleang became involved in the city's music scene, joining what would later become Drain Gang and collaborating with local artists including Yung Lean.[3][2]
In 2015, due to the end of his mother's work visa, Bunleang was forced to leave Sweden by Migrationsverket, the Swedish immigration authority, and return to Thailand, settling in Bangkok.[1] Yung Lean attempted to intervene his deportation by starting a Change.org petition and called the Swedish officials "racist assholes."[4] Now back in his home country, Bunleang began recording with local Bangkok artists such as Younggu and Dandee, while remaining a member of Drain Gang and contributing to all of their subsequent releases, including the 2019 release Trash Island which was partially recorded in Bunleang's Bangkok apartment.[5]
My Fantasy World is inspired by Basshunter and Tiësto.[6]
In 2022, after a hiatus of three years, Bunleang released his second album, Back 2 Life.[7] The album follows his journey back to music after a few quiet years, with the theme of "seven years" recurring throughout the album, signifying his determination to make up for lost time.
Personal life
editBunleang grew up with his grandmother and step-grandfather (on his mothers side) in Khon Kaen. His mother Aphantri[8] is half black,[9] which caused bullying at school in Thailand. When Bunleang was 5, his mother got a job as a chef within the Swiss embassy in Bangkok and brought him with her. Bunleang got married on 7 January 2020[10] and his first child, a daughter, was born on 9 February 2020.[11]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Legendary Member (2019)
- My Fantasy World (2020)*
- Back 2 Life (2022)
Mixtapes
edit- Tiger (2014)
- Lord Of Jewels (Return of the Goon) (2015)
- Yin & Yang (2020)
- Nino Lifestyle หัวใจ บางระจัน 3Cha Mix (2024)*
Collaborative mixtapes
edit- GTBSG Compilation (2013) (with Bladee, Ecco2k)
- AvP (2016) (with Bladee)
- D&G (2017) (with Bladee, Ecco2K)
- Trash Island (2019) (with Bladee, Ecco2k)
Extended plays
edit- S.O.S: Suicide or Sacrifice (2017)[12]
- The Promised Future Remixes, Vol. 1 (2023)*
Singles
edit- "Fuck U" (2011)
- "Bank Account" (2013)
- "B With U" (2013)
- "Moon Girl" (2013)
- "Tiger" (2014)
- "G6" (2014)
- "2 The Starz (with Bladee)" (2014)
- "Haters Broke" (2014)
- "2seats" (2015)
- "Forever Turnt" (2015) (with Younggu, Dandee)
- "Lie 2 Me (with Bladee)" (2016)
- "Let Go" (2016)
- "Still in Search of Sunshine (with Bladee)" (2016)
- "Climbing" (2017)
- "Magic" (2017)
- "King Cobra" (2018)
- "Lip Service" (2019) (with Ecco2K)[13]
- "Nervous" (2019)[14]
- "IDGAF" (2019)[15]
- "New City" (2020)[16]
- "Yin & Yang" (2020)[16]
- "Triple S" (2020)
- "I Go I Go" (2020)
- "I'm Fresh" (2022)
- "Som Jag" (2022) (with Bladee)*
- "True Love" (2022) (with Yung Lean)
- "TL;DR" (2024) (with Bladee, Ecco2k)
Guest appearances
edit- Bladee – "Ebay" (2013) (featuring Ecco2K)
- Bladee – "Deletee" (2014)
- Bladee – "Everlasting Flames" (2014)
- Bladee – "Butterfly" (2015 and 2016)
- Yung Lean – "How U Like Me Now?" (2016)
- Yung Lean – "King Cobra" (2018)
- Bladee – "Side by Side" (2018)
- Younggu – "Never Been" (2018) (featuring Twopee Southside, Rahboy)
- Woesum – "Violet Gold" (2021) (featuring Bladee, Yung Lean)
- Woesum – "Only Light" (2021)
- Woesum – Ying & Yang Remix - Remix (2021)
- Bladee – "Inspiration Comes" (2021)
- Yung Lean – "Starz2theRainbow" (2022)
- Bladee – "Requiem" (2023)
- Varg²™ – "Hitty" (2024)
*Under the name Dj Billybool
References
edit- ^ a b c Angell, Jack. "Thaiboy Digital's Next Realm", The Fader, 26 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ a b Barshad, Amos. "Thaiboy Digital's Never-Ending World Tour", The Fader, 20 March 2018. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ Angell, Jack. "Being Bladee", The Fader, 17 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Yung Lean says that the Swedish government wants to "kick Thaiboy Digital out of the country", starts a petition against it | ACCLAIM". 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Caraan, Sophie. "Thaiboy Digital is rising from the ashes", Hypebeast, 12 November 2019. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ Günseli Yalcinkaya (18 November 2022). "On Back 2 Life, Thaiboy Digital is choosing love over darkness". Dazed. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Thaiboy Digital: Back 2 Life". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Thaiboy Digital - Draw My Life (2012)". YouTube.
- ^ "Thaiboy Digital's never-ending world tour".
- ^ @thaiboygoon (9 January 2020). "I love you Lil Mami in this life and every life after💖💖💖💖💍 01-07-2020" – via Instagram.
- ^ @thaiboygoon (23 February 2020). "09.02.2020 Lalita Lil Lily, my baby Snow Moon🌙💞 Love u forever -Big Dada" – via Instagram.
- ^ Mitchell, Aurora. "The Thai rapper finding strength in sacrifice", Dazed & Confused, 23 June 2017. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ Maicki, Salvatore. "Thaiboy Digital announces debut album Legendary Member", The Fader, 15 August 2019. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ Ingvaldsen, Torsten. "Thaiboy Digital's 'Legendary Member' Blends Refined Cloudrap With Ambient Pop", Hypebeast, 25 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ Ingvaldsen, Torsten. "Thaiboy Digital Doesn't Care About Haters on New Single "IDGAF"", Hypebeast, 20 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 November 2019.
- ^ a b "THAIBOY DIGITAL – YIN & YANG". year0001.com. YEAR0001. Retrieved 15 April 2020.