Born in a middle-class family in Makwanpur and brought up in Pokhara, Nobel Basnet, widely known by his stage name Jamesy, was an average student in school.
Growing up as a kid, he was surrounded by books. His parents always encourage him to read books of various genres from poetry to fiction or nonfiction.
But after school, a friend of his introduced rap music to his life. During that time, rap music was in its growth stage in Nepal. When he heard hip-hop music for the first time, he was so engrossed in rap for its raw expression and storytelling. Back then, he used to listen to 50 Cent, J Hus, Meekz as they inspired him with their powerful lyrics and real-life connections.
With the time passing by, he started dreaming of becoming a successful rapper like them, triggering him to write verses. He was very good at wordplay skills as he spent most of leisure time reading novels and poems in his school life and had an aptitude for appreciating and understanding music.
At the beginning, his writing skill was not on par with other rappers in Nepal, compelling him to work harder than ever. By degrees, he was growing in his writing skill.
But there was limited exposure, platforms and even it was not easy for him to record the song as there was a lot of negative stigmas about rappers.
He released his debut song ‘Euro Gang’ in 2019, tapping into the Nepali rap industry. The song could not become an instant hit. He, however, exerted himself with significant effort and dedication and released another song GNVMAN in 2020. The song made him popular in the first place.
In October, 2024, he released another song named ‘Amsterdam’. Soon after the release, the song became popular overnight and hit the airwaves of major cities of Nepal, which made him the person he is today.
Till date, the song has amassed 14 million views, making him one of the country’s popular rappers.
So far, he has performed in many places from vibrant streets of Kathmandu to the iconic stages of Europe and beyond.
In just a short span of six months—from November 2024 to April 2025—Jamesy has performed at over 80 events across Nepal and various international cities. This attainment has not only established him as one of the busiest artists but also coagulated him into a rising star.
His journey has already seen sold-out concerts in Australia, Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong, and the UK.
With irresistible impetus, Jamesy’s programs are in pipeline in Australia (again), South Korea, Bahrain, Dubai, Japan, and more.
The demand for his shows continues to grow as his fan base expands far beyond the Nepali diaspora, reaching new territories where his music speaks to hearts regardless of language or location.
Soon, he will be releasing his new songs “Wagwan Remix”, a fiery rework of a crowd favorite, and “Dior”, an exciting international collaboration featuring Chinoir, among others, sparking a lot of curiosity among his fans.
His inimitable fusion of Nepali culture with international styles has made him one of the most sought artists.
More than just an artist, Jamesy is a movement—a symbol of what it means to dream big and take Nepali music to the world.
“My music is more into trap, focusing on hard-hitting beats, catchy hooks, and lyrical storytelling,” Jamsey said, adding, “Though there may be elements of drill in some tracks, my style is predominantly influenced by the trap genre.”
In the question, where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years, he said that he would see himself in the international platforms in the next five to 10 years performing among thousands of audiences and expanding his influence beyond Nepal.
“Additionally, I plan to contribute to the growth of Nepal’s hip-hop scene, mentoring upcoming talents and possibly launching my own label or management company,” he further said.
