Nguyễn Quang Anh (born March 18, 2001), commonly known by his stage name Rhyder (stylized in all caps) or Quang Anh Rhyder, is a Vietnamese singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. Rising to fame after winning the reality competition The Voice Kids of Vietnam in 2013, he began his musical career as a singer. Despite his young age at the time, he was highly regarded by critics and audiences alike for his vocal ability, musicality, and engaging performance style.
A long time later, Quang Anh changed his stage name to Rhyder and regained public attention when he participated in the third season of the competition Rap Viet in 2023. At the end of that year, he released the single "Chịu cách mình nói thua" (Accepting Defeat), which achieved significant commercial success. In 2024, he continued to make his mark as the runner-up on the first season of the show Anh trai "say hi", while also earning a spot in the final five-member winning lineup.
Early life Rhyder was born Nguyễn Quang Anh on March 18, 2001, in Thanh Hóa to a family facing significant financial hardships. His father, Nguyễn Văn Tâm, was a tour driver, while his mother, Lê Thị Nghĩa, and older brother, Nguyễn Quang Thắng, were both performers in the Thanh Hóa provincial chèo troupe. Inheriting a passion for the arts from his mother and brother early on, Quang Anh was able to sing karaoke at the age of 3, even though he was still illiterate. When he was 4 or 5 years old, his parents divorced due to marital conflicts, after which his mother had to work as a grocery seller and then a sanitation worker to make a living and raise the two brothers.
While other family members pursued traditional arts, Quang Anh was particularly interested in upbeat genres like rock and dance; he also loved dancing and acrobatics to the thumping music whenever it played. During his school years, he also competed for his school's soccer team, which won a city-level award. In 2011, Quang Anh was diagnosed with meningitis and had to undergo hospital treatment for a period of time. Around this same time, the Thanh Hóa Radio and Television Station organized the 8th City-wide Red Flamboyant Singing Festival. Despite having only recovered for about two months and still being in weak health, he hid it from his family to participate in the competition and ultimately won first prize with the performance "Lý kéo chài." From then on, he began participating more in local cultural and artistic activities, and also acted in several television skits.
Due to his family's tight financial situation, Quang Anh did not have many opportunities for formal music education. Most of his singing was self-taught through television, tapes, and the Internet, as well as guidance from his older brother. It wasn't until he began participating in the Giọng hát Việt nhí (The Voice Kids Vietnam) competition that his mother asked a vocal teacher, Phạm Hoàng Hiền, to teach him a few songs for the contest.
Career 2013–2018: The Voice Kids and rise to fame
In 2013, while attending 6th grade at Ly Tu Trong Middle School (Thanh Hoa City), Nguyen Quang Anh registered to participate in the television program The Voice Kids during its very first season. Upon learning about the competition, he tried to convince his mother to let him audition, but was initially refused due to their difficult family circumstances. However, faced with her son's determination and passion for music, she borrowed money from neighbors to arrange for the two brothers to go to Hanoi for the preliminary round. There, he performed the song "Rock vầng trăng" (Rocking the Moon) in front of musician Phuong Uyen and was immediately moved to the next round. After passing an additional audition with the band, he was selected to participate in the official filming in Ho Chi Minh City.
Entering the Blind Auditions, Quang Anh performed the song "Đám cưới chuột" (The Rats' Wedding), playing to his strengths and impressing with his powerful vocals and performance technique. This performance received votes from all four coaches, and he decided to join the team of coaches Hồ Hoài Anh and Lưu Hương Giang. Later in the Battle round, he was grouped with Bach Phuc Nguyen and Do Tri Dung for a performance of the song "Come Together," and became the only one chosen to move forward from the group. Throughout the live shows, Quang Anh continued to attract attention and widespread support from the audience as he constantly demonstrated his versatility across various musical styles with a series of works such as "Chiếc khăn Piêu," "Sắc màu," "Thềnh thềnh oong ơi," and "Đá trông chồng." With 215,903 votes from the audience in the finale, he surpassed two opponents, Phương Mỹ Chi and Tran Ngoc Duy, to claim the championship title of the program, although his victory immediately sparked a wave of conflicting debate. The entire 500 million VND prize he won from the competition was dedicated to renovating his family's home as well as for his future studies. Immediately after The Voice Kids, Quang Anh signed an official contract to become an exclusive singer for Cát Tiên Sa, the organizer and producer of the show.
Returning to his hometown after the competition, Quang Anh continued his studies at school and received many invitations to perform at various large and small venues. To avoid affecting his studies, his family only allowed him to perform on weekends. In September and October 2013, to show gratitude to the audience, Quang Anh participated in a series of charity programs such as "Học đường tươi sáng" (Bright School), "Vì ngày mai tươi sáng" (For a Bright Tomorrow), and "Vì một Việt Nam khỏe mạnh" (For a Healthy Vietnam). In January 2014, Quang Anh was a guest in singer Đan Trường's Liveshow "Vẫn Mãi Một Nụ cười" (Forever a Smile).
During the 2013 Mai Vàng Awards, Quang Anh was nominated in the top 5 of the "Male Light Music Singer" category, ranking just behind the winner Noo Phước Thịnh. Nevertheless, the organizers decided to grant him a special award to encourage the male singer to develop his musical talent in the future. Additionally, he was included in the list of the 10 most popular singers of the year for this award.
In April 2014, Quang Anh had his first overseas tour in Australia along with artists: Hoài Linh, Chí Tài, Trường Giang, Hoài Lâm and performed a very harmonious duet with singer Bằng Kiều on the song "Sắc Màu." In October 2014, Quang Anh was a guest in the Finale of The Voice Kids 2014 and performed the song "Đồ chơi đất" by musician Luu Thien Huong. In November 2014, Quang Anh appeared in Liveshow 5 of the program Cặp đôi hoàn hảo (The Perfect Couple), supporting the duo Duong Hoang Yen and Ha Duy with the medley "Quê nhà – Gặp mẹ trong mơ." In December 2014, Quang Anh participated in the The Voice Kids 2014 gala night, a performance gathering prominent contestants from both seasons of the show.
In June 2014, under the guidance of Ho Hoai Anh and Luu Huong Giang, Quang Anh auditioned and was admitted to the Intermediate Jazz percussion class at the Vietnam National Academy of Music with a very high score. He and his mother moved to Hanoi to facilitate his living and studying at the school.
2018–2024: Operating under a new stage name and returning with Rap Viet In late 2018, nearly six years after winning The Voice Kids Vietnam, Quang Anh released his first musical product titled "Anh quen với cô đơn" (I'm used to being lonely), which he composed himself. Performed with electronic dance music (EDM) elements that fit the trends of the time, the song achieved moderate impact and viewership despite not being widely promoted. Along with the appearance of "Anh quen với cô đơn," he also decided to adopt the new stage name Quang Anh Rhyder and revealed many changes in his image and personal style. Regarding the choice of the stage name Rhyder, the male singer shared that the name is a combination of the stage names of rapper Rhymastic and singer-songwriter Justin Bieber, carrying the meaning of a "warrior." Following that in March 2019, Quang Anh collaborated with female singer Kiều Phạm for her new song "Yêu thương nhạt màu" (Faded Love), in which he contributed vocals as a rapper for the first time.
In early 2021, after completing his studies at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Rhyder moved to Ho Chi Minh City to develop his career. He and some friends founded the group DaGoats House (DG House) – a rap group consisting mainly of members born in the Year of the Goat 2003 – and released several products with the group. He also participated in several music television programs such as Cùng hát lên nào or The Best Song, but none achieved much success. Continuously releasing new works without attracting attention from the general public during this time made Quang Anh struggle to regain his fame, and at times he fell into a state of deadlock. He once expressed his intention to return to his hometown to do business, but ultimately chose to stay in the city to persevere with his profession.
In mid-2023, Rhyder surprised the media by appearing in the third season of Rap Viet, a talent search competition for the rap genre. He had known about the program two years prior and had signed up for the second season but did not pass the preliminary round. Entering the competition, he chose the FB Boiz composition "Để em rời xa" (To let you go) to develop into the song "Để anh một mình" (Leave me alone) for his performance in the audition round, blending melodic rap and R&B. With his vocal advantage, he took on both the lead vocals and the rap parts in the work without needing a supporting singer. This performance received selections from all four coaches, including Andree Right Hand, whose team he decided to join. Despite showing good hook-singing and composing abilities, in the early stages, Rhyder faced considerable doubt and controversy regarding his heavy focus on singing in a show that required rap expertise – an issue pointed out by coach Thai VG during his face-off round performance. His declared victory over opponent Dubbie in this round further fueled the controversy, as a contestant who barely rapped could still advance deep into a competition like Rap Viet. It was only when he moved to the breakthrough round that he showcased more of his rapping ability through the song "Từ chối hiểu" (Refuse to understand) with a drum performance integrated into the act. Despite debates about borrowing melodies from South Korean rapper Ash Island, Quang Anh still won a spot in the final with 3 out of 7 votes, surpassing opponents Long Nón Lá, Ogenus, and Captain in the group. In the final night, he brought the rap track "Ánh đèn sân khấu 2" (Stage Lights 2) in collaboration with coach Andree Right Hand, marking the first time he performed a full rap throughout the entire act. Although he could not finish the competition in the overall top 3, Rhyder left a strong impression with performances that went viral on social media, contributing to his name shining bright again and becoming a promising factor after the show.
Coming out of Rap Viet, Quang Anh Rhyder took time to perfect and release the single "Chịu cách mình nói thua" (Accepting the way we lose) in late November 2023, collaborating with two rappers CoolKid and Ban. After five days of release, the music video (MV) of the song took the top spot on YouTube's trending music chart with over 2 million views, making him the first contestant after the end of Rap Viet 2023 to have a product reach No. 1 on YouTube trending. In early 2024, he reunited with his mentor from the competition, Andree Right Hand, in the new song "Dân chơi sao phải khóc" (Why should players cry), continuing to create another success by attracting 3.7 million views after more than a week on YouTube along with the number one position on the platform's music trending tab.
2024–present: Anh trai "say hi" and debut album