PHOTOS: COURTESY

NAVEEN ISLAM TOREE

For many aspiring musicians, the journey begins in a studio. For Jahidul Islam Hridoy, better known as JD47, it began at a tea stall.

Today, the rapper, songwriter and composer from Dhaka has built a growing following through songs such as Marathon , Two Percent , Ashona , Krishnochura , Maati and Bullet , among others. Yet, behind the music lies a story moulded by hardship and resilience.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Hridoy was candid about his musical journey. Unlike many artistes who enter music through mentorship, institutions or family influence, he says his connection to music came purely from passion.

The turning point came in 2021. Hridoy’s family-operated business had been doing well, but life soon took an unexpected turn. The financial impact of Covid-19, coupled with the death of his younger sister Samia from jaundice, placed the family under immense pressure. During this period, he stepped away from his studies for nearly two years and took on responsibilities to support his family.

To make ends meet, Hridoy worked as a delivery rider and later took a job at the airport. Eventually, he opened Samia Coffee and Tea Stall, naming it after his late sister. While these experiences helped him survive one of the most difficult phases of his life, he gradually realised that this was not where he wanted his journey to end.

“I understood that this wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he recalled.

Encouragement came from the people around him. Senior friends motivated him to continue pursuing his dreams, while one friend lent him Tk 10,000 when he needed support the most. Inspired by watching his peers complete their university education, Hridoy decided to return to the classroom and rebuild his future.

Now in his eighth semester of a BBA programme at European University of Bangladesh, he balances academic life with running a tea stall and a grocery store. The challenge is demanding, but one he has learned to embrace.

His connection to music, however, began much earlier. Before entering the commercial music scene, Hridoy would perform casually in his neighbourhood for fun. It was through these local performances that he was introduced to musician Tanjib Sarowar, an encounter that opened up new possibilities for him as an artiste. He also credits E K Majumder Esty for giving him commercial exposure.

The stage name JD47 also has a personal story behind it. “JD” comes from Jahid, while “47” was inspired by the nickname his friends gave him, referencing the iconic AK-47.

Alongside his solo work, Hridoy is also associated with Local Bangla Poetry, or LBP, a group with whom he performs from time to time. The group includes HRT, Toxic, Forazi, MJ Flame and Luci5, with music producer Hamid Tajowar Alif also associated with their work.

As his musical career gained momentum, support from his university community became an important source of motivation. He credits faculty members for encouraging him throughout his journey. His recent work includes a short rap portion in the background music of the film Malik , featured during Arifin Shuvoo’s entry scene.

Despite his growing profile as an artiste, Hridoy remains grounded about his ambitions. While music is his passion, he is cautious about allowing it to become his sole source of income.

“When passion turns into a profession, it doesn’t always sit well with me,” he said.

Instead, his goal is simple: to become established and create a stable future for himself and his family. He loves his work and dreams of expanding his business someday.

From long shifts as a delivery worker to lecture halls, tea stalls and recording sessions, JD47’s story is one of a kind. For the young artiste, success was never about overnight fame. He is more interested in moving forward one step, one song and one dream at a time.