Krsna (rapper)
Krishna Kaul, better known by the stage name Krsna (stylised as KR$NA), and formerly known as YoungProzpekt, is a rapper and songwriter from New Delhi, India.[1][2] He is one of the earliest rappers to emerge in the Indian Hip Hop scene in the mid-2000s under the stage name Prozpekt. He also featured in the 2019 Bollywood film Gully Boy as himself.[3][4]
KR$NA | |
---|---|
KR$NA performing in 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Krishna |
Also known as | KR$NA, KRSNA, YOUNGPROZPEKT |
Born | October 4, 1989 |
Genres | Hip-hop |
Instruments | Vocal |
Years active | 2006 – present |
Labels | Universal Music, Zee Music Company Kalamkaar |
Associated acts | Raftaar, Divine |
Career
Being exposed to Hip Hop music at an early age, Kaul started recording and releasing songs on his MySpace page in 2006, by 2008 he had gained a small local fanbase in New Delhi and racked up features with artists in the U.S and Canada. His first shot of success came with the release of the music video for "Kaisa Mera Desh" in 2010,[5][6] becoming the first Indian hip hop song on YouTube and earning a #2 ranking as one of the most watched music videos in India overnight following its release.[7] He also released a song titled "Vijay" in collaboration with international NGO Save The Children in 2013.[8]
After sporadic underground releases, Kaul switched from Prozpekt to his current stage name KR$NA after signing a record deal with Universal Music in 2013.[9] In May 2014, he released his debut album Sellout, an all-English effort on Universal Music with its lead single "Last Night" peaking at #5 on the Vh1 Music Charts in India.[10] Kaul became the first hip hop artist in India to do a five city album tour with a band.[2][1] Following this, the music video for the title song "Sellout" was released but failed to make a large impact due to lackluster marketing and shrinking label budgets.[11][12] After a 2-year hiatus, Kaul made his return in 2016 with his Hindi release "Vyanjan".[13][14] Following the success of song, he signed to the artist management agency DNH (KALAMKAAR) Artists in 2017 and became the partner in 2018, whom he is currently represented by along with the likes of Raftaar and Ankit Khanna
Discography
Albums
- Sellout (2014)
Singles
- "Say My Name" (2020) [Kalamkaar]
- "Living Legend" (2020) [Kalamkaar]
References
- Sridharan, Apuurva. "Krsna: Rap is about the situation that surrounds you". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
- Rodricks, Allan Moses (2014-06-05). "No Plan B for this rapper". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
- "The 4th episode of Voice of the Streets featuring rapper Krishna Kaul is here and it's brilliant". mid-day. 2019-02-05. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- "Krishna Kaul". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- "Desi rapper slamming CWG is a hit". mid-day. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- "'Yeh Kaisa Mera Desh: - Young Prozpekt's Rant against the Commonwealth Games". Men's XP. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- "Hip hop hustle". Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- "Young Prozpekt playing for change".
- "Contrabands signs on indie artist, rapper and hip-hop musician - KRSNA". Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- "I live and breathe rap: Indian Rapper Krsna". Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- IANS (2014-11-01). "Krsna's 'Sellout' title track video released". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- Ferreira, Verus. "Musicunplugged.in : news". www.musicunplugged.in. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- "How I made a rap song using the entire Hindi alphabet". www.dailyo.in. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- "Rap Scene Today is Bigger, Less Friendly: KRSNA of 'Vyanjan' Fame". The Quint. Retrieved 2017-12-26.