KRSNA (rapper) explained

Birth Name:Krishna Kaul
Alias:KR$NA, Krsna, YoungProzpekt, Prozpekt
Birth Date:4 October 1989
Birth Place:Delhi, India
Years Active:2002–present
Label:Universal, Zee, Kalamkaar
KR$NA

Krishna Kaul, known mononymously as Krishna (stylised now as KR$NA; previously as Krsna; known formerly as YoungProzpekt) is an Indian rapper .[1] [2] He was one of the earliest rappers to emerge in the Indian hip hop scene in the mid-2000s under the stage name Prozpekt. He is widely acknowledged within the Desi Hip Hop community for pioneering a lyrical revolution in the genre, infusing a new wave of poetic depth and lyrical complexity into hip hop's narrative.[3] He was also briefly featured in the 2019 Bollywood film Gully Boy as himself.[4]

Early life

Krishna Kaul was born on 4 October 1989, into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Delhi. He spent a part of his childhood in South London, where he was raised and schooled for a few years. Kaul started rapping at the age of fourteen in an effort to blend in with other children at his school in London.

Career

[5] His first shot of success came with the release of the music video for "Kaisa Mera Desh" in 2010,[6] [7] 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.[8] He also released a song titled "Vijay" in collaboration with international NGO Save The Children in 2013.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] Kaul became the first hip hop artist in India to do a five-city album tour with a band. Following this, the music video for the title song "Sellout" was released but failed to make a large impact due to lacklustre marketing and shrinking label budgets.[12] [13]

After a 2-year hiatus, Kaul made his return in 2016 with his Hindi release "Vyanjan".[14] [15] Following the success of the song, he signed to the artist management agency DNH Artists (now Kalamkaar) in 2017 and became a partner in 2018, with the likes of Ankit Khanna and Raftaar. Kaul shares a brother like bond with Raftaar.

In 2020, Kaul accused the IPL and Disney+ Hotstar of permitting the plagiarism of his 2017 song "Dekh Kaun Aaya Wapas" when creating the 2020 IPL anthem "Ayenge Hum Wapas", an allegation which was dismissed by composer Pranav Ajayrao Malpe. Kaul responded by stating that "his team[...], will take the legal route and approach Disney+ Hotstar, which commissioned the song".[16] [17]

In the month of January 2021, Kaul was featured on American rapper Hi-Rez's song "Crossroads" along with Royce da 5'9".[18] Later in July, another collaboration with Hi-Rez was released, titled "Playground" which also featured former Slaughterhouse member, KXNG Crooked. His collaboration in Hi-Rez's song "Overdrive", was released in November 2021, featuring A-F-R-O, Joell Ortiz, Bizzy Bone, Tech N9ne and Twista. The music videos were released on Hi-Rez's YouTube channel.[19] In 2022, he featured on Karan Aujla's song "Ykwim". He also defeated a rapper known as Emiway Bantai with his last song on the beef known as Machayenge 4.

Kaul with Brodha-V won the Radio City Freedom Awards 2023 on 31 March 2023, for the Best Indie Collaboration. The two won the Freedom Awards 7 for the song "Forever" which was released back in September 2022.[20]

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumTrackArtist(s)Producer(s)
2014SelloutThe Glorious First StepKR$NABradley Dhawan
FadedKR$NA ft. Cory Jones
SelloutKR$NATony Fadd
Getting AwayKR$NABreathtaking Beats
Last NightKR$NAMetroGnome
ErrydayKR$NA ft. Sonny BrownTony Fadd
TrippingKR$NA
Last SongKR$NABradley Dhawan
2021Still HereStill Here (Intro)KR$NASafin
What's My NameKR$NARaftaar
Roll UpKR$NA ft. BadshahJosh Petruccio
VillainKR$NA ft. Karma & IkkaDepo
DreamKR$NADeep Kalsi
Fall Off (Interlude)KR$NAKapellmaister
Saza-E-MautKR$NA ft. RaftaarRill Beats & Young Grape Beatz
Na Hai TimeKR$NAJ Caspersen
Living LegendKR$NA ft. Rashmeet KaurDidker
!Year!EP!Track!Artist(s)!Producer(s)
2023Time Will TellKaha TakKR$NAJokhay & Umair
NGLKR$NA ft. Talhah YunusUmair & Rovalio
Been A WhileKR$NA ft. Talha AnjumUmair
FAR FROM OVERStill StandingKR$NAEnigma Beats
PrarthanaKR$NA ft. BhargBharg, Umair & Deep Kalsi
Wanna KnowKR$NASylvester
Hola AmigoKR$NA ft. Seedhe MautUmair
Some Of UsKR$NA ft. AR PaisleyJpBeatz
2024FOR THE DAY ONE$Shut UpKR$NA prod. SubspaceSubspace
What's UpKR$NA ft. Lisa MishraRiz Shain
Stay AwayKR$NA prod. BhargBharg
Role ModelKR$NA ft. Faris Shafi, KarmaDeep Kalsi

Singles and collaborations

YearTrackArtist(s)Producer(s)Note(s)
2006I Want it AllYoung ProzpektSamples Queen's I Want It All
Bitch Please (Remix)Big T ft.Young ProzpektRemix of Eminem's Bitch Please II
2007I Go GoYoung Prozpekt ft. Soldier Hard
2008F$ck Wit UsPacifik ft. Young ProzpektFrom the album F1J1 Survivor by Pacifik
2009Fancy GillRabbit Sack C & Young ProzpektRabbit Sack CFrom the album BackLog by Rabbit Sack C
Thats me / ShahzaadeRabbit Sack C, Bluntz, Young Prozpekt & NYCE
Yellow TaxiRabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt, Big T & Slim Neil
Naam Toh Pukar / Get Out Of My WayProzpekt
2010Kaisa Mera DeshProzpektDJ Corbett
KhatarnaakProzpekt ft. Sonny Brown
2011Imran Khan – Amped Up (Amplifier Remix)Rabbit Sack C & Young ProzpektRabbit Sack C
DISCONNECTSu.1, Prozpekt & Ashish D'souzaSu.1
Poocho na Yaar Kya Hua – RemixRabbit Sack C & Young Prozpekt
Lokpal FreestyleProzpekt
2012Peeche Na DekhRabbit Sack C ft. ProzpektRabbit Sack C
Put Ur Lighters UpRabbit Sack C ft. Su.1 & ProzpektRabbit Sack C
VijayProzpektDJ CorbettFrom the album BackLog by Rabbit Sack C
2013Whatchya Know About ItRabbit Sack C & Young ProzpektRabbit Sack C
Cold BloodedProzpekt ft. Twisted InsaneMetroGnome
How You Like Me NowLost Stories ft. Krishna KaulLost StoriesFrom the album Music for the # Generation by Lost Stories
2014Bang BangRabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt, Agrim Joshi & Nishit BhatiaRabbit Sack CFrom the album BackLog by Rabbit Sack C
2015Keep It RealKR$NA
NO HASHTAGKR$NA & Su RealSu RealReleased via SoundCloud
I'm BackKR$NA & FuzzCultureFuzzCulture
Patli GaliPankaj Awasthi & KR$NAFrom the movie Yahaan Sabki Lagi Hai
Beyond The MatrixRabbit Sack C ft. KR$NARabbit Sack C
Shots FiredMojoJojo & Sound Avtar ft. KR$NAMojoJojoFrom the album Shots Fired by MojoJojo
Jungle RajMojoJojo ft. KR$NA
2016VyanjanKR$NAInsane
Desi Wrap Up 2016KR$NAInsane
2017Meri BaariKidshot ft. KR$NARekoil Chafe
Tere Buss Ki Na HaiKR$NAKR$NA
Dekh Kaun Aaya WapasKR$NABreathtaking & LAD
WooferDeep Kalsi & KR$NADeep Kalsi
Mumbai Se Delhi TakEmiway Bantai & KR$NAInsane
I’m ReadyKR$NA ft. RaftaarBreathtaking & LAD
AlagKR$NAJ.P
2018Hip Hop Holi (MTV)KR$NA, Deep KalsI & HarjasDeep KalsiReleased via Facebook
Aakhir Tumhe Aana HaiSuryaveer ft. KR$NABoney John
Delhi TimesKR$NADhruv GanekarFrom Flirt with Your City Rap by Times Network
MuqablaKR$NAKR$NA
2019Voice of the Streets Ep.04 – KR$NAKR$NASiddhant ShirodkarVoice of the Streets is a capsule series from the movie Gully Boy
SoloKR$NACerti
Warm UpDeep Kalsi, Karma, Harjas, Kidshot, KR$NA & RaftaarDeep KalsiKidshot later replaced by Raftaar in a live version
Janta KyunKR$NADeep Kalsi
No NoDeep Kalsi, Harjas & KR$NADeep Kalsi
Farak Nahi PadtaKR$NAJCaspersen
AadatKR$NAJCaspersen
Freeverse Feast (Langar)KR$NARaftaarA response to Emiway Bantai's Freeverse Feast (Daawat)
Seedha MakeoverKR$NACall Me GDiss track aimed Emiway Bantai, after his track Seedha Takeover
Dum HaiKR$NADannyetracks
2020UntitledKR$NADansonn
MaharaniKR$NADansonnDiss track aimed at Delhi-based rapper, Muhfaad
SherDeep Kalsi ft. KR$NA, Harjas & KarmaXplicit
MakasamKR$NADeep Kalsi & KR$NASecond diss track aimed at Muhfaad. The most brutal diss track in Desi hip hop.
QuarantineYoung Stunners & KR$NAJokhay
DamnRaftaar ft. KR$NARaftaarFrom the album Mr. Nair by Raftaar
DownRaftaar ft. KR$NA
Tokyo Drift FreestyleKR$NAThe NeptunesUses Tokyo Drift by Teriyaki Boyz Released via Instagram
Window Shopper FreestyleKR$NAC. Styles & SireUses Window Shopper by 50 Cent
BagDIVINE ft. KR$NANDS, Stunnah Beatz & Progression MusicFrom the compilation SHUTDOWN by Mass Appeal, Gully Gang and DIVINE
HundredRaftaar & KR$NA ft. Karan WahiDeep KalsiFrom the Hotstar Specials show Hundred
Woofer 2Deep Kalsi ft. KR$NADeep Kalsi
GallanDeep Kalsi, Harjas, Fateh, KR$NA & KarmaDeep KalsiFrom the EP No Days Off by Deep Kalsi
No LossesKR$NARoclegion & Danny E.B
Say My Name (Hindi Version)KR$NACall Me G
Say My Name (English Version)KR$NACall Me G
Saath Ya KhilafKR$NA & RaftaarRaftaar
The Key – FreestyleKR$NADeep Kalsi
Baap SeFotty Seven ft. KR$NAFriskFrom the EP Asli Independent by Fotty Seven
Bohot SahiJ Trix, SubSpace & KR$NASubSpaceFrom the EP Bohot Sahi by J Trix & SubSpace
2021CrossroadsHi-Rez ft. Royce da 5'9" & KR$NARyan Summer
Khauf HaiKR$NAHaji SpringerCollaboration with Realme India
PlaygroundHi-Rez ft. KR$NA & KXNG CrookedRyan Summer
Zaruri NahiKarma ft. KR$NADeep KalsiFrom the album Made You Proud by Karma
Taazi Saans, Taazi SochKR$NASubSpaceCollaboration with Center Fresh and MTV India
OGKR$NAMandalaz
No CapKR$NAEnigma
OverdriveHi-Rez ft. KR$NA, Tech N9ne, A-F-R-O, Joell Ortiz, Twista & Bizzy BoneRyan Summer
2022YkwimKaran Aujla & KR$NA ft. Mehar VaaniYeah Proof
Blowing UpKR$NAFlexus
HIGHDeep Kalsi ft. KR$NADeep KalsiFrom the EP WINNERSCIRCLE by Deep Kalsi
ONRaja Kumari ft. KR$NANacho Larraza & Karan Pandav From the EP HBIC by Raja Kumari
Lil BuntyKR$NAFlamboyDiss track aimed at Emiway Bantai, after his track Chusamba
BatmanAghor ft. KR$NAAShock
Machayenge 4KR$NAPendo46Diss track aimed at Emiway Bantai, after his track KR L$DA SIGN
ForeverBrodha V ft. KR$NATone Jonez
I GuessKR$NAKabu Beats
Tony MontanaKarma & KR$NAJosh Petruccio
No ChinaRaftaar ft. KR$NARaftaar & FriskFrom the EP HARD DRIVE Vol.1 by Raftaar
10 Pe 10 KR$NA ft. French The Kidditto & leiJA
2023Touch BaseTalha Anjum ft. Talhah Yunus & KR$NAUmairFrom the album Open Letter by Talha Anjum
Khatta FlowSeedhe Maut ft KR$NACalmFrom the mixtape Lunch Break by Seedhe Maut
Zero After ZeroKR$NA & Talay RileyKshmrFrom the album KARAM by Kshmr
Paisa On My MindDeep Kalsi & KR$NADeep KalsiFrom the album Tunnel Vision by Deep Kalsi
Woh RaatRaftaar & KR$NAlejJA
No MercyDeep Kalsi, Raftaar, KR$NA & KarmaDeep KalsiFrom the album Tunnel Vision by Deep Kalsi
2024Joota JapaniKR$NA & MukeshUmairSamples the iconic Bollywood song Mera Joota Hai Japani, from Shree 420 by Mukesh
Hola At Your BoyBadshah ft. KR$NA & PrajinaHitenFrom the album Ek Tha Raja by Badshah
RefundsRapdemon & KR$NAUmairFrom the album Rockstar without a Guitar by Umair

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sridharan . Apuurva . 2014-07-16 . Krsna: Rap is about the situation you . . live . 2017-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220828082923/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Krsna-Rap-is-about-the-situation-that-surrounds-you/articleshow/37841572.cms . 2022-08-28.
  2. News: Rodricks . Allan Moses . 2014-06-05 . No Plan B for this rapper . en-IN . . live . 24 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807143958/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/no-plan-b-for-this-rapper/article6085399.ece . 2022-08-07 . 0971-751X.
  3. Web site: Maheshwari . Aman . 2023-04-18 . KR$NA And The Rise Of Indian Hip-Hop . 2024-02-13 . Youth Incorporated Magazine . en-GB.
  4. Web site: 2019-02-05 . The 4th episode of Voice of the Streets features rapper Krishna Kaul . 2024-06-15 . Mid-day . en.
  5. Web site: Joshi . Sakshi . 2022-05-20 . How a Rapper named KR$NA changed the whole Rap scene in India . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220526132258/https://medium.com/@drsakshijoshi/how-a-rapper-named-kr-na-changed-the-whole-rap-scene-in-india-1762b93e7738 . 2022-05-26 . 2022-05-20 . . en.
  6. News: Solani . Dhvani . 2010-10-06 . Desi rapper slamming CWG is a hit . . live . 2017-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220604030555/https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/desi-rapper-slamming-cwg-is-a-hit-97263 . 2022-06-04.
  7. News: Anand . Kunal . 2012-11-26 . 'Yeh Kaisa Mera Desh: – Young Prozpekt's Rant against the Commonwealth Games . en . Men's XP . live . 2017-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523195218/https://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/must-watch/3151-yeh-kaisa-mera-desh-young-prozpekts-rant-against-the-commonwealth-games.html . 2022-05-23.
  8. News: Marwaha . Ekta . 2013-08-19 . Hip hop hustle . . live . 2017-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120174623/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20130819-hip-hop-hustle-765104-2013-08-05 . 2022-11-20.
  9. Web site: Bedi . Shibani . 2013-07-23 . Young Prozpekt playing for change . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807041524/https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/young-prozpekt-playing-for-change/story-Qr1RKZrGhrS8jn9KHFHoPL.html . 2022-08-07 . 2022-11-20 . Hindustan Times.
  10. News: Contrabands signs on indie artist, rapper and hip-hop musician – KRSNA. 26 December 2017.
  11. News: I live and breathe rap: Indian Rapper Krsna. 26 December 2017.
  12. News: 2014-11-01 . Krsna's 'Sellout' title track video released . Business Standard India . 26 December 2017.
  13. Web site: Ferreira . Verus . 2014-10-29 . Musicunplugged.in : news . 26 December 2017 . www.musicunplugged.in . en.
  14. Web site: Kaul . Krishna . 2016-11-18 . How I made a rap song using the entire Hindi alphabet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120175243/https://www.dailyo.in/arts/alphabetic-rap-youtube-vyanjan-krishna-kaul-demonetisation-indian-army-caste-system-14096 . 2022-11-20 . 2017-12-26 . www.dailyo.in.
  15. News: Ray . Badsha . 2016-11-24 . Rap Scene Today is Bigger, Less Friendly: KRSNA of 'Vyanjan' Fame . en . . live . 2017-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220601181354/https://www.thequint.com/videos/rappers-vyanjan-krsna-hip-hop-sellout-universal-music-rap-music . 2022-06-01.
  16. Web site: Purkayastha . Pallabi Dey . 2020-09-09 . Rapper KR$NA says IPL 2020 anthem is plagiarised from his 2017 track 'Dekh Kaun Aaya Waapas' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220605051856/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/rapper-krna-says-ipl-2020-anthem-is-plagiarised-from-his-2017-track-dekh-kaun-aaya-waapas/articleshow/78006937.cms . 2022-06-05 . 2021-05-12 . . en.
  17. News: 2020-09-11 . IPL 2020 anthem faces plagiarism charges, composer dismisses allegations . Business Standard India . Press Trust of India . live . 2021-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220601224728/https://www.business-standard.com/article/sports/ipl-2020-anthem-faces-plagiarism-charges-composer-dismisses-allegations-120091101414_1.html . 2022-06-01.
  18. Web site: 2021-01-02 . Rappers KR$NA, Hi-Rez collaborate with hip hop legend Royce Da 5'9 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220601170629/https://www.siasat.com/rappers-krna-hi-rez-collaborate-with-hip-hop-legend-royce-da-59-2059106/ . 2022-06-01 . 2021-02-21 . The Siasat Daily . en-GB.
  19. Web site: 2021-07-02 . New Music: Hi-Rez, KRSNA & KXNG Crooked – Playground . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210702090230/https://hiphop24x7.com/artist/latest-songs/new-music-hi-rez-krsna-kxng-crooked-playground/ . 2021-07-02 . 3 July 2021 . HipHop24x7 . en-US.
  20. Web site: Radio City Freedom Awards (RCFA) 7 Winners. Radio City Freedom Awards. 14 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230510030328/https://www.radiocity.in/rcfa. 10 May 2023. live.