MC Kash explained

MC KASH
Birth Name:Roushan Illahi
Alias:MC Kash
Birth Place:Srinagar, Kashmir
Origin:Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Genre:Rap, Hip hop[1]
Instrument:Vocals
Years Active:2009–2016
Label:Independent

Roushan Illahi (born 1990) better known by his stage name MC Kash is a Kashmiri emcee/rapper.[2] Taking his stage name from his place of birth- Kashmir, MC Kash is an independent musician based out of Srinagar.[3]

Born in 1990, Kash belongs to a generation of Kashmiris that grew up under the shadow of guns, whose childhood memories are that of a war, raged in the streets.[4] He has been called a Street Poet.[5]

MC Kash burst on the scene with his first studio recorded single I Protest (Remembrance) in 2010.[6]

Biography

He was born in 1990 Srinagar in the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.[7] His father is a Doctor and his mother is a teacher.[8] He is one of the notable alumni of Burn Hall School. Illahi completed his bachelor's degree in business administration from Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar (2012). He did his Master's in Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir (2015). Roushan Illahi is also a participant to Swedish Institute's South Asian leadership programme Young Connectors of the Future (2016).[9] Kash says it was a track from Beastie Boys titled ‘No Sleep till Brooklyn’ that introduced him to hip hop music. He credits 2pac Shakur and Eminem as major musical influences. He also mentions being inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States of America.[10]

Kash is considered as the person behind the inception of Hip Hop music in Kashmir. Many young and emerging rappers admire Kash and are inspired by his music. He is referred as a person who started Hip Hop Kashmir. Rapping has been popular in Kashmir since Kash became famous.[11] [12] Kash got featured in multiple documentaries and one of the documentary MC Kash was nominated in Diversity in Cannes (2018)[13] [14] and he has been featured in other documentaries like Take It in Blood, directed by Rana Ghose. The documentary follows MC Kash as he meets Kashmiri activist Parveena Ahanger.[15] [16] [17] Kash has also been featured the award-winning music documentary Soz: A Ballad of Maladies (2016).[18] [19]

Music career

Illahi released his song I Protest (Remembrance) during the 2010 Kashmir unrest which was a series of violent clashes between the locals and security forces.[7] The song became an "anthem of dissent."[7] He has been an idol to many emerging rappers of Kashmir. MC Kash is considered as one of the most prominent face of protest music in South Asia.[20] [21] with his rap being downloaded and seen as an act of protest by youth of Kashmir. Songs like Listen, My Brother, Rebel RebubliK : Liberation, Heart of a Rebel, Take it in Blood and many other songs were a part of MC Kash's Album Rebel RepubliK. He portrays the daily hardships of the people living in the valley.[22] In 2016 he collaborated with 101 India for the first ever Sufi rap music with the song hitting many views. In Like a Sufi, "Sufi-ethnic rock meets hip hop in India's first ever Sufi rap. India's first Sufi Rap brings together Alif's signature Sufi ethnic rock sound with Kashmiri rapper MC Kash's strong lyrics and hip hop beats."[23] [24]

Personal views

MC Kash has been covered by BBC and Fox traveller where he mostly spoke of Kashmir and the Human rights abuses in Kashmir. Explaining his choice of English language he says "English is a universal language. Kashmiris know how they have suffered. So if I went on to rap about it in Kashmiri, that would be useless".[25]

He relates Gaza and Kashmir saying, "Gaza and Kashmir are related. A stone relates us. Humiliation relates us. Occupation relates us. Anger relates us. The human rights violations relate us. Intifada relates us," he tells the BBC.[26]

In late 2010 the Indian police raided his studio see if he was being backed by a separatist or militant. MC Kash said in an interview that he is independent: "Nobody is paying me. Nobody told me to go sing about Kashmir."[26]

Discography

  1. The Vault (2009–2012) MC Kash songs produced between 2009 & 2012.
  2. Anno Domini Beats, Southpaw, MC Kash.
  3. I Protest (Remembrance)[27]
  4. Take It in Blood (2011)[28]
  5. The Bridge of No Return (2012)[29]
  6. Beneath This Sky, (2011)[30]
  7. One young Kashmir, (2011)[31]
  8. Rebel Republik (2012) Debut MC Kash studio album[32]
  9. I See a Massacre (2012)[33]
  10. Listen my Brother (2012)[34]
  11. Family Portrait (2012)[35]
  12. Rebel Republik: Liberation (2013)[36]
  13. Orchestra of War, Beethoven Fur Elise Remix (2013).[37]
  14. Hukus Bukus (2014)[38] Flying Carpet Productions.
  15. Like A Sufi, 101India (2016)[39]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bio. MC Kash. 20 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141023093302/https://www.mckashofficial.com/bio. 23 October 2014.
  2. News: Kashmir rappers battle to be heard. The Express Tribune. 13 October 2013. 13 October 2013.
  3. Web site: 2021-02-18. Hip-hop artists should cling to community vibe. 2021-04-11. The Kashmir Walla. en-US.
  4. Web site: MC Kash aka Roushan Illahi: Hip Hop Homeland. 101 India. 21 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Kashmiri politics of identity/art/resistance II – Centre for the Study of Democracy – University of Westminster, London. westminster.ac.uk. 14 May 2017.
  6. News: MC Kash raps for Kashmir protest victims. BBC News . 20 December 2010 . 20 December 2010.
  7. Web site: A New Generation of Kashmir Rappers Vents Its Rage in the Valley. NPR. 14 May 2017.
  8. News: Kash's early life. BBC News . 20 December 2010 . 20 December 2010.
  9. Web site: Successful Swedish Institute leadership programme for young Southasians. 19 December 2017.
  10. Web site: MC Kash Inspirations. 19 November 2012 . 19 November 2012.
  11. Web site: Kashmir Solidarity Network, ON MC KASH. kashmirsolidarity.wordpress.com. 15 November 2010 .
  12. Web site: Valley's first rapper attracts youth by singing about turmoil. hindustantimes.com. 14 November 2010 . 14 November 2010.
  13. Web site: MC Kash Narrative, Documentary. Beyond Borders, Diversity in Cannes, 2018. Vimeo. 7 January 2017.
  14. Web site: Political strife turned Kashmiri Rapper MC Kash takes to the hip hop life. worldfilmpresentation.com. 1 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Kashmir documentary 'Take It in Blood' has a conversation with the past to speak to the present. scroll.in. 17 July 2016 . 17 July 2016.
  16. Web site: Take it in Blood. IMDb. 11 February 2014.
  17. Web site: Feature documentary on Kashmiri rapper MC Kash. indiearth.com.
  18. Web site: A Ballad of Maladies (2016). IMDb. 1 September 2016.
  19. Web site: Soz: A Ballad of Maladies. greaterkashmir.com. 4 November 2016.
  20. Web site: 10 Activist Musicians From India Giving Voice To Important Social Issues, MC Kash whose rap is the voice of local Kashmiris. homegrown.co.in. 6 March 2017.
  21. Web site: Kash chose to rap in english. sandiegouniontribune.com. 23 November 2010.
  22. Web site: Protest music: A lost art?. armchairjournal.com. 2 February 2020 . 29 February 2020.
  23. Web site: Kashmiri rapper who shot to fame during 2010 unrest breaks the internet again. hindustantimes.com. 25 June 2016 . 26 June 2016.
  24. Web site: A Kashmiri rapper and a band come together to give Sufi music a twist. hindustantimes.com. 8 July 2016 . 9 July 2016.
  25. Web site: Kash chose to Rap in english. sandiegouniontribune.com. 23 November 2010.
  26. News: MC Kash raps for Kashmir protest victims. 20 December 2010 . BBC News. 20 September 2014.
  27. Web site: I Protest (Remembrance) MR Online. mronline.org. 16 September 2010 . 16 September 2010.
  28. Web site: Film captures MC Kash and tales of loss from the Valley. sunday-guardian.com. 23 March 2013.
  29. Web site: The Bridge of No Return (21st January, 1990) – MC Kash. 20 January 2012 . YouTube. 20 January 2012.
  30. Web site: MC Kash – Beneath This Sky (Official video). . 23 July 2011 . 23 July 2011.
  31. News: Rapper MC Kash creates storm as "One Young Kashmir" summit ends. . 27 March 2011 . 27 March 2011.
  32. Web site: Kashmiri Rapper MC Kash Releases Debut Album. 23 November 2012 . 23 November 2012.
  33. Web site: MC Kash – I see a Massacre (Prod by Southpaw). 31 March 2012 . YouTube. 31 March 2012.
  34. Web site: MC Kash – Listen, My Brother. This song is from MC Kash's self produced debut album, Rebel RepubliK. 24 November 2012 . YouTube. 24 November 2012.
  35. Web site: MC Kash – Family Portrait. 14 July 2017 . YouTube.
  36. Web site: MC Kash releases album in memory of Maqbool Butt in Kashmir. kashmirglobal.com. 22 March 2013.
  37. Web site: Orchestra of war, When you take away people's right, there can be no peace': MC Kash on Zubin Mehta's concert. old.tehelka.com. 6 September 2013.
  38. Web site: 8 songs by Kashmiri artists that reflect the cycle of life and death in Kashmir. freepresskashmir.com. 5 April 2019.
  39. Web site: Like A Sufi – MC Kash & Alif – 101 Union. 101india.com.

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