Krsna (rapper)

KR$NA
KR$NA performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name Krishna Kaul
Also known as KR$NA, KRSNA, Prozpekt
Genres Hip-hop
Instruments Vocal
Years active 2005 – present
Labels Universal Music, Zee Music Company, Ak Projekts
Associated acts RAFTAAR, Manj Musik

Krishna Kaul, better known by the stage name KR$NA or KRSNA 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.[3]

Early life and education

Kaul was born in New Delhi, India and is of Kashmiri descent. He attended Hansraj College in Delhi University and subsequently moved to Mumbai to pursue a post graduate course at St. Xavier’s College and a career in the music business before returning to New Delhi in 2015.[4][5]

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.[4] 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 #3 ranking as one of the most watched music videos in India overnight following its release.[8] Under his previous stage name ‘Prozpekt’, he also released a song titled "Vijay" in collaboration with international NGO Save The Children in 2013.[3]

After sporadic underground releases, Kaul switched from Prozpekt to his current stage name 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.[5][11] After a 2-year hiatus, Kaul made his return in 2016 with his Hindi release "Vyanjan".[12][13] Following the success of song, he signed to the artist management agency DNH Artists in 2017, whom he is currently represented by along with the likes of Raftaar and Manj Musik.

Discography

Albums

  • Sellout

Tracks

Year Track Artists Music
2008 F*** Wit Us Prozpekt ft. Pacifik
2009 Khatarnaak Prozpekt ft. Sonny Brown RSC
2010 Kaisa Mera Desh Prozpekt Corbett
2011 Lokpal Freestyle Prozpekt
2013 Cold Blooded Prozpekt ft. Twisted Insane MetroGnome
2014 Last Night KRSNA MetroGnome
2014 Sellout KRSNA Tony Fadd
2016 Vyanjan KR$NA Insane
2017 Dekh Kaun Aaya Wapas KR$NA
2017 Woofer Deep Kalsi and KR$NA Deep Kalsi
2017 Mumbai Se Delhi Tak Emiway and KR$NA Insane
2017 I’m Ready KR$NA ft. RAFTAAR Breathtaking and LAD
2017 Alag KR$NA JP

References

  1. 1 2 Sridharan, Apuurva. "Krsna: Rap is about the situation that surrounds you". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  2. 1 2 Rodricks, Allan Moses (2014-06-05). "No Plan B for this rapper". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  3. 1 2 Bedi, Shibani (2013-07-19). "Krishna Kaul plays for change". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  4. 1 2 UK, The Hip Hop Chronicle (2008-04-27). "Young Prozpekt - Indian Prince - The Hip Hop Chronicle UK". The Hip Hop Chronicle UK. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  5. 1 2 IANS (2014-11-01). "Krsna's 'Sellout' title track video released". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  6. ↑ "Desi rapper slamming CWG is a hit". mid-day. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  7. ↑ "'Yeh Kaisa Mera Desh: - Young Prozpekt's Rant against the Commonwealth Games". Men's XP. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  8. ↑ "Hip hop hustle". Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  9. ↑ "Contrabands signs on indie artist, rapper and hip-hop musician - KRSNA". Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  10. ↑ "I live and breathe rap: Indian Rapper Krsna". Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  11. ↑ Ferreira, Verus. "Musicunplugged.in : news". www.musicunplugged.in. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  12. ↑ "How I made a rap song using the entire Hindi alphabet". www.dailyo.in. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  13. ↑ "Rap Scene Today is Bigger, Less Friendly: KRSNA of 'Vyanjan' Fame". The Quint. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
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