103.189.130.103 at 18:13, 27 April 2023

2023-04-27T18:13:35Z

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{{short description|Indian rapper}}
{{For|the politician|Krishna Kaul (politician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musician
| image = IMG 0838 Rapper KRSNA.jpg
| caption = KR$NA performing in 2016
| birth_name = Krishna Kaul
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| alias = KR$NA, Krsna, YoungProzpekt, Prozpekt, Dollar Sign
| occupation = Rapper
| associated_acts = [[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]], Kalamkaar
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = [[Universal Music|Universal]], [[Zee Music Company|Zee]], Kalamkaar
| name = KR$NA
}}

'''Krishna Kaul''', known mononymously as '''Krishna''' (stylised as '''Krsna''' or '''KR$NA''') and formerly as '''YoungProzpekt''', is a rapper from [[New Delhi]], India.<ref name="Sridharan 2017">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Krsna-Rap-is-about-the-situation-that-surrounds-you/articleshow/37841572.cms|title=Krsna: Rap is about the situation you|last=Sridharan|first=Apuurva|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=24 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Rodricks 2017">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/no-plan-b-for-this-rapper/article6085399.ece|title=No Plan B for this rapper|last=Rodricks|first=Allan Moses|date=5 June 2014|work=The Hindu|access-date=24 December 2017|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> 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 briefly featured in the 2019 Bollywood film Gully Boy as himself.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 February 2019|title=The 4th episode of Voice of the Streets featuring rapper Krishna Kaul is here and it's brilliant|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/the-4th-episode-of-voice-of-the-streets-featuring-rapper-krishna-kaul-is-here-and-its-brilliant/20353197|access-date=2 November 2019|website=mid-day|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Krishna Kaul|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm10384314/|access-date=2 November 2019|website=IMDb}}</ref> He is known for his writing and technical skills as a rapper, along with his infamous beefs in the Desi Hip-Hop scene.

== Early life ==
Krishna Kaul was born on 4 October 1989 to a [[Kashmiri Pandit]] family in [[New Delhi]]. He spent a part of his childhood in [[South London]], where he was raised and schooled for a few years. Krishna started rapping at the age of fourteen in an effort to blend in with other children in his school in London.<ref>{{Citation|title=Understanding Rap ft. Kr$na, RAFTAAR, Rohan Cariappa|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnFvVqrZffo|language=en|access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref>

== Career ==
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.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} His first shot of success came with the release of the music video for "Kaisa Mera Desh" in 2010,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/desi-rapper-slamming-cwg-is-a-hit/97263|title=Desi rapper slamming CWG is a hit|work=mid-day|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/must-watch/3151-yeh-kaisa-mera-desh-young-prozpekts-rant-against-the-commonwealth-games.html|title='Yeh Kaisa Mera Desh: - Young Prozpekt's Rant against the Commonwealth Games|work=Men's XP|access-date=26 December 2017|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/hip-hop-hustle/1/298301.html|title=Hip hop hustle|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> He also released a song titled "Vijay" in collaboration with international NGO [[Save The Children]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Young Prozpekt playing for change |date=23 July 2013|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/young-prozpekt-playing-for-change/story-Qr1RKZrGhrS8jn9KHFHoPL.html}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/biz/music/artiste/contrabands-signs-indie-artist-rapper-and-hip-hop-musician-krsna|title=Contrabands signs on indie artist, rapper and hip-hop musician – KRSNA|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/node/37851|title=I live and breathe rap: Indian Rapper Krsna|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> Kaul became the first hip hop artist in India to do a five city album tour with a band.<ref name="Sridharan 2017" /><ref name="Rodricks 2017" /> 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.<ref name="IANS 2017">{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/krsna-s-sellout-title-track-video-released-114110100337_1.html|title=Krsna's 'Sellout' title track video released|last=IANS|date=1 November 2014|work=Business Standard India|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicunplugged.in/news/music_news_info/226/0|title=Musicunplugged.in : news|last=Ferreira|first=Verus|website=www.musicunplugged.in|language=en|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref>

After a 2-year hiatus, Kaul made his return in 2016 with his Hindi release "Vyanjan".<ref>{{Cite web|title=How I made a rap song using the entire Hindi alphabet|url=https://www.dailyo.in/arts/alphabetic-rap-youtube-vyanjan-krishna-kaul-demonetisation-indian-army-caste-system/story/1/14096.html|access-date=26 December 2017|website=www.dailyo.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rap Scene Today is Bigger, Less Friendly: KRSNA of 'Vyanjan' Fame|language=en|work=The Quint|url=https://www.thequint.com/videos/rappers-vyanjan-krsna-hip-hop-sellout-universal-music-rap-music|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> Following the success of song, he signed to the artist management agency DNH (now KALAMKAAR) Artists in 2017 and became the partner in 2018, whom he is represented by along with the likes of [[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]] and Ankit Khanna.

In 2020, Kaul accused the [[Indian Premier League|IPL]] and [[Disney+Hotstar]] of permitting the plagiarism of his 2017 song "''Dekh Kaun Aaya Waapas''" 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".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rapper KR$NA says IPL 2020 anthem is plagiarised from his 2017 track 'Dekh Kaun Aaya Waapas' – Times of India|url=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|access-date=12 May 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=11 September 2020|title=IPL 2020 anthem faces plagiarism charges, composer dismisses allegations|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/sports/ipl-2020-anthem-faces-plagiarism-charges-composer-dismisses-allegations-120091101414_1.html#:~:text=IPL%202020%20anthem%20faces%20plagiarism%20charges,%20composer%20dismisses%20allegations,-Press%20Trust%20of&text=A%20Delhi-based%20rapper%20has,of%20the%20recently%20released%20song.|access-date=12 May 2021}}</ref>

In the month of January 2021, KR$NA was featured on American rapper Hi-Rez's song "Crossroads" with popular American rapper, [[Royce da 5'9"|Royce da 5<nowiki>'9''</nowiki>]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-02|title=Rappers KR$NA, Hi-Rez collaborate with hip hop legend Royce Da 5'9|url=https://www.siasat.com/rappers-krna-hi-rez-collaborate-with-hip-hop-legend-royce-da-59-2059106/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=The Siasat Daily|language=en-GB}}</ref> Later in July, another collaboration with Hi-Rez was released, titled "Playground" which also featured former [[Slaughterhouse (group)|Slaughterhouse]] member, [[Crooked I|KXNG Crooked]]. The music video for the same was released on Hi-Rez's [[YouTube]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 July 2021|title=New Music: Hi-Rez, KRSNA & KXNG Crooked – Playground|url=https://hiphop24x7.com/artist/latest-songs/new-music-hi-rez-krsna-kxng-crooked-playground/|access-date=3 July 2021|website=HipHop24x7 {{!}} Hip Hop News & Music|language=en-US}}</ref> 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. <ref>http://www.firstlytoday.com/2023/04/KRSNA-Won-Radio-City-Freedom-Awards-2023-For-Best-Indie-Collaboration.html</ref>

== Discography ==
=== <u>Albums</u> ===
'''Sellout (2014)'''

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Song
!Artist (s)
!Produced by
|-
| rowspan="8" |2014
|The Glorious First Step
|KR$NA
| rowspan="2" |Bradley Dhawan
|-
|Faded
|KR$NA
ft. Cory Jones
|-
|Sellout
|KR$NA
|Tony Fadd
|-
|Getting Away
|KR$NA
|Breathtaking Beats
|-
|Last Night
|KR$NA
|MetroGnome
|-
|Erryday
|KR$NA ft. Sonny Brown
| rowspan="2" |Tony Fadd
|-
|Tripping
|KR$NA
|-
|Last Song
|KR$NA
|Bradley Dhawan
|}
'''Still Here (2021)'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Song
!Artist (s)
!Produced by
!Note(s)
|-
| rowspan="8" |2021
|Still Here (Intro)
|KR$NA
|Safin
|
|-
|What's My Name?
|KR$NA
|[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|
|-
|Roll Up
|KR$NA ft. [[Badshah (rapper)|Badshah]]
|Josh Petruccio
|
|-
|Villain
|KR$NA ft. Karma & [[Ikka Singh|IKKA]]
|Depo
|
|-
|Dream
|KR$NA
|Deep Kalsi
|
|-
|Fall Off (Interlude)
|KR$NA
|Kapellmaister
|An extended verse was added with the release of the music video.
|-
|Saza-E-Maut
|KR$NA ft. [[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|Rill Beats & Young Grape Beatz
|
|-
|Na Hai Time
|KR$NA
|J Caspersen
|
|-
|2020
|Living Legend
|KR$NA ft. Rashmeet Kaur
|Didker
|
|}

=== Singles and collaborations ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Track
!Artist (s)
!Produced by
!Note(s)
|-
|2006
|I Want it All
|Young Prozpekt
|
|''Samples hook from the [[Queen (band)|Queen's]] song, "[[I Want It All (Queen song)|I Want It All]]".''
|-
|2006
|Bitch Please (Remix)
|Big T ft.Young Prozpekt
|
|''Remix of [[Eminem]]'s [[Bitch Please II]]''
|-
|2007
|I Go Go
|Young Prozpekt ft. Soldier Hard
|
|
|-
|2008
|F$ck Wit Us
|Pacifik ft. Young Prozpekt
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |2009
|Fancy Gill
|Rabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt
| rowspan="3" |Rabbit Sack C
|
|-
|That's me/ Shahzaade
|Rabbit Sack C, Bluntz, Young Prozpekt & NYCE
| rowspan="2" |''From the album 'BackLog'''
|-
|Yellow Taxi
|Rabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt, Big T & Slim Neil
|-
|Naam Toh Pukar/ Get Out Of My Way
|Prozpekt
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
|Kaisa Mera Desh
|Prozpekt
|DJ Corbett
|
|-
|Khatarnaak
|Prozpekt ft. Sonny Brown
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |2011
|Imran Khan – Amped Up (Amplifier Remix)
|Rabbit Sack C & Young Prozpekt
|Rabbit Sack C
|''Remix of [[Imran Khan (singer)|Imran Khan]]'s Amplifier''
|-
|DISCONNECT
|Su.1, Prozpekt & Ashish D'souza
|Su.1
|
|-
|Poocho na Yaar Kya Hua – Remix
|Rabbit Sack C & Young Prozpekt
|
|''Remix of the song Poocho Na Yaar Kya Hua from [[Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai]]''
|-
|Lokpal Freestyle
|Prozpekt
|
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2012
|Peeche Na Dekh
|Rabbit Sack C ft. Prozpekt
| rowspan="2" |Rabbit Sack C
|
|-
|Put Ur Lighters Up
|Rabbit Sack C ft. Su.1, Prozpekt
|
|-
|Vijay
|Prozpekt
|DJ Corbett
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2013
|Whatchya Know About It
|Rabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt
|Rabbit Sack C
|''From the album 'BackLog'''
|-
|Cold Blooded
|Prozpekt ft.[[Twisted Insane]]
|MetroGnome
|
|-
|How You Like Me Now
|[[Lost Stories (DJs)|Lost Stories]] ft Krishna Kaul
|[[Lost Stories (DJs)|Lost Stories]]
|
|-
|2014
|Bang Bang
|Rabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt, Agrim Joshi & Nishit Bhatia
|Rabbit Sack C
|''From the album 'BackLog'''
|-
| rowspan="6" |2015
|NO HASHTAG
|KR$NA & SU REAL
|SU REAL
|''Released via [[SoundCloud]]''
|-
|I'm Back
|KR$NA & FuzzCulture
|FuzzCulture
|
|-
|Patli Gali
|Pankaj Awasthi, KR$NA
|
|''From the movie, '"[[Yahaan Sabki Lagi Hai]]'"''
|-
|Beyond The Matrix
|Rabbit Sack C ft. Prozpekt
|Rabbit Sack C
|
|-
|Shots Fired
| rowspan="2" |MojoJojo, KR$NA
| rowspan="2" |MojoJojo
|
|-
|Jungle Raj
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2016
|Vyanjan
| rowspan="3" |KR$NA
| rowspan="2" |Insane
|
|-
|Desi Wrap Up
|
|-
|Keep It Real
|Tony Fadd
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |2017
|Meri Baari
|KIDSHOT ft. KR$NA
|REKOIL
|
|-
|Teri Bas Ki Na Hai
| rowspan="2" |KR$NA
|
|
|-
|Dekh Kaun Aaya Wapas
|Breathtaking and LAD
|
|-
|Woofer
|Deep Kalsi and KR$NA
|Deep Kalsi
|
|-
|Mumbai Se Delhi Tak
|Emiway Bantai and KR$NA
|Insane
|
|-
|I'm Ready
|KR$NA ft. [[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|Breathtaking and LAD
|
|-
|Alag
|KR$NA
|J.P
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2018
|Hip Hop Holi (MTV)
|KR$NA, Deep KalsI & Harjas
|Deep Kalsi
|''Released via [[Facebook]]''
|-
|Aakhir Tumhe Aana Hai
|Suryaveer ft. KR$NA
|Boney John
|
|-
|Muqabla
| rowspan="3" |KR$NA
|KR$NA
|
|-
| rowspan="10" |2019
|Voice of the Streets Ep.04 – KR$NA
|Siddhant Shirodkar
|''<nowiki/>'Voice of the Streets' is a capsule series from the movie [[Gully Boy]].''
|-
|Solo
|Certi
|
|-
|Warm Up
|Deep Kalsi, KARMA, Harjas, KIDSHOT & KR$NA
| rowspan="3" |Deep Kalsi
|
|-
|Janta Kyun
|KR$NA
|
|-
|No No
|Deep Kalsi, Harjas & KR$NA
|
|-
|Farak Nahi Padta
| rowspan="7" |KR$NA
| rowspan="2" |JCaspersen
|
|-
|Aadat
|
|-
|Freeverse Feast (Langar)
|[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|''A response to Mumbai-based rapper, Emiway Bantai's track, Freeverse Feast (Daawat)''
|-
|Seedha Makeover
|Call Me G
|''A [[Diss Track|diss track]] aimed at Emiway Bantai. The name of the track, "Seedha Makeover" is a jab at Emiway's song, "Seedha Takeover"''
|-
|Dum Hai
|Dannyetracks
|
|-
| rowspan="20" |2020
|Untitled
| rowspan="2" |Dansonn
|
|-
|Maharani
|''A [[Diss Track|diss track]] against Delhi-based rapper, Muhfaad.''
|-
|Sher
|Deep Kalsi ft. KR$NA, Karma & Harjas
|XPLICIT
|
|-
|Makasam
|KR$NA
|Deep Kalsi
|''Another [[Diss (music)|diss track]] aimed at Muhfaad. The second and last one from KR$NA in their feud.''
|-
|QUARANTINE
|[[Young Stunners (music duo)|Young Stunners]], KR$NA
|Jokhay
|
|-
|Damn
| rowspan="2" |[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]] ft. KR$NA
| rowspan="2" |[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
| rowspan="2" |''From [[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar's]] album, Mr. Nair''
|-
|Down
|-
|Tokyo Drift Freestyle
| rowspan="2" |KR$NA
|[[The Neptunes]]
|''Features the beat of the popular track, [[Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious) (song)|Tokyo Drift]] by [[Teriyaki Boyz]]; Released via Instagram.''
|-
|Window Shopper Freestyle
|C Styles, Sire
|''Features the beat of the [[50 Cent]] song, [[Window Shopper]].''
|-
|Bag
|[[Divine (rapper)|DIVINE]] ft. KR$NA
|NDS, Stunnah Beatz & Progression Music
|''From [[Divine (rapper)|DIVINE]]'s [[Extended play|EP]] , "SHUTDOWN"''
|-
|Chaukanna (Hotstar Specials Hundred)
|[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]] & KR$NA ft. [[Karan Wahi]]
|[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|''Inspired from [[Hotstar Specials]]’ Hundred''
|-
|Woofer 2
|Deep Kalsi ft. KR$NA
| rowspan="2" |Deep Kalsi
|
|-
|Gallan
|Deep Kalsi, KR$NA, Fateh, Karma & Harjas
|
|-
|No Losses
| rowspan="3" |KR$NA
|Roclegion and Danny E.B
|
|-
|Say My Name (Hindi)
| rowspan="2" |Call Me G
| rowspan="2" |''Released in both Hindi and English''
|-
|Say My Name (English)
|-
|Saath Ya Khilaf
|KR$NA & [[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|[[Raftaar (rapper)|Raftaar]]
|
|-
|The Key Freestyle
|KR$NA
|Deep Kalsi
|
|-
|Baap Se
|Fotty Seven ft. KR$NA
|Frisk
|''From Fotty Seven's "Asli independent" [[Extended play|EP]]''
|-
|Bohot Sahi
|J Trix, KR$NA & SUBSPACE
|SUBSPACE
|''From J TRIX's "Bohot Sahi" [[Extended play|EP]]''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2021
|Crossroads
|Hi-Rez ft. [[Royce da 5'9"|Royce da 5'9']]' & KR$NA
|Ryan Summer
|
|-
|Khauf Hai
|KR$NA
|Haji Springer
|''A collaboration with [[Realme]] India''
|-
|Playground
|Hi-Rez ft. KR$NA & [[Crooked I|KXNG Crooked]]
|Ryan Summer
|
|-
|Zaruri Nahi
|Karma ft. KR$NA
|Deep Kalsi
|''From Karma's debut album "M.Y.P"''
|-
|Taazi Saans, Taazi Soch
|KR$NA
|Subspace
|''A collaboration with Center Fresh and [[MTV]] India''
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Instagram|id=realkrsna}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krsna}}
[[Category:Indian rappers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Delhi]]
[[Category:21st-century male singers]]
[[Category:1989 births]]

Krsna rapper-93998 - Revision history

103.189.130.103 at 18:13, 27 April 2023