“When the trendy glitzy glamour and coolness around rapping fades after a while (just like with everything else in life) we can really get to see the core of what hip-hop stands for…” says Singaporean artiste Yung Raja in an interview with Opoyi. When asked to compare rap as an art form in India from what it was a few years back, the rapper, who migrated from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu to Singapore in 1992, further says that “people are going to see and feel the spirit of hip-hop as an art.”

“… and it’s all about love, unity, family, brotherhood, VOICE! just to name a few and with this beauty in its core, we’re going to slowly tear away the stigmas that are attached to it.

“The wrongful stigmas that have been attached to hip-hop culture for the longest time such as rapping is all about gangsterism or drugs or women etc. After we tear that down, hip-hop is gonna be perceived and accepted as the powerful and beautiful art medium as it is,” Raja told Opoyi.

His father, Rajid Ahamed, is a recognised poet in the Tamil diasporic community in Singapore and also taught Maths and Science as a college professor for 17 years in Chennai. Yung Raja pursued acting and featured in advertisements, TV series, and movies. But it is on his friend and fellow Singaporean rapper Fariz Jabba’s insistence that he dabbled in music. Yung Raja found viral success in Malaysia and Singapore following the release of his debut single “Mustafa”. His second single, “Mad Blessings”, received a commendation from Lupe Fiasco and M.I.A. and was the first English-Tamil song to be played on Malaysia’s leading Malay Radio Station, Era. 

Lauded for his formidable command of English-Tamil rap, Yung Raja believes that “not being influenced is the power of an artiste.”

He is now gearing up for his virtual performance for the NH7 weekender that will take place on December 5. Talking about his gig, he said, “It’s the first time we did something like this, a 30-minute performance film. All I can is be prepared for a show and the virtual experience is the new world.”

He has recently released the bar freestyle following his hit single ‘The Dance Song’ and looking at the video, one could imagine the kind of fun he had while recording “The Dance Song”.

The rapper, who has signed to Def Jam South East Asia in 2019, says that his intention has always been to spread joy. “The Dance Song is me sharing my true spirit to the world. I’m that class clown from many years ago in school, that’s now translated that into raps. My goal is to spread as much joy and good vibes as I can with my art,” 

For someone who has also been an appreciator and a celebrator of the Indian music scene, he says that “since day 1, it’s always been about linking up with artists there (India) and getting acquainted with the scene”

“… because for me, it’s more than just an Indian music scene. For me, it’s where my family came from. My entire family moved from Tanjavur to Singapore and then had me here. That’s the motherland for me. I’ve never wanted to stay away or anything… I’ve just been waiting for the right opportunities,” said Raja who also calls himself a big Rajinikanth fan

“Thalaiva all the way! I speak fluent Tamil too,” he said. 

With such immense success globally, he says that he has always been very blessed with the right people, right timing, right energies, and opportunities. 

“To have come this far is already a major win for my family and I. These days it’s about counting my blessings and making sure none is taken for granted. That being said, I’m working on being the strongest pillar I can be for my family to lean on,” he said.