RAJA KUMARI faced prejudices over Indo-Western heritage

Raja Kumari is a powerhouse that has created a niche for herself in the world of rap and hip hop. Respectively, she has garnered an immense fan following in America and India. She is among the very few artists who can blend two contrastingly different music genres – hip hop which is western and Indian classical which is very traditional.

Talking to First India, the artist opened up about her upcoming album, Head Bitch In Charge, the success of her latest single ‘Made in India’, working with Madhuri Dixit-Nene and her roots in Indian classical mussic and dance among many others.

An easy-going and confident personality, Kumari enthusiastically talked about being inspired by Alisha Chinai’s 1995 hit, Made In India and using its interpolations for her new hit single with the same name. “When it came to doing Made In India, I just wanted to take a song that meant a lot to the audience and bring it back to a new audience but obviously, adapt it to my artistic speciality. So, we borrowed the melody from the chorus which was the most memorable and we re-imagined it into rap and reggae style music.”

She also revealed that she considers Indian classical dances to be the foundation of her art, further stating that is the reason why she chose Madhuri Dixit-Nene for her music video. “I find her to be someone who supports talent and genuinely is a nice person. It was so much fun on set with her. And the fact that she came and she trusted us and gave us that million-dollar wink, in the end, was so crazy,” the singer spoke.

About her album, Head Bitch In Charge, Kumari explained that the album is about taking control unapologetically. “With me going independent and making Godmother Records, and its first release being Made in India with Madhuri and making a statement and following it up with an aggressive rap record. It has everything that people love about me and find something new. The direction in which Made in India is going is where I want to take the listeners with this album.”

The rap artist further explained what compelled her to create songs independently through her record label. “I feel like the whole music scene is changing. Previously the record labels were needed to get everything out on time and to be organized. But now with streaming platforms being strong, you can bring out your music.”

Talking about the discrimination she faced as an indo-western artist where she was considered too Indian for the hip hop scene and vice versa, Raja Kumari stated that this bigotry was the bane of her existence as an artist. “That kind of prejudice where I have been told that they will give me a bigger budget if I don’t wear the bindi. I had to go through all kinds of things but now I am at a point where anything is possible and that is a wonderful place to be.”