KD Playlist 001: Bollyhood Beats
It does bother me a little that NAV is signed by none other than the Weeknd and is definitely still underrated! As someone who co-produced Drake’s “Back 2 Back” and is on tracks with people like Gunna, Travis Scott, Meek Mill and Young Thug… I think he deserves to be given a chance! Does anyone know why the internet has simultaneously agreed to clown on him? If the Weeknd backs him and he already works with your favorites, what is holding you back?!
I love Pallavi for the very blatant reason of her being a brown girl and being overtly sexual in the majority of her work. I love love love it. Stemming from a culture where women are mostly suppressed when it comes to owning their sexuality and truly being themselves, Pallavi is a breath of fresh air. The best part about her is that you know it’s all genuine. Sex might sell but Pallavi isn’t selling anything that isn’t authentic.
I interned at Complex way back when and discovered him through research for an assignment. Then, maybe a few months later, he had an interview with them! It made me so happy to see a South Asian rapper on the map, especially from Queens, rep his country, family and hood so hard. He keeps a real dialogue going and always makes it a point to give back to those who have helped him get to where he is. He is someone I will always root for.
I love her story because it is very similar to most of us in the millenial/gen-z diaspora. She had a day job, she quit it. Why? To pursue music. She was 35 when she did that and she still had some explaining to do to her parents, as to why she quit her accounting job to become a singer. Her music is unapologetically Tamil and her trajectory rivals that of MIA. Here’s a quote I think we’ll all appreciate from one of her interviews:
“Seeing all this they’re very proud. But it wasn’t because I was in Vogue or Rolling Stone India [that they were won over]. It was because an auntie called.”
This man is definitely my standard of standout for South Asian representation. From an impeccable acting career to a music career that is literally a voice of a diaspora, he never fails to amaze me. He is well spoken in his music as he is in conversation, his lyrics always providing social commentary from an angle that is necessary for the diaspora.
Two bad-ass Pakistani sisters breaking down stereotypes within EDM? Yes please! First of all, the electronic and club music scene is dominated by males. Second of all, the electronic and club music scene is dominated by females of European descent. So for Krewella to get on the scene and really make their mark made my rebellious brown girl heart swelllll!
Probably the most popular South Asian artist in mainstream music right now and I love that it’s a WOMAN! Raja Kumari has worked behind the scenes on songs for artists like Fall Out Boy, Gwen Stefani and Fifth Harmony. Now, she is finally out and about, taking up the space, bringing the language of Telugu to the ears of Americans and repping for South Asian women in music.
The birthplace of Riz Ahmed’s music career, when he was known as Riz M.C (love). Along with Heems, the duo tackle Islamaphobia, immigration, refugees, etc. Basically anything you’d want artists to bring to light as a minority and/or immigrant.
Raveena is an openly bisexual South Asian woman who was blatantly told by record labels they couldn’t sign her because she was brown and that there was no space for her. She has directed her own music videos and heavily featured her Indian culture. She oozes femininity, sensuality and fluidity. The best part? She’s just getting started.
Originally formed by Heems (pre-Swet Shop Boys) and Kool A.D, Das Racist is the epitome of “fuck the establishment” but instead of the white punk rockers of the 90s, it is in the form of mid 2000s rap, by disgruntled minorities. With both of them hailing from Queens and meeting at a liberal arts college in Connecticut, they had a lot of material to work with in regards to racism.
Kaly is a 1st gen Indian-American rapper who has been on tracks of the legendary A.R Rahman of Bollywood. He made it a point to not rap about women in any objectifying way and only about things that have actually happened to him. Looks like he never really made it on the scene and isn’t actively on it, but I think what space he could take up, he chose to put out meaningful messages.
