KRSNA (rapper)

Last updated

KR$NA
KR$NA SXSW Sydney 2024.jpg
Krishna at SXSW Sydney, October 2024.
Background information
Birth nameKrishna Kaul
Also known asKR$NA, Krsna, YoungProzpekt, Prozpekt, Underthug, MC Phyxer
Born Delhi, India
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active2006–present [1]
Labels Universal, Zee, Kalamkaar
Website https://realkrsna.com

Krishna Kaul, known mononymously as Krishna, stylised now as KR$NA, (previously as Krsna; known formerly as YoungProzpekt) is an Indian rapper. [2] [3] He was one of the earliest rappers to emerge in the Indian hip hop scene in the mid-2000s under the stage name Prozpekt. He is widely acknowledged within the Desi hip-hop community for pioneering a lyrical revolution in the genre, infusing a new wave of poetic depth and lyrical complexity into hip-hop's narrative. [4] He was also briefly featured in the 2019 Bollywood film Gully Boy as himself. [5]

Contents

Early life

Krishna Kaul was born into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Delhi. He spent a part of his childhood in South London, where he was raised and schooled for a few years. Kaul started rapping at the age of fourteen in an effort to blend in with other children at his school in London. [6] He did graduation from Hansraj College. [7]

Career

Krishna's first shot of success came with the release of the music video for "Kaisa Mera Desh" in 2010, [8] [9] becoming the first Indian hip hop song on YouTube and earning a number 2 ranking as one of the most watched music videos in India overnight following its release. [10] He also released a song titled "Vijay" in collaboration with international NGO Save The Children in 2013. [11]

After sporadic underground releases, Kaul switched from Prozpekt to the stage name KRSNA after signing with Contrabands, a joint venture company between Universal Music India, VH1 and Hard Rock Cafe, in 2013. [12] [13] In May 2014, he released his debut album Sellout, an all-English effort on Universal Music with its lead single "Last Night" peaking at number 5 on the VH1 Music Charts in India. [14] Kaul became the first hip-hop artist in India to do a five-city album tour with a band. [3] [2] Following this, the music video for the title song "Sellout" was released but failed to make a large impact due to lacklustre marketing and shrinking label budgets. [15] [16]

KR$NA during a live performance, 2016 IMG 0838 Rapper KRSNA.jpg
KR$NA during a live performance, 2016

After a two-year hiatus, Kaul made his return in 2016 with his Hindi release "Vyanjan". [17] [18] Following the success of the song, he signed to the artist management agency DNH Artists (now Kalamkaar) in 2017 and became a partner in 2018, with the likes of Ankit Khanna and Raftaar.

In 2020, Kaul accused the IPL and Disney+ Hotstar of permitting the plagiarism of his 2017 song "Dekh Kaun Aaya Wapas" 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". [19] [20]

In the month of January 2021, Kaul was featured on American rapper Hi-Rez's song "Crossroads" along with Royce da 5'9". [21] Later in July, another collaboration with Hi-Rez was released, titled "Playground" which also featured former Slaughterhouse member, KXNG Crooked. His collaboration in Hi-Rez's song "Overdrive", was released in November 2021, featuring A-F-R-O, Joell Ortiz, Bizzy Bone, Tech N9ne and Twista. The music videos were released on Hi-Rez's YouTube channel. [22] In the same year, Kaul also released his sophomore studio album Still Here, which was his first album released through Kalamkaar Records, the artist agency he had joined 3 years back. [23]

In 2022, he featured on Karan Aujla's song "Ykwim", and also made an appearance in the music video. In the same year, also collaborated with British rapper French the Kid, on the song "10 Pe 10", which was released in November 2022, with an accompanying music video.

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 in September 2022. [24] Starting in 2023, Kaul released a series of EPs, which featured collaborations from fellow rappers, and producers in the Desi hip-hop scene. His first EP, Time Will Tell, released in March 2023 and featured Pakistani rappers Talha Anjum, and Talhah Yunus, and production from their frequent collaborators, Umair and Jokhay. [25] His second EP, FAR FROM OVER, released in August 2023, and featured the Indian hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut, musician AR Paisley and production from Bharg. [26] His third EP, For The Day One$, which released in the following year, also featured production from Bharg, and collaborations from rappers Faris Shafi, Karma, and singer Lisa Mishra. [27]

In 2025, Kaul, along with 3 other rappers– Jay Park, MaSiWei, and Vannda, featured on Japanese hip-hop artist Awich's track "Asian State of Mind", which was released on 28 February, accompanied by a music video, which was shot in each of the featured rappers' home countries. [28] [29] In the same year, Kaul announced his first mixtape, Yours Truly, which was also his first project to be distributed via Mass Appeal India. [30] The announcement coincided with American rapper Nas making his India debut on 19 April 2025 at Mass Appeal Presents: The World Reunion—A Charity Concert in Mumbai. [31] Yours Truly eventually released on 22 May 2025, with a title announcement, made 4 days prior to its release. [32]

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumTracksArtist(s)Producer(s)
2014SelloutThe Glorious First StepKR$NABradley Dhawan
FadedKR$NA, Cory JonesTony Fadd
SelloutKR$NA
Getting AwayBreathtaking Beats
Last NightMetrognome
ErrydayKR$NA, Sonny BrownTony Fadd
TrippingKR$NA
Last SongBradley Dhawan
2021Still HereStill Here (Intro)KR$NASAFIN
What's My NameRaftaar
Roll UpKR$NA, Badshah Josh Petruccio
VillainKR$NA, Karma, Ikka Depo
DreamKR$NADeep Kalsi
Fall Off (Interlude)Kapellmaister
Saza-E-MautKR$NA, Raftaar Rill Beats, Young Grape Beatz
Na Hai TimeKR$NAJ Caspersen
Living LegendKR$NA, Rashmeet Kaur Didker

EPs

YearEPTracksArtist(s)Producer(s)
2023Time Will TellKaha TakKR$NAJokhay, Umair
NGLKR$NA, Talhah Yunus Umair, Rovalio
Been A WhileKR$NA, Talha Anjum Umair
2023FAR FROM OVERStill StandingKR$NAEnigma Beats
PrarthanaBharg, Deep Kalsi, Umair
Wanna KnowSylvester
Hola AmigoKR$NA, Seedhe Maut Umair
Some Of UsKR$NA, AR Paisley JPBEATZ
2024For The Day One$Shut UpKR$NASubspace
What's UpKR$NA, Lisa Mishra Riz Shain
Stay AwayKR$NA, BhargBharg
Role ModelKR$NA, Faris Shafi, KarmaDeep Kalsi

Mixtapes

2025: Yours Truly [33] [34]

YearMixtapeTracksArtist(s)Producer(s)
2025Yours TrulyVOTP SKIT 1Enkore, BobkatPhenom
Nothing to ProveKR$NA
Knock KnockKR$NA
SensitiveKR$NA, Seedhe Maut Hurricane
VOTP SKIT 2Enkore, BobkatPhenom
Never EnoughKR$NA
Buss DownKR$NA, Raftaar Sana, M61
KKBNKR$NALambo Drive
VOTP SKIT 3Enkore, BobkatPhenom
Talk My Shit/GuaranteeKR$NA, Yashraj NEVERSOBER
HelloKR$NA, Awich Karan Kanchan
VibrateKR$NA, Badshah Phenom
Who You AreKR$NA, Aitch lejJA, Phenom
Yours TrulyKR$NABharg
VOTP SKIT 4Enkore, BobkatPhenom

Singles and collaborations

YearTrackArtist(s)Producer(s)Note(s)
2006I Want it AllYoung ProzpektSamples Queen's "I Want It All"
Bitch Please (Remix)Big T ft.Young Prozpekt Dr. Dre Remix of Eminem's "Bitch Please II"
2007I Go GoYoung Prozpekt ft. Soldier Hard
2008F$ck Wit UsPacifik ft. Young ProzpektFrom the album F1J1 Survivor by Pacifik
2009Fancy GillRabbit Sack C & Young ProzpektRabbit Sack CFrom the album BackLog by Rabbit Sack C
Thats me / ShahzaadeRabbit Sack C, Bluntz, Young Prozpekt & NYCE
Yellow TaxiRabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt, Big T & Slim Neil
Naam Toh Pukar / Get Out Of My WayProzpekt
2010Kaisa Mera DeshProzpektDJ Corbett [10]
KhatarnaakProzpekt ft. Sonny Brown
2011Imran Khan – Amped Up (Amplifier Remix)Rabbit Sack C & Young ProzpektRabbit Sack C
DISCONNECTSu.1, Prozpekt & Ashish D'souzaSu.1
Poocho na Yaar Kya Hua – RemixRabbit Sack C & Young Prozpekt
Lokpal FreestyleProzpekt [35]
2012Peeche Na DekhRabbit Sack C ft. ProzpektRabbit Sack C
Put Ur Lighters UpRabbit Sack C ft. Su.1 & ProzpektRabbit Sack C
VijayProzpektDJ CorbettFrom the album BackLog by Rabbit Sack C
2013Whatchya Know About ItRabbit Sack C & Young ProzpektRabbit Sack C
Cold BloodedProzpekt ft. Twisted Insane MetroGnome
How You Like Me Now Lost Stories ft. Krishna KaulLost StoriesFrom the album Music for the # Generation by Lost Stories
2014Bang BangRabbit Sack C, Young Prozpekt, Agrim Joshi & Nishit BhatiaRabbit Sack CFrom the album BackLog by Rabbit Sack C
2015Keep It RealKR$NA
NO HASHTAGKR$NA & Su RealSu RealReleased via SoundCloud
I'm BackKR$NA & FuzzCultureFuzzCulture
Patli GaliPankaj Awasthi & KR$NAFrom the movie Yahaan Sabki Lagi Hai
Beyond The MatrixRabbit Sack C ft. KR$NARabbit Sack C
Shots Fired MojoJojo & Sound Avtar ft. KR$NAMojoJojoFrom the album Shots Fired by MojoJojo [36]
Jungle RajMojoJojo ft. KR$NA
2016VyanjanKR$NAInsane [37]
Desi Wrap Up 2016KR$NAInsane
2017Meri BaariKidshot ft. KR$NARekoil Chafe
Tere Buss Ki Na HaiKR$NAKR$NA
Dekh Kaun Aaya WapasKR$NABreathtaking & LAD
WooferDeep Kalsi & KR$NADeep Kalsi
Mumbai Se Delhi TakEmiway Bantai & KR$NAInsane
I’m ReadyKR$NA ft. Raftaar Breathtaking & LAD
AlagKR$NAJ.P
2018Hip Hop Holi (MTV)KR$NA, Deep KalsI & HarjasDeep KalsiReleased via Facebook
Aakhir Tumhe Aana HaiSuryaveer ft. KR$NABoney John
Delhi TimesKR$NADhruv GanekarFrom "Flirt with Your City Rap" by Times Network
MuqablaKR$NAKR$NA
2019Voice of the Streets Ep.04 – KR$NAKR$NASiddhant ShirodkarVoice of the Streets is a capsule series from the movie Gully Boy
SoloKR$NACerti
Warm UpDeep Kalsi, Karma, Harjas, Kidshot, KR$NA & Raftaar Deep KalsiKidshot later replaced by Raftaar in a live version
Janta KyunKR$NADeep Kalsi
No NoDeep Kalsi, Harjas & KR$NADeep Kalsi
Farak Nahi PadtaKR$NAJCaspersen
AadatKR$NAJCaspersen
Freeverse Feast (Langar)KR$NARaftaarA response to Emiway Bantai's "Freeverse Feast (Daawat)"
Seedha MakeoverKR$NACall Me GDiss track aimed Emiway Bantai, after his track "Seedha Takeover"
Dum HaiKR$NADannyetracks
2020UntitledKR$NADansonn
MaharaniKR$NADansonnDiss track aimed at Delhi-based rapper, Muhfaad
SherDeep Kalsi ft. KR$NA, Harjas & KarmaXplicit
MakasamKR$NADeep Kalsi & KR$NASecond diss track aimed at Muhfaad. The most brutal diss track in Desi hip hop.
Quarantine Young Stunners & KR$NAJokhay
DamnRaftaar ft. KR$NARaftaarFrom the album Mr. Nair by Raftaar
DownRaftaar ft. KR$NA
Tokyo Drift FreestyleKR$NA The Neptunes Uses "Tokyo Drift" by Teriyaki Boyz

Released via Instagram

Window Shopper FreestyleKR$NAC. Styles & SireUses "Window Shopper" by 50 Cent
Bag DIVINE ft. KR$NANDS, Stunnah Beatz & Progression MusicFrom the compilation SHUTDOWN by Mass Appeal, Gully Gang and DIVINE
HundredRaftaar & KR$NA ft. Karan Wahi Deep KalsiFrom the Hotstar Specials show Hundred
Woofer 2Deep Kalsi ft. KR$NADeep Kalsi
GallanDeep Kalsi, Harjas, Fateh, KR$NA & KarmaDeep KalsiFrom the EP No Days Off by Deep Kalsi
No LossesKR$NARoclegion & Danny E.B
Say My Name (Hindi Version)KR$NACall Me G
Say My Name (English Version)KR$NACall Me G
Saath Ya KhilafKR$NA & RaftaarRaftaar
The Key – FreestyleKR$NADeep Kalsi
Baap SeFotty Seven ft. KR$NAFriskFrom the EP Asli Independent by Fotty Seven
Bohot SahiJ Trix, SubSpace & KR$NASubSpaceFrom the EP Bohot Sahi by J Trix & SubSpace
2021CrossroadsHi-Rez ft. Royce da 5'9" & KR$NARyan Summer
Khauf HaiKR$NAHaji SpringerCollaboration with Realme India
PlaygroundHi-Rez ft. KR$NA & KXNG Crooked Ryan Summer
Zaruri NahiKarma ft. KR$NADeep KalsiFrom the album Made You Proud by Karma
Taazi Saans, Taazi SochKR$NASubSpaceCollaboration with Center Fresh and MTV India
OGKR$NAMandalaz
No CapKR$NAEnigma
OverdriveHi-Rez ft. KR$NA, Tech N9ne, A-F-R-O, Joell Ortiz, Twista & Bizzy Bone Ryan Summer
2022Ykwim Karan Aujla & KR$NA ft. Mehar VaaniYeah Proof
Blowing UpKR$NAFlexus
HIGHDeep Kalsi ft. KR$NADeep KalsiFrom the EP WINNERSCIRCLE by Deep Kalsi
ON Raja Kumari ft. KR$NANacho Larraza & Karan PandavFrom the EP HBIC by Raja Kumari
Lil BuntyKR$NAFlamboyDiss track aimed at Emiway Bantai, in response to track "Chusamba"
BatmanAghor ft. KR$NAAShock
Machayenge 4KR$NAPendo46Diss track aimed at Emiway Bantai, in response to his track "KR L$DA SIGN" [38]
Forever Brodha V ft. KR$NATone Jonez
I GuessKR$NAKabu Beats
Tony MontanaKarma & KR$NAJosh Petruccio
No ChinaRaftaar ft. KR$NARaftaar & FriskFrom the EP HARD DRIVE Vol.1 by Raftaar [39]
10 Pe 10KR$NA ft. French The Kid ditto & leiJA
2023Touch Base Talha Anjum ft. Talhah Yunus & KR$NAUmairFrom the album Open Letter by Talha Anjum
Khatta Flow Seedhe Maut ft KR$NACalmFrom the mixtape Lunch Break by Seedhe Maut [40]
Zero After ZeroKR$NA & Talay Riley Kshmr From the album KARAM by Kshmr [40]
Paisa On My MindDeep Kalsi & KR$NADeep KalsiFrom the album Tunnel Vision by Deep Kalsi [41]
Woh Raat Raftaar & KR$NAlejJAReleased on the occasion of Raftaar's birthday [40]
No MercyDeep Kalsi, Raftaar, KR$NA & KarmaDeep KalsiFrom the album Tunnel Vision by Deep Kalsi [41]
2024Joota JapaniKR$NA & Mukesh UmairSamples the iconic Bollywood song "Mera Joota Hai Japani", from Shree 420 by Mukesh [42]
Hola At Your Boy Badshah ft. KR$NA & PrajinaHitenFrom the album Ek Tha Raja by Badshah [43]
RefundsRap Demon & KR$NA & DineshUmairFrom the album Rockstar without a Guitar by Umair
2025ASIAN STATE OF MIND Awich, Jay Park, MaSiWei, Vannda, KR$NADiego Ave
Headlights- Udta JaayeKR$NA, Rashmeet Kaur, Alok (DJ) AlokOfficial anthem for FreeFire Max India, a remix of DJ Alok & Alan Walker's Headlights [44]

References

  1. Rastogi, Saumya (29 February 2024). "'Heavy, message-laden music can be limiting': Rapper Kr$na on addressing socio-political issues in his music". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 March 2025. Krishna Kaul, known by his stage name Kr$na, is one of the OGs of the Indian rap scene. Having entered the industry during the mid-2000s, he acknowledges the challenges Indian rappers faced due to the dominance of Bollywood music.
  2. 1 2 Sridharan, Apuurva (16 July 2014). "Krsna: Rap is about the situation you". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Rodricks, Allan Moses (5 June 2014). "No Plan B for this rapper". The Hindu . ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
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