In 2013, Lady Kash launched her independent label and creative company AKASHIK to provide indie-centric artist and label services, along with distribution and publishing. In 2018, she released the bilingual hip-hop song "Villupaattu",[2] which brought the ancient art form to the world and elevated the once-forgotten female Villu Paattu artist "Poongani Amma" to the limelight.[3][4]
In 2023, she became the first artist to bring Tamizh rap to Hollywood when her hip-hop single “Two Cents” was selected for synchronization in Episode 9 of the fourth and final season of the Netflix comedy-drama series ‘Never Have I Ever’,[5] created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher.
Biography
Kalaivani Nagaraj was born in Singapore. When she was a teenager, she moved to India to pursue her studies.[6] She subsequently began her journey as a rapper and songwriter in the entertainment industry in 2007.[citation needed]
Professional Life
In 2010, she wrote and recorded with A. R. Rahman in the debut soundtrack "Irumbile Oru Irudhaiyam[7]" for the blockbuster movie Enthiran. The song went on to become the first Tamil soundtrack album to enter and top the iTunes US/UK Charts.[8]
In the anthem for World Classical Tamil Conference 2010, "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam",[9] she became the youngest and only female rapper to record for what became the modern-day anthem of the Tamil language.
In January 2014, Lady Kash made her Bollywood debut by writing and recording the soundtrack "Wanna Mashup", composed by A. R. Rahman for the film Highway.[citation needed]
In July 2016, Lady Kash had two back-to-back releases. The first was "Naam Hai Futsal" – the official Premier Futsal anthem composed by A. R. Rahman with vocals by A. R. R, Virat Kohli, Lady Kash, and Karthik. The second was her rendition of Kabali's "Neruppu Da," which was released on 14 July and amassed over 1 million views in two weeks. The track was powered by AKASHIK in conjunction with Think Music India.[10]
On A. R. Rahman's 50th birthday in 2017, Lady Kash released a one-take video for a medley titled "Rap Smash", featuring rap hits from the composer. She also released a rework of Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" in support of the #MeToo movement. She is currently focusing on writing original music, releasing songs such as "I Told You So" in February 2018 and "Villupaattu" on March 29, 2018, on her birthday. The song was dedicated to the elderly dancer Poongani, whom Lady Kash visited.[11]
In 2021, she was a participant in the Tamil edition of the reality show Survivor, which was filmed and relayed from Tanzania, East Africa. The program was executed by TV Network Zee Tamil and producers Banijay Asia.[12] She later admitted the executives did not pay attention to the contestants when some of them fell ill with COVID.[13][14]
Performances
She has performed in Canada, Switzerland, the UK, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Dubai, and India.[15] In the 2014 Infinite Love concert tour by Oscar Winner A. R. Rahman, she also performed "Irumbile Oru Irudhaiyam" with A.R. Rahman. More concert tours with A. R. Rahman include her 2016 performances of "Rap War" at A. R. Rahman's Nenje Ezhu concert tour series (Chennai, Coimbatore & Madurai) and "Rap War 2.0" at A. R. Rahman Live in Dubai 2017.
The "Rap War" performance was the first of its kind concert exclusive in the Indian music industry and gained popularity after its video was shared globally. In 2017, she performed at Canada's largest south-Asian music festival, desiFEST in Yonge-Dundas Square. She also performed twice with Anirudh Ravichander during his first concert in Singapore in 2014 and the 2016 edition.[16]