MC Kash

Roushan Illahi (born 1990) better known by his stage name MC Kash is a Kashmiri emcee/rapper.[2] Taking his stage name from his place of birth- Kashmir, MC Kash is an independent musician based out of Srinagar.[3]

MC KASH
Birth nameRoushan Illahi
Also known asMC Kash
Born1990 (age 32–33)
Srinagar, Kashmir
OriginSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
GenresRap, Hip hop[1]
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2009–2016
LabelsIndependent
Websitemckashofficial.com

Born in 1990, Kash belongs to a generation of Kashmiris that grew up under the shadow of guns, whose childhood memories are that of a war, raged in the streets.[4] He has been called a Street Poet.[5]

MC Kash burst on the scene with his first studio recorded single I Protest (Remembrance) in 2010.[6]

Biography

He was born in 1990 Srinagar in the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.[7] His father is a Doctor and his mother is a teacher.[8] He is one of the notable alumni of Burn Hall School. Illahi completed his bachelor's degree in business administration from Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar (2012). He did his Master's in Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir (2015). Roushan Illahi is also a participant to Swedish Institute's South Asian leadership programme Young Connectors of the Future (2016).[9] Kash says it was a track from Beastie Boys titled ‘No Sleep till Brooklyn’ that introduced him to hip hop music. He credits 2pac Shakur and Eminem as major musical influences. He also mentions being inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States of America.[10]

Kash is considered as the person behind the inception of Hip Hop music in Kashmir. Many young and emerging rappers admire Kash and are inspired by his music. He is referred as a person who started Hip Hop Kashmir. Rapping has been popular in Kashmir since Kash became famous.[11][12] Kash got featured in multiple documentaries and one of the documentary MC Kash was nominated in Diversity in Cannes (2018)[13][14] and he has been featured in other documentaries like Take It in Blood, directed by Rana Ghose. The documentary follows MC Kash as he meets Kashmiri activist Parveena Ahanger.[15][16][17] Kash has also been featured the award-winning music documentary Soz: A Ballad of Maladies (2016).[18][19]

Music career

Illahi released his song I Protest (Remembrance) during the 2010 Kashmir unrest which was a series of violent clashes between the locals and security forces.[7] The song became an "anthem of dissent."[7] He has been an idol to many emerging rappers of Kashmir. MC Kash is considered as one of the most prominent face of protest music in South Asia.[20][21] with his rap being downloaded and seen as an act of protest by youth of Kashmir. Songs like Listen, My Brother, Rebel RebubliK : Liberation, Heart of a Rebel, Take it in Blood and many other songs were a part of MC Kash's Album Rebel RepubliK. He portrays the daily hardships of the people living in the valley.[22] In 2016 he collaborated with 101 India for the first ever Sufi rap music with the song hitting many views. In Like a Sufi, "Sufi-ethnic rock meets hip hop in India's first ever Sufi rap. India's first Sufi Rap brings together Alif's signature Sufi ethnic rock sound with Kashmiri rapper MC Kash's strong lyrics and hip hop beats."[23][24]

Personal views

MC Kash has been covered by BBC and Fox traveller where he mostly spoke of Kashmir and the Human rights abuses in Kashmir. Explaining his choice of English language he says "English is a universal language. Kashmiris know how they have suffered. So if I went on to rap about it in Kashmiri, that would be useless".[25][26]

He relates Gaza and Kashmir saying, "Gaza and Kashmir are related. A stone relates us. Humiliation relates us. Occupation relates us. Anger relates us. The human rights violations relate us. Intifada relates us," he tells the BBC.[25]

In late 2010 the Indian police raided his studio see if he was being backed by a separatist or militant. MC Kash said in an interview that he is independent: "Nobody is paying me. Nobody told me to go sing about Kashmir."[25]

Discography
  1. The Vault (2009–2012) MC Kash songs produced between 2009 & 2012.
  2. Anno Domini Beats, Southpaw, MC Kash.
  3. I Protest (Remembrance)[27]
  4. Take It in Blood (2011)[28]
  5. The Bridge of No Return (2012)[29]
  6. Beneath This Sky, (2011)[30]
  7. One young Kashmir, (2011)[31]
  8. Rebel Republik (2012) Debut MC Kash studio album[32]
  9. I See a Massacre (2012)[33]
  10. Listen my Brother (2012)[34]
  11. Family Portrait (2012)[35]
  12. Rebel Republik: Liberation (2013)[36]
  13. Orchestra of War, Beethoven Fur Elise Remix (2013).[37]
  14. Hukus Bukus (2014)[38] Flying Carpet Productions.
  15. Like A Sufi, 101India (2016)[39]

References
  1. "Bio". MC Kash. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  2. "Kashmir rappers battle to be heard". The Express Tribune. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  3. "Hip-hop artists should cling to community vibe". The Kashmir Walla. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. "MC Kash aka Roushan Illahi: Hip Hop Homeland". 101 India. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  5. "Kashmiri politics of identity/art/resistance II – Centre for the Study of Democracy – University of Westminster, London". westminster.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  6. "MC Kash raps for Kashmir protest victims". Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  7. "A New Generation of Kashmir Rappers Vents Its Rage in the Valley". NPR. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  8. "Kash's early life". Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  9. "Successful Swedish Institute leadership programme for young Southasians". Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  10. "MC Kash Inspirations". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  11. "Kashmir Solidarity Network, ON MC KASH". kashmirsolidarity.wordpress.com.
  12. "Valley's first rapper attracts youth by singing about turmoil". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  13. "MC Kash | Narrative, Documentary. Beyond Borders, Diversity in Cannes, 2018". Retrieved 7 January 2017 – via Vimeo.
  14. "Political strife turned Kashmiri Rapper MC Kash takes to the hip hop life". worldfilmpresentation.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  15. "Kashmir documentary 'Take It in Blood' has a conversation with the past to speak to the present". scroll.in. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  16. "Take it in Blood". IMDb. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  17. "Feature documentary on Kashmiri rapper MC Kash" (PDF). indiearth.com.
  18. "A Ballad of Maladies (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  19. "Soz: A Ballad of Maladies". greaterkashmir.com. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  20. "10 Activist Musicians From India Giving Voice To Important Social Issues, MC Kash whose rap is the voice of local Kashmiris". homegrown.co.in. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  21. "Kash chose to rap in english". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  22. "Protest music: A lost art?". armchairjournal.com. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  23. "Kashmiri rapper who shot to fame during 2010 unrest breaks the internet again". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  24. "A Kashmiri rapper and a band come together to give Sufi music a twist". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  25. "MC Kash raps for Kashmir protest victims". BBC News. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  26. "Kash chose to Rap in english". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  27. "I Protest (Remembrance) MR Online". mronline.org. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  28. "Film captures MC Kash and tales of loss from the Valley". sunday-guardian.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  29. "The Bridge of No Return (21st January, 1990) – MC Kash". Retrieved 20 January 2012 – via YouTube.
  30. "MC Kash – Beneath This Sky (Official video)". YouTube. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  31. "Rapper MC Kash creates storm as "One Young Kashmir" summit ends". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  32. "Kashmiri Rapper MC Kash Releases Debut Album". Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  33. "MC Kash – I see a Massacre (Prod by Southpaw)". Retrieved 31 March 2012 – via YouTube.
  34. "MC Kash – Listen, My Brother. This song is from MC Kash's self produced debut album, Rebel RepubliK". Retrieved 24 November 2012 – via YouTube.
  35. "MC Kash – Family Portrait" – via YouTube.
  36. "MC Kash releases album in memory of Maqbool Butt in Kashmir". kashmirglobal.com. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  37. "Orchestra of war, When you take away people's right, there can be no peace': MC Kash on Zubin Mehta's concert". old.tehelka.com. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  38. "8 songs by Kashmiri artists that reflect the cycle of life and death in Kashmir". freepresskashmir.com. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  39. "Like A Sufi – MC Kash & Alif – 101 Union". 101india.com.
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