Rajakumari, the Indian-American rapper, singer, songwriter has released a new track in collaboration with Dee MC, SIRI and Meba Ofilia. But before talking about the track, let us talk about Rajakumari first, shall we?
Svetha Yallapragada Rao, known on-screen as Rajakumari, is a hip hop and pop singer who has gained acclaim for her songs and for writing with some of the best artists, including Fifth Harmony, Divine, and Gwen Stefani, to name a few. Her most recent release, ‘US,’ was a duet with Sidhu Moose Wala that quickly racked up millions of views. She also appeared in a cameo role as a judge in the Bollywood film Gully Boy and served on the judges panel for the MTV Hustle reality show. The finest part is that she believes spirituality to be her origins, and she gives it meaning through her on-screen name, which means “daughter of the king of kings” to her.
Now, on to the track: in collaboration with Absolut, a female-led team of not only songwriters but also backend technicians have worked on ‘Rani Cypher’. They released the song on World Music Day, raising the stakes and celebrating music with women empowerment. Rajakumari begins the song by emphasising the necessity of gender equality. She says, “As a woman in this industry, we have to work harder. We have to be better. We have to do so much more.” The chorus adds, “Rani, Rani. Don’t forget that you’re a queen, Rani, Rani. Duniya ki Shehzaadi (Queen of the World), There’s nothing that can stop you now, Lift it up and wear that crown.”. This instils in every woman the belief that she is nothing less than a queen. The lyrics are powerful, and many people have said that this is a much-needed comeback.
Talking about the comments from Rajakumari, she said, “When I entered the Indian rap scene in 2016, it was rare to see a woman on stage and even more rare to hear a woman on the mic. I decided early on to use my Influence to create a platform for female artistes and creatives in order to claim a space that could be safe for all of us”.
She added: “It’s so exciting to feature Meba Ofilia, Dee MC and Siri on this all-female rap cypher out of India. From beginning to end, working on Rani Cypher has been a hands-on experience and I’m thankful to have worked with such a talented female led team.”
Siri said: “(I am) So hyped for this one! A much-needed collaboration for the scene. The shoot was super fun — all of us in our element, exchanging positive energy.”
Dee MC said: “Super stoked to have worked with these amazing and talented ladies on ‘Rani Cypher’. This was definitely in the works for a while and I’m so glad it’s finally happened. Safe to say it sets a benchmark for all upcoming female collaborations.”
Meba Ofilia said: “I’m nervous, yet very excited! Honoured that I got to be a part of this unique project. Definitely a first for me, sitting down in a studio with artists from different parts of India (and the world!) to record a song. Colourless’ campaign in order to create a world in which people look beyond their differences, while also driving global unity.”
So, while many viewers, including musicians, are sharing this track in honour of this lovely, powerful song, don’t forget to listen to it and share it if you enjoy it as well. And, until my pen writes more for you, go to Rajakumari’s Instagram page HERE to see stories, photos, and more. Have a wonderful day, everyone, and queens, don’t forget to celebrate yourselves!
