Artiste Raja Kumari feels regional raps can compete internationally

India has always been a muse for Indo-American rapper Raja Kumari, who confesses to having tried to dissociate from her roots as a young teen in America, only to realise that she would "make it" because of her culture. It's only apt then that the hook line of her latest track, which marks her first collaboration with an Indian label, Sony India, reads - Ja Ke Pooch Apne Bare Mein.

Raja Kumari

Given the love she harbours for her country, it's surprising that Kumari took so long to release her first single in India. "I wanted to devote time to learn recording and songwriting," she reasons, adding that her solo projects in India will reflect her learnings from her collaborations with American sensations like Timbaland, Iggy Azalea and Gwen Stefani. "The best thing about working in India is that I don't have to highlight what a sitar is, or how it works.

I've realised there's scope to learn so much more about mixing here." Kumari feels Indian rap hasn't been explored to its fullest. "When I hear Kannada or Tamil rap, I know that people are creating something that can match up to international compositions." She opines that Bollywood has the responsibility of taking Indian music to global charts. "It's not unnatural to hear a Spanish song on American radio among the chart-toppers. So, why can't we hear a Punjabi track, or any Bollywood number there?"