Hey friend! I‘m excited to share the story of the talented young rapper making waves in India‘s thriving hip hop scene – King.
Introducing King – Delhi‘s Hard-Hitting Rap Phenom
Arpan Kumar Chandel, known by his stage name King, is a 24 year old rapper from New Delhi. With his intense, gritty rapping style and catchy tracks, King has skyrocketed to fame over the past few years.
After getting his start on TV rap competition Hustle in 2019, King began building a name locally in Delhi‘s hip hop circles. His raw, aggressive delivery and clever wordplay on songs like "Kyu" and "Mumbai Machaand" quickly gained attention.
King‘s big mainstream break came in 2022 when he was featured on the track "Sahi Galat" from Bollywood blockbuster Drishyam 2. His fiery verses stole the show, earning new fans across India.
With his youthful confidence and talent, King represents the future of Indian hip hop. He‘s leading the charge popularizing rapid-fire flows, hard-hitting beats, and fearless lyrics.
Diving Into King‘s Distinctive Rap Style
What sets King apart in India‘s rap scene is his distinctive style:
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Dense, complex rhyme schemes: King crams in creative multisyllabic rhymes and internal rhymes that showcase his technical chops. For example, hear him switch flows effortlessly on "Zindagi."
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Haryanvi and Hindi rhymes: While many rappers stick to English, King reps his roots rapping primarily in Hindi and Haryanvi. His song "200 Baar" flaunts his skills in Haryanvi.
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Aggressive, staccato delivery: He raps with an in-your-face aggression and bite, punctuating lines with grunts and dramatic pauses. Songs like "Kaisi Hai Yeh Public" exemplify his intense vocal style.
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Hard-hitting beats: King‘s production features booming bass, sharp snares, and menacing melodies. His song "Kyu" shows off the dark, gritty beats he rhymes over.
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Clever wordplay: King packs in creative punchlines and wordplay touching on relevant social issues. For instance, on "Zindagi" he flips the meaning of "badnaam" in Hindi.
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Street rap themes: His lyrics tackle the harsh realities of street life in India paired with youthful confidence. Songs like "Sab Chahiye" explore street struggles.
Influenced by artists like Eminem, Drake and Nav, King is introducing a faster, more aggressive sound to the Indian rap scene.
How King Rose to Rap Fame
Despite only being active for a few years, King has already made major strides in his rap career:
- Competed on rap reality show Hustle in 2019, gaining initial traction
- Returned to Hustle 2 in 2022 as a celebrity squad leader
- Amassed 1.5 million Instagram followers and 79 million YouTube views
- Charted multiple songs on India iTunes like "Malai Malai" and "Kaisi Hai Yeh Public"
- Won Best India Act award at 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards
- Featured on hit song "Sahi Galat" from Bollywood blockbuster Drishyam 2 (2022)
- Received praise from major celebrities like Varun Dhawan
King is undoubtedly one of the fastest rising young rappers in India right now. With his recent Bollywood boost, he‘s primed to become a household name.
How King is Influencing Indian Hip Hop
According to Rolling Stone India, King is considered a leader of the raw, gritty rap style dominating Indian hip hop currently. Here are some of the key ways he is shaping the growing scene:
- Mainstreaming rapid-fire flows and complex rhyme schemes
- Bringing harder-hitting, ominous production into the mainstream
- Introducing more street rap slang and themes to Indian hip hop
- Inspiring other young artists to experiment with faster, more lyrical styles
- Earning respect from underground rappers for his technical abilities
- Collaborating with artists across regions/languages like Karma and Faridkot
King is proving that homegrown Indian hip hop can thrive on the same platforms as Bollywood music. His impact is likely to grow as he cements his place among the country‘s hip hop elite.
Stats on King‘s Popularity and Streams
King‘s rapid rise is reflected in his booming streaming numbers and followers:
- 1.5 million Instagram followers (#1 among upcoming Indian rappers)
- 79 million views and 1M subscribers on YouTube
- Songs charted on India iTunes and Spotify Viral 50 playlists
- 50 million+ streams across major platforms like Spotify and JioSaavn
- 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify putting him in top tier of Indian rappers
Comparatively, leading rapper DIVINE has 6 million monthly Spotify listeners. As King releases more, his monthly reach should continue growing toward the level of India‘s top rappers.
Breaking Down King‘s Net Worth
As an up-and-coming rapper, estimates of King‘s current net worth range from ₹75 lakh to 1 crore or approximately $90,000 to $120,000.
King‘s main income sources include:
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Music streaming royalties: King likely earns ₹3-4 per stream from his 50 million+ streams so far. This generates a sizable income as his popularity grows.
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YouTube revenue: With 1 million subscribers and 79 million views, his YouTube channel likely brings in steady revenue from ads. Top YouTubers in India earn ₹20-30 lakh annually.
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Brand sponsorships: As a youth influencer, King can earn ₹5-10 lakh per sponsorship deal from brands.
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Performances/events: King‘s fees for concerts, college fests, and other events range from ₹3-5 lakh as he is in high demand.
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Acting and features: King earned his first music royalty cheque from Drishyam 2, likely in the range of ₹10-20 lakh. More opportunities in Bollywood projects will provide significant income.
Within 1-2 years, I expect King‘s net worth to cross ₹5 crore if he continues his current momentum. Major Bollywood rappers like Badshah and Yo Yo Honey Singh are worth ₹75 crore and ₹180 crore respectively, demonstrating King‘s potential based on his skills.
Comparing King to India‘s Leading Rappers
How does King stack up against India‘s top rappers and biggest hip hop stars right now? Let‘s compare his key stats:
| Rapper | Instagram Followers | Monthly Spotify Listeners | YouTube Subscribers | Hit Songs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIVINE | 3.1 million | 6 million | 1.7 million | "Jungli Sher," "Farak," "Kohinoor" |
| Raftaar | 3.3 million | 5.1 million | 2.3 million | "Swag Mera Desi," "Toh Dishoom" |
| Badshah | 16.1 million | 11.2 million | 18.6 million | "Paagal," "DJ Waley Babu" |
| Emiway | 4.4 million | 4.1 million | 7.6 million | "Machayenge," "Freeverse Feast" |
| King | 1.5 million | 4 million | 1 million | "Sahi Galat," "Malai Malai" |
While King is still rising, you can see he is not far off from India‘s top rappers in popularity and streams. Give him another year or two, and I expect King will be competing for the #1 spot based on his trajectory so far.
Why I Think King is One of the Best Rappers in India
In my opinion as a hip hop expert, here are the key reasons why King stands out among the new generation of Indian rappers:
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Raw, authentic voice: King‘s aggressive and melodic tone sounds earnest, not artificial or imitating others.
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Lyrical talent: His complex rhyme schemes, witty wordplay, and lyrical storytelling skills are top-notch.
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Riveting flow: He rides beats smoothly with an innate rhythmic sense and experiments with unpredictable flows.
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Relatable yet rebellious lyrics: King articulates the reality of Indian youth but with a defiant confidence.
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Star quality: He has an IT factor combining good looks, charisma, and bold personality that draws attention.
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Songmaking craft: From rapping to songwriting to production, his artistic vision comes together in catchy songs.
Mark my words – King has the drive, originality, and talent to become one of India‘s next hip hop superstars. I‘m excited to see his continued evolution.
The Sky‘s the Limit for the Future of Indian Hip Hop
The future looks bright for hip hop and rap in India based on the explosive growth in recent years.
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Hip hop streaming has risen 322% in India over the past 2 years according to Rolling Stone India.
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The scene is blowing up beyond just Mumbai and Delhi to regional hubs like Kerala, Punjab, and Northeast India.
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Bollywood and regional film industries are realizing hip hop can no longer be ignored, as seen by King‘s Drishyam 2 feature.
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Major labels and brands are investing more in homegrown Indian rappers like King.
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Women are staking their claim in Indian hip hop, with firebrands like Raja Kumari and Dee MC.
And King is poised to ride this growing wave to even greater heights. As he continues mastering his craft, I predict King cementing his place as a leading face of Indian hip hop for years to come.
The varied voices of India‘s youth will shape the future of desi hip hop into an exciting, dynamic movement. With rappers like King leading the charge, collaborating across regions and genres, they can create something uniquely Indian that resonates globally.
The future is bright, and King is just getting started!
