Indian-origin rapper and singer-songwriter Raja Kumari has made history by becoming the first Indian-origin musician to win an American Music Award (AMA). Her powerful track “Renegade (We Never Run)” from the animated series Arcane League of Legends: Season 2 clinched the Favourite Soundtrack title at the 51st AMAs held in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The track, a global collaboration with UK hip-hop artist Stefflon Don and Dominican-Brazilian artist Jarina de Marco, has already made waves on streaming platforms, even breaking into the top 10 on Spotify’s Viral 50 charts worldwide.
Raja Kumari, who has always prided herself on being a global artist representing South Asian culture, shared in an earlier interview with PTI that she was honored not only to be nominated but to be seen as a cultural representative. “They (Arcane team) had heard about me as being representative of our culture and being able to make aggressive music as a woman,” she said.
She also spoke about a personal connection with the late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, whom she described as a “gentle giant.” “Stefflon (Don) and I kind of share the Sidhu connection. She has a song with Sidhu too. When I was meeting Sidhu during our collaboration, he had played me that song. So, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for her,” Raja added.
Reflecting on the unexpected success of Renegade, she admitted, “I didn’t have many expectations for it. It ended up really impacting people. I just did a song for a film, and it took on a life of its own.”
Raja also opened up about the significance of the AMA win in her artistic journey. “I was starting to believe that you have to focus on just one genre to make it big. But this AMA is a great reminder that there’s still so much more to do, so many more people to reach.”
This milestone marks a proud moment not just for Raja Kumari, but for Indian representation in the global music industry.
Sources By Agencies
