Rapping her days away

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The name Taran Kaur Dhillon may not ring a bell. But if I say Hard Kaur, then the image of an enthusiastic rapper takes centre stage. A British-Indian rapper and hip-hop singer, she is also a Bollywood playback singer and actress, apart from being India’s first female rapper.

She started off with the song Ek Glassy, a chart topper in the UK, and in 2007 rapped for Sriram Raghavan’s Johnny Gaddaar in the song Paisa Phek (Move Your Body). She has also sung for movies including Ugly Aur Pagli, Singh Is Kinng, Kismat Konnection, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Prince and Patiala House, among many others. However, success didn’t come easily for this talented 33-year-old. 

As a six-year-old who lost her father in the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots, she had to move to England with her mother. Her school days were not pleasant either. “I did not speak a word of English and I was bullied because of it. There are so many double standards, mainly from the Indian community. I had a group of African-American friends in school and I heard everything from R&B to hip-hop and reggae. That’s when I started rapping.” 

Her ambitions of getting into the music industry were supported by her mother, who made it clear that she had to be successful with her choice of profession or face flak from her community. Kaur, of course, never looked back, and became a household name. Having worked for 20 years now, she knows that the struggle has shaped her identity and strengthened her personality. “I have no regrets about my past and I have learnt from my experiences. Since success has not come quickly, I have learnt to be patient and I am a positive person,” says Kaur.

She has recently released her album, P.L.A.Y. — Party Loud All Year, as well as the single Peeney Do with Sony Music India. “It’s a party album and I am in a happy frame of mind now, so it reflects me as a person. Also, I have been waiting to release this album for almost five years and am glad I could finally do it.”

Despite lending her voice to several hit numbers, she has intentionally cut down on Bollywood contracts. “I would rather be in the studio creating my own music or performing on stage — that is more challenging. In fact, when I performed in Guwahati recently, I was told that the crowd really enjoys hip-hop numbers, and after my performance, I had tears in my eyes — something that has never happened to me before.” 

She has also been a contestant on the third season of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Ja, a memory she cherishes. “This was a highlight of my career and it helped people know me and connect with me as a person. Also in the show, I was clear that I wanted to raise the bar through my performances and I really enjoyed it. Even though I get approached all the time for shows, I have not said yes to any since it’s important for me to be able to enjoy myself.”

What sets her apart from other singers is her ability to rap, and in her own words; she is more a rock star than a playback singer. Currently, she has her hands full. “I am now focusing on music direction. I have also formed a group of singers and rappers called Certified Fresh and our album will be released soon,” she signs off.