RAPPER’S REPUBLIC

Kash agrees that it was Inayat’s death that became a turning point in his direction-less career. “Earlier my music was inspired by American gangster rap. I would use slangs in my lyrics,” he confesses. “But Inayat’s death changed everything in my life. I have attended many funerals in my life, but what I witnessed at Inayat’s funeral disturbed me a lot,” remembers Kash.

After Inayat’s death, the killing spree did not stop in Kashmir as CRPF and J&K police tried to quell protesting young stone throwers using live gunfire. With each passing day, the number of civilian casualties which included children as young as eight (Sameer Rah) started to rise. Kash says each single person killed by CRPF and police was Inayat for him.

Already disturbed by his friend’s death, Kash could not contain himself and decided to go out and vent out his anger through rap. Kash recalls that his friend, Nawab, called him during the peak of protests and informed him about a studio in Srinagar where he could possibly record.

“The day I recorded ‘I Protest’, 20 more death were reported from across the Kashmir,” remembers Kash. Within days, Kash was out with his first original solo titled ‘I Protest’. He put the song on ReverbNation and also shared it on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Within no time ‘I Protest’became viral and everybody from the streets of Lal Chowk to Kashmiris staying abroad connected with Kash’s moving lyrics. He had finally found his style. And just like his inspiration 2Pac, he has been true to his streets.

The reason ‘I Protest’ became such a huge success among youngsters was Kash’s ability to reflect the public anger through his poetry. His song ends with the names of all 66 victims who were killed in police and CRPF firing till then. By the end of the summer 2010 protests, some 125 Kashmiris, mostly young, were killed and scores left battling with life changing injuries.

Meanwhile, Kash who after the success of ‘I Protest’ had already recorded another song, tried to call the studio to record another track. “They did not respond,” said Kash. Later, he came to know that the studio was raided by police. “It was supposed to be a warning for me, I guess. I always expected something to happen. I was mentally prepared,” said Kash.

At the same time, a journalist who was working with AP approached Kash for an interview. “It was his interview that got me out there. Now at least a few people knew who I was. If my story would not have been carried by the press, who knows what might have happened,” said Kash.

Kash is well aware that in this social networking age, once something is shared on Facebook or Youtube, and it becomes viral, nobody can stop it, not even the singer himself. It becomes a public property. After the success of I Protest, Kash went to a famous studio in Srinagar to record Bow to the Ground. “After recording the song, the owner asked me not to come back to his studio as he had problem with my lyrics,” remembers Kash.

For Kash, the summer of 2010 was frustrating as people were murdered on a daily basis and he could not do anything but rap. “Had there been no curfew, I would have gone to every funeral. Every morning there were new faces to mourn,” said Kash. “I could have simply said that 66 people were murdered at the end of I Protest. But I chose to name them one by one as all of them were equally important for me. They were martyrs.”

Kash’s popularity among the youth in Kashmir made his family fear for his safety. “The first person whom I made to listen to my songs among my family was my mother. Although she could not understand the entire thing, but when she heard the names of 66 people killed, she cried. She said the song will live forever,” remembers Kash. “But then she quickly added; what have you done my son?”

Kash could not do anything, “I assured her to have faith in Allah. He will protect us. She was scared. But at the same time, I had no option but to put her, and mine, faith in Allah ‘because the song was already on the internet and had gone viral.”

After that, Kash, a reclusive youngster, finally started going out, meeting people and learning from them about Kashmir. At the same time, he started reading about Kashmir issue. “You cannot bring about a revolution online. You have to be on the streets. So I took my protest to the streets by joining people who have suffered over the years. I was part of their protests,” said Kash.

In 2011, Kash found an underground studio to record his songs. Inspired by Parveena Ahanger, chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, Kash wrote ‘Take It In Blood’, which talks about the disappeared and their torn apart families. Kash says he used his pocket money and Eid savings to pay for Rs 700 per hour as studio charges.

Considering the vocals and music, recording a hip hop rap song in an hour is next to impossible. But Kash, having no other choice, has perfected himself in a way that he usually completed recording within an hour’s time. “I am under a lot of debt. It is because of my family and my friends that I am managing my expenses,” said Kash.

Till now, Kash has earned just Rs 1000 for contributing to “Until My Freedom Has Come” an anthology on Kashmir published by Penguin. Kash did his first live performance at Srinagar during the inauguration of a cultural event. Before Rebel RepubliK, Kash has recorded some 23 songs including ‘I Protest’.

A Message for Young Rappers

Kash hopes the younger generation who has taken to rap to express themselves in conflict-torn Kashmir will remain true to their streets. He feels that one cannot run away from the fact that Kashmiris are suffering under an insensitive rule.

“You can’t run away from truth. I have seen what you have seen. You have seen what I have seen. How can your idea of Kashmir be any different from mine? They (the new bands and rappers in Kashmir) should also embrace the truth like they have embraced the music and this art form. I’m not the only person who has shouldered his friend’s coffin,” said Kash.

Kash says he is not the only rapper who speaks for Kashmir or understands the pain and suffering the people of Kashmir have gone through. “There are musicians like Muneem too,” said Kash.

Mohammad Muneem, a Kashmiri musician who is currently based in Pune, and features in Kash’s Rebel RepubliK in a track titled ‘Listen, My Brother’. “He talks about Kashmir where it’s more needed; outside Kashmir. He should be an inspiration to the young musicians in Kashmir. Music and art should have a purpose,” feels Kash.

“I just hope my generation stands up for truth and justice – in whatever way they can.”

Then, after a long pause, Kash leans back and says, “In fact my generation should look up to heroes like Nund Rishi, Maqbool Bhat and common people who are struggling for truth like Parveena Ahanger.”