Yogi B drops new music as he mentors future rappers
INTERVIEW | Yogi B was part of the Malaysian rap music scene long before it became mainstream.
Not only was he one of the driving forces behind Malaysian rap/hip-hop group Poetic Ammo (which performed in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Cantonese) in the 1990s, but he also went on to do well in the music scene in India, which is no mean feat considering how insular that scene is known to be.
He has also provided music for movies and worked with the likes of Indian film composer A R Rahman.
It would be an understatement to say that Yogi B, whose real name is Yogeswaran Veerasingam, is an extremely busy man. On top of creating music, he is also a judge and mentor to...
INTERVIEW | Yogi B was part of the Malaysian rap music scene long before it became mainstream.
Not only was he one of the driving forces behind Malaysian rap/hip-hop group Poetic Ammo (which performed in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Cantonese) in the 1990s, but he also went on to do well in the music scene in India, which is no mean feat considering how insular that scene is known to be.
He has also provided music for movies and worked with the likes of Indian film composer AR Rahman.
It would be an understatement to say that Yogi B, whose real name is Yogeswaran Veerasingam, is an extremely busy man. On top of creating music, he is also a judge and mentor to young and forthcoming rappers in a talent show called “Rap Poorkalam Season 2”.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Yogi B recalls his journey as a rapper.
“After winning the first rap competition in 1992 at 17 years old, more opportunities in music began rolling in. I had no funds to pursue my studies.
“I felt I had a natural talent for rapping and beatboxing, which was an amazement to many. When I got paid for my first gig and for writing lyrics, I realised that this could be a career. Hip-hop is as fascinating to me today as it was in 1988 when I first started,” he said.
Rap was considered the voice for the disenfranchised youth of marginalised backgrounds and low-income earners. However, according to Yogi B, that was not what drew Malaysians to rap.
“When it first came to Malaysia, the music, culture and fashion absolutely resonated with us - but not the ideology. With the birth of the internet, everyone started to understand the message and now, in today’s social media era, it is understood fully.
“In general though, not just Indians, but all Malaysians who fall under that category will be able to resonate with it. While it has now evolved into becoming one of the most lucrative music genres, at its core, rap music still serves as a voice for those who often find themselves in dire situations,” he explained.
Yogi B was in Malaysia throughout the lockdown.
“The Covid-19 pandemic was hard on artistes. I was in my studio working on my album for the most part,” he lamented.
Success in India
Asked about his experience in India, Yogi B said he learnt that while the country is rooted and traditional, the people are ever-evolving.
“Due to their vast film and music industry, they are constantly learning and growing, opening up to new genres, new technical advancements, and new styles. I suppose all rap-style music was widely featured only in movies before ‘Madai Thiranthu’ (a Yogi B song released in 2006) went viral.
“While we were used to this in Malaysia and this part of the world, it may have been fascinating to them to see a good song exist without a big actor on the big screen. But having said that, ‘Madai Thiranthu’ has stood the test of time. I think it would’ve been a hit even if I released it today.”
On whether his success in India was due to being in the right place at the right time, he replied, “not really”.
“I have many stories of how many projects I’ve missed out on. The thing with film music is, ultimately, it’s the director’s call. I’ve done many bits and pieces here and there that never saw the light of day,” Yogi B said.
Many local Tamil rappers cite Yogi B as their biggest influence and also as the turning point of Tamil rap in Malaysia.
“I don’t have factual evidence to prove this, but I think the success of the ‘Vallavan’ (2006) album as a whole changed the way the Tamil diaspora looked at hip-hop. It is the blueprint album for Tamil hip-hop. A fan, out of love, had shared ‘Madai Thiranthu’ on YouTube. I did not understand YouTube back then or grasp its potential, so we did not release it on that platform.
“If only I had the foresight, I would’ve released it on my own channel, but at that time this was considered piracy. I did not see it as something ethically wrong. They were not monetising it.
“People were just listening to the song and making their own versions of it and celebrating it. ‘Madai Thiranthu’ went ‘viral’ before viral was even used as a word to describe a video’s popularity. It is my seminal work and a milestone in my career,” Yogi B explained.
‘For the masses, by the masses’
As we discussed his mentoring of younger artists, Yogi B said, “Rap Porkalam Season 2 has been a fantastic project. I’m so honoured to have been involved as a judge.
“I wasn’t expecting the kind of talents that were featured on the show. So incredibly proud of the Malaysian pool of talent. I think it relates back to the first question.
“It’s a genre that is for the masses, by the masses. And with social media, you’re essentially your own radio or TV channel. One can finally represent themselves through music (not just hip-hop). I don’t have to wait for an actor to do that for me anymore.”
Songs released in the Indian market are often picturised on popular actors or models as an efficient marketing tool. Yogi B is among the few artistes who broke through that barrier.
Right now, Yogi B is working on finally releasing a long-pending album, “Manthrahood”.
“It has to come out. I’ve made everyone wait far too long. I don’t have a concert lined up at the moment, but a few event organisers have expressed interest. Hopefully, it all works out,” he added.
RELATED STORY: Three artistes make headway in thriving Tamil rap scene
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