posted by: Hiral Bhatt Jun 30 2009 @ 1:26 pm

Here’s getting Candid with the hip pop “rap” star – Hard Kaur, as she describes her journey from being a naive Punjabi kudi to taking over the music world across the globe…

How did you start off as a rap artist?
I went to London in 1991 and became familiar with the hip hop culture there. There weren’t many Asian girls who were rap artists, hence I decided that I was going to go for it, and become the first Indian girl who can rap well. I had the voice and the accent for a rap star… Since then there was no turning back.

Did growing up in England influence you to choose rap and why the Rap genre, when Britain is so famous for its rockers?
It’s not like that, actually, London as a mix class of various kinds of music. I use to hang out a lot with the Black folks who were into retro and pop music. I loved listening to Rouge, Jungles, etc. Music was my heart and soul.

Did you believe you could make it big in an industry where most of the rappers are male?
Unlike Indian men, people in the UK are quite open to giving everyone a fair chance. It’s not like India where the male domination is high. Guys here look at girls as someone who’s lower than them. But in UK I was given a warm welcome, despite the struggle.

Do you believe the outlook for female singers has changed in the last couple of years?
Of course, the Indian mentality has changed drastically in the last ten years. People have become much more modernized and believe more in equality now!

Rap music is usually the result of venting our pent up emotions. Was that the same case with you?
The core of being a rapper is to say anything and everything you want to. Whatever you think, feel, want, you can let it all out by not sounding harsh. I believe what makes me a good rap artist is the fact that I am the kind of a person who speaks my mind out. I have the voice and the attitude to carry it off as well.

Do you think your growing up in England has a lot to do with your rise up the ladder? Similarly, if you was born and bought up in India, would you be as famous?
If I was still in India, I would have been a mother of four kids! (Laughs) I belonged to a small town near Kanpur and ten years ago hip hop was not at all popular. I wouldn’t even know what a rap artist was. My family is quite conservative as well. I don’t think I could have even made a career in this field. It’s only when I went to UK that I realized what I wanted to be.

Does your sense of rhythm and timing help you while dancing in Jhalak?
I am myself whether its music or dance. But since I’m not much of a dancer, I just make sure I don’t look like an idiot on stage. I work really hard and do what I need to do, that’s what makes it look easy but it’s honestly not. (winks)

Plans for upcoming albums?
I have a bag full of Bollywood numbers lined up this year. There is a Sanjay Dutt film, one with Sajid – Wajid and many others. I am also in the process of launching a new album around the end of the year. We are still working on that so I cannot give out much info on that at this point.

Who has been your inspiration? Who has been your mentor?
My mom has been the biggest inspiration in my life. She’s always said just one thing – Life ko Enjoy Karo. As for my music inspirations, they have been everyone! Right from Kishore Kumar to Asha Bhosle, Beyonce to Naaz, I admire them all!