Raja Kumari | |
---|---|
Birth name | Svetha Rao |
Born |
Claremont, California, United States |
January 11, 1986
Genres | Pop, dance, Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | Epic Records |
Associated acts | |
Website | rajakumari.com |
Svetha Rao (born January 11, 1986), professionally known as Raja Kumari ('The daughter of the king’ in Tamil), is an Indian American songwriter, rapper and recording artist from Claremont, California. Kumari is best known for her collaboration with notable artists including Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, Fifth Harmony,Knife Party, and Fall Out Boy. She is also notable for receiving as a songwriter, the BMI Pop Awards in 2016, being nominated to a Grammy award in February 2015, and featuring on BBC Asian Network programme Bobby Friction on July 5, 2016.
Kumari holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies, with an emphasis on South Asian religions. She is an Indian classical dancer who started dancing at the age of 7. While in fifth grade, Kumari discovered hip hop through the Fugees's album The Score. By the age of 14, she was a noticed freestyle MC known as “Indian Princess” (IP) or “Raja Kumari”. During her artist career, she has contributed to several philanthropic activities through her performances including the creation of a hospital in Bangalore and a meditation hall in South India for the Vegesna Foundation, a school for physically disabled children. As a result, Kumari has been recognized as a benefactor by the “Foundation for Indic Philosophy and Culture (Indic Foundation)” and has been honored with the Kohinoor Award for excellence in the Classical Arts by the Governor of Tamil Nadu.