Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer, a.k.a. EPR, who is often referred to as the “reporter from the streets”, gets candid with The Pioneer over an exclusive chat on being a part of a first-of-its-kind musical experience, the Royal Stag Boombox, the transition from being a contestant to a squad leader, platforms making it big in the Indian pop scene, and more.
Tejal Sinha
It is safe to say that independent music is currently at its merriest in India. With the introduction of many online and offline platforms, artists are now able to show their creations, which means audiences are now exposed to several different genres of music, which has led to the growth of a huge number of new-age artists.
One such genre is hip-hop, which has opened doors not only for the artists but also for a mass audience. Today, we have with us a popular hip-hop artist from India who gave a new face to the music. One might not remember him by his real name, Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer, but once we say “EPR Iyer”, we’re sure you can just not calm yourselves, for all the obvious reasons, we must say.
EPR, also referred as the “reporter from the streets”, is known and loved for highlighting several current affairs and socio-political topics through rap. For instance, Sar Tan Se Juda addressed the issue of Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal’s death; Ekla Cholo Re, highlighted the issue of a farmer’s suicide; and Reggae Hindustan spoke against THE institutional injustice and social ills.
Recently, the Koi Gham Nahi singer was a part of the Royal Stag’s first-of-its-kind musical experience, Royal Stag Boombox, celebrating the spirit of ‘Living it Large’. Royal Stag Boombox brings together opposites of the music industry—the melody of Bollywood and the gully vibe of hip-hop—to make original music and create a new soundscape. Contemporary genres such as hip-hop are becoming increasingly popular among the youth of the country, while Bollywood melodies remain integral to their cultural milieu. Royal Stag Boombox intends to stir the imagination of this generation by blending the music they have inherited, Bollywood scores, with the genre that speaks to them, i.e., hip-hop. This mix will have the swag and emotional heft of Hindi cinema’s best compositions and the throbbing vibe and vigour of hip-hop.
On being a part of this musical experience, EPR enthused, “Royal Stag Boombox was like a very avant-garde, unique experience. It was one of a kind, especially when I got to know that I would be working with Neeti Mohan, who is one of my favourite vocalists. It was like a coming together or a collision of two worlds because I come from a very old hip-hop background and she comes from a singing background. And it was classical singing. So it was a mixture of both worlds. And it was a great experience and a learning curve for me.”
Rappers do have their own unique names; the reason being that their names represent the artists. EPR feels he has a long name that people find hard to remember; hence, he gave himself a stage name: EPR. The reason being that he is well-known in his circles as an emcee, poet, and rapper.
Making a career or profession of something you love is never an easy task. In fact, when he started his career as a rapper, not many knew what rap was. Having always made music with the intent to express and not impress, he said, “If you start something new and that thing is not that prevalent in the society or the environment, you’re going to face a lot of obstacles and hurdles along the way. If you’re dedicated to your craft, you will find a way. Even if there was no rap, I would have joined a rock band, and I am still part of that band. So I somehow existed then. And then things changed; things are getting better now, and hip-hop is right now everywhere. So just keep on expressing. That’s it.”
The artist who finds inspiration everywhere and anywhere was also one of the finalists of India’s first-ever rap/hip-hop reality show, MTV Hustle, and later became a squad leader in the second season of MTV Hustle.
It’s no surprise that rap and hip-hop have seen such a massive following lately, and thanks to movies like Gully Boy and shows like MTV Hustle, the genre shifted from being a niche to being more popular among the masses.
Concluding the chat on a brighter note, he said, “Rapping and hip-hop have become a culture in themselves. It’s booming a lot — especially after Gully Boy. And then it was Hustle seasons; one and two that gave them a platform to make it big in the Indian pop scene. And a lot of global artists are also looking at the growing Indian hip-hop scene. So I believe Hustle is a very important stage, and the whole hip-hop scene in India is growing, so much so that you can see hip-hop music even on jingles and television. You’re seeing that also in films and even in Big Boss after MC Stan’s victory, so I think it’s everywhere.”
