Daily Inspiration: Meet Rama Kazi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rama Kazi.

Hi Rama, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am the first-born son of a Gullah-Geechie woman from a farm in South Carolina and a Telugu man from a village in South India. Those life experiences turned their quest for the American dream into more than a pursuit of happiness; it was about creating stability to one day carry a legacy like an Olympic torch. Who could blame them for wanting to give their first-generation kids the best possible chance? Because of this, we had plans for me to become a doctor since I was old enough to spell the word “neurosurgeon”. If you were to ask me what my true passion was however, I’d tell you that it was always music. From creating fake CD covers and imaginary tracklists to writing thousands of amateur verses to YouTube beats, I was subconsciously hooked. My mother eventually enrolled me in piano lessons for six years when she saw the eight years old me playing songs on the piano by ear, which is where I learned music theory. I was involved in church choir and school band until my love for rhythm and poetry evolved into a love for Hip Hop. This ideation was solidified through countless high school freestyles and basement songs I recorded that have yet to see the light of day. At this point however, pursuing music could only ever become accepted as a hobby.

I matriculated into Vanderbilt University as a pre-med Biology major while still indulging in creative extracurriculars from on-stage performances to college radio freestyles. With my public school credentials compared to those of my private school peers it was a struggle like no other to survive at a Top 15 institution. I barely graduated with a degree in Neuroscience before acquiring a Master’s degree with honors in Biomedical Science but was not able to get into medical school upon numerous attempts and a few interviews. During my struggle to formulate a backup plan through various salaried jobs, I came up with the idea to create an Indian-fusion rap song called Bollywood Swing to reflect both of my ethnicities. My childhood friend and musician, ANiMAL, helped bring this vision to life by producing the beat while my cousin, Sree Poornima, sang Carnatic vocals on the hook. This song evolved into an entire project called Delusions Of Grandeur, which I eventually left my job to fully dedicate my time to creating with some savings and blind faith. The deciding factor for this move was when I landed a synchronization license to have Bollywood Swing premiere in the opening and closing credits for an upcoming web series, two weeks before it released on streaming platforms… this money is what funded the rest of the album!

Since then, I’ve been featured over seven times on BBC Radio, joined Atlanta’s Playlist Academy, had multiple artist interviews and countless performance opportunities while receiving praise from many industry vets for my work. My passion for Neuroscience has evolved into my artistic and scientific involvement with AREACH, a NPO dedicated to the internal growth of Atlanta’s inner city youth using VR technology and psychological practices for “brain-training”.

Currently, I’m planning the release of my follow up EP, Children Of The Sun, for this Fall to celebrate the recent incorporation of my LLC, Trust The Process Enterprises. I’m also working on the next phase of my blog, Decyphering Dope, which explains Hip Hop concepts through the lens of a neuroscientist. Even though it seemed indirect and unconventional, it’s now evident that I was always on the right path.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey was anything but a smooth road. From the time, energy and money invested in what at the time seemed to be a fruitless pursuit of becoming a doctor to the harsh internal battle that came with letting go of a ten years path, it’s required a lot of growth and ego death. When I made my decision to pursue music full time, I left my job a week before the initial pandemic shutdown. That inevitably ended a paid record label opportunity I had lined up to support this journey. From two back-to-back apartment moves to the limiting financial struggles of a musician and a significant increase in personal responsibilities, I’d say that maintaining my new career this year has been difficult but doable. Everything has somehow worked out in a divine fashion.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Rama Kazi is an American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur. Currently, I’m known for my debut album, Delusions Of Grandeur, which received consistently positive reviews from critics around the world. My first single, Bollywood Swing, had garnered international exposure for me especially in the Indian and Blindian community. My involvement in the Atlanta Hip Hop scene has allowed me to network with some awesome industry figures and fans alike. I’m proud of the fact that I was able to step out of a stable path with blind faith and some pocket change to bring my vision to life without a template. Many of my fans have expressed that their favorite aspects of my music is its lyricism, genuine vulnerability, and eccentric sounds that is somewhat reminiscent of 90’s era Hip Hop and other alternative genres.

How do you define success?
Success is what you make it. Whether it’s money, happiness, fame or stability, it all depends on what motivates you to fight everyday. For me, success is about impact. My goal is to create something eternal that can impact even one person to reach their full potential. As of now, I feel very successful since I’ve had multiple people tell me that my journey and music has inspired them in their pursuits as well.

Pricing:

• To purchase my album on Bandcamp – $7.77

Contact Info:

• Email: ramakaziraps@gmail.com
• Website: https://linktr.ee/ramakazi
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramakaziraps/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/Rama-Kazi-101362418130991/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ramakaziraps?lang=en
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCXkcbOHeW_BePao4WEz3OcQ
• SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/rama_kazi
• Other: www.ramakazi.com

Image Credits:
Images by Tracy Marshall Artwork and Images by TheYungDragon Action Shot by Big Prise