Vijay Raju

One of the great characteristics of hip hop is that it’s constantly evolving and ever changing. Hip Hop changes so sporadically that many artists find one particular fad to cling to and leverage, and believe that this sole idea will lead them to stardom. However, this only gives an artist a unilateral appeal, isolating them from the one thing true fans of music yearn for: authenticity. Authenticity, creativity, and versatility are the primary keys to success for a hip hop artist today, all of which are instilled in rising hip hop star Vijay Raju. Vijay, whose parents are Indian immigrants, was born in Chicago, Illinois and was raised in Chapel Hill before moving to Atlanta. The frequent relocations gave Vijay an awareness of the different kinds of music people listened to in different regions. From Greenday to Kanye West, Janis Joplin to Shawty lo, BB King to Linkin Park; his diverse upbringing has molded his style to encompass a wide variety of genres. As a student of hip hop, Vijay’s music reflects the diverse range of hip hop’s offerings. His music epitomizes the idea of artistic adaptation, acting as a medium to translate his own life experiences and upbringing. Vijay’s music is a fusion of Hip hop, pop, and both classic and alternative rock. It intertwines the commercial sound that moves the masses and the gritty hip hop edge that the true hip hop heads cling to. Furthermore, he aspires to be the bridge that connects popular music to the more underground culture of rap where monster beats, catchy hooks, and witty lyricism combine to make great music. “I want to be for hip hop what guys like Jim Morrison were for rock.” “Their music reaches a broad scope of fans because it’s not just one sound or one style or geared to a select group of people.” Vijay desires to be one of the select few who can command a big enough audience to headline tours and sell out venues. “I want to be able to sell out arenas world wide to tens of thousands of people who come to be absorbed into the experience… not just booking shows at clubs.” Vijay believes that having a catalog of music that is built around the day to day emotions that we all experience is vital to reaching that level of success. “I’m just your ordinary man, I make music for people to relate to whether you’re sad, angry, partying, or riding down the highway with the top down own a sunny day. I make music for the people that, at the same time, can convey my thoughts and carry a message.” Good positive music is a rarity, and today’s hip hop climate and crowds are beginning to take note of Vijay’s talents and musical intellect. Because, unfortunately, what is being proven by so many artists these days is that no amount of smoke and mirrors or multimillion dollar budgets can ever compete with a true scholar of the craft, and Vijay has all the tools to become one of hip hop’s most popular artists.