Born on October 10, 1995, KING , AKA Arpan Kumar Chandel is a typical Delhi boy who is an Indian singer, rapper and songwriter whose music touches on real life experiences, from struggles to triumphs, making him a relatable figure amongst the youth.
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His journey from being a contestant on MTV Hustle to being a judge of the same show is truly motivating to those dreaming and working hard to reach the heights just like King did.
King’s Early Life as Arpan
Growing up, King was a very silent guy and a very under-confident guy. He faced an inferiority complex due to his dark skin and how society never let him feel comfortable in his own skin. He later started playing football which boosted his self confidence.
He’s all about real connections and can’t stand the fake stuff, especially those phony fans. You know, the ones who only show up once he’s in the limelight?
But despite all that, he’s super loyal to the fans who’ve been there from the start, showing him mad love and respect.
He attended Vinay Marg Navyug Secondary School in New Delhi for his schooling. After that, he enrolled at Dyal Singh College in New Delhi but dropped out while he was pursuing Bachelor of Arts degree to focus on a career in rapping.
Rise of His Rap Journey
When King was in school, one of his buddies used to impersonate Yo Yo Honey Singh, dressing up and singing like him. One day, King suggested that he should try writing and performing his own songs. His friend was intrigued and asked King to help him write one.
To their surprise, what started as just a few lines quickly turned into a complete song. When he performed it in front of their classmates, he received an overwhelmingly positive response. This boosted his confidence and motivated him to write more songs.
In 2012, he took the leap and started his own YouTube channel. His first song, BoomBass, was released in 2015.
Initially, his videos didn't get many views, but he persisted because of his passion for music. He committed to posting one song every week consistently.
Even though some of his early uploads only received around 2000 views, he remained undeterred. He believed in what he was doing and saw it as a journey worth taking.
By the end of the year, even though his channel started small, it had gained a lot of followers.
He had nothing to lose by trying, and his perseverance paid off. “Want is not enough, but obsession and madness for something is important.” These words from his mom stayed with him and became his guiding light on his journey into rap.
He likes to remember the days when he was learning, thinking about how he and his friends would ride a scooter to go to places where they filmed music videos.
Recording his songs in studios was always exciting, with not much time to make sure everything was perfect. Those days were all about having fun and making the most of every chance they got.
How did MTV Hustle happen?
Back in the day, there was an artist who dissed King's YouTube song, but King chose not to respond. Later, things smoothed over between them, and that artist actually recommended King for a reality show called MTV Hustle.
King decided to take a chance and auditioned with something unique and fascinating. When he got selected, it was a turning point.
He made a bold decision to quit his job at New Delhi Municipal Council, where he was earning around 9000-10,000 rupees, to pursue his dream.
MTV Hustle became his platform to dive deep into hip-hop, performing and creating music that resonated with people. It gave him the exposure he needed to let the world know about his music.
King is a firm believer in manifestation. He thinks having a clear vision and plan is crucial to achieving your dreams. After all, if one doesn’t know where they want to go, how will one start their journey?
Rise to Fame
After finishing among the top 5 finalists on MTV Hustle, King found himself struggling to get work. He had only 2100 rupees left in his bank account and was feeling hopeless.
That's when he met Raftaar and poured out his heart about his challenges. Raftaar reassured him to be patient and not lose hope.
Sure enough, within just 2 months, things turned around dramatically for King. He started getting flooded with opportunities performing at shows, selling out his mixtapes, and activating YouTube monetization.
Finally, he received his first paycheck, which made him realize the potential of taking YouTube seriously.
During the lockdown in 2020, King released his music album Carnival, and one of its tracks, Tu Aake Dekhle, became a massive hit, giving his career a significant boost.
While his parents were already immensely proud seeing him on TV, they didn't quite grasp how big Tu Aake Dekhle had become.
Buoyed by the success of Tu Aake Dekhle, King set himself the challenge of delivering more great songs to his fans. His track Maan Meri Jaan from the album Champagne Talk unexpectedly shattered records and drove fans wild.
Through it all, King's journey from struggling artist to chart-topper shows the power of perseverance and seizing every opportunity that comes your way.
Story Behind his Perfume Line Blanko
In April 2023, King ventured into entrepreneurship by launching his own perfume line called Blanko, in collaboration with Raj Shamani's House of X. Beyond his music career, King had always envisioned doing something more.
The collaboration stemmed from a podcast King did with Raj, where he expressed his desire to convey emotions and the essence of King to his fans, rather than simply creating a product.
He aimed to imbue the feeling of King into every corner possible, reaching out to his Kingsclan community with a unique sensory experience.
Collaborations with International Artists
Collaborating with Nick Jonas
In 2023, King teamed up with global artist Nick Jonas to release a revamped version of his hit song Maan Meri Jaan, now titled Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife). The collaboration was born out of a mutual appreciation for each other's talents and work.
In a recent interview, King shared that he had always dreamt of the day when he would receive a call to collaborate with Nick Jonas. When the opportunity finally came knocking, he didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately said yes.
Collaborating with Jason Durelo
In 2024, King’s collaboration with Jason Durelo, Bumpa marks King’s milestone in his career. This collaboration brought different music styles and skills of both the artists.
King describes his international exposure as a transformative experience that broadened his artistic horizons. He says he is the most friendly artist one will ever meet and is always ready to work together.
King believes in exchanging cultures and looks forward to learning new things and grabbing all the interesting opportunities that comes with working alongside international artists, highlighting his keen interest and curiosity to shape his musical style.
Kingsclan feels immense pride for King and how he has reached at such a height after working so hard and it shows his love for his art.
Monopoly Moves
King is currently working on his yet another masterpiece, Monopoly Moves. His aim with this album is to unite a variety of artists and enhance their authentic talents and his objective is to bring out their skills.
Final Thoughts
His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists and underscores the power of music to connect people and convey meaningful messages.
His journey aspires to so many other Arpans who were not fully aware of the potential they held of becoming King.
It’s evident that King’s influence in the Hip-Hop industry extends far beyond his music. With a knack of storytelling and a commitment to authenticity, King continues to inspire listeners worldwide.
Whether he is onstage or talking about social change, King’s impact is undeniable, leaving an impeccable impression on the hearts and minds of his audience. As he continues to evolve as an artist, his fans eagerly anticipate what the future holds for him.
King never leaves a chance to appreciate his management team Bluprint as he says, Bluprint knows how to deal, and shares a very pure friendship with Sweta Ojha and Bhavya Anand, the owners of Bluprint Artists Private Limited.
His journey from being a contestant on MTV Hustle to being a judge of the same show is incredible. His life came full circle. This is his journey from Arpan to King, as he says, Ye Arpan ne kara tha shuru, King ne khatam.
Written By Nyari Patel
Disclaimer - This article has been authored exclusively by the writer and is being presented on Eat My News, which serves as a platform for the community to voice their perspectives. As an entity, Eat My News cannot be held liable for the content or its accuracy. The views expressed in this article solely pertain to the author or writer. For further queries about the article or its content you can contact on this email address - nyariworks07@gmail.com
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