Lakshmi Narasimha Vijaya Rajagopala Sheshadri Sharma Rajesh Raman, professionally known as Blaaze, is an Indian playback singer and rapper born on October 15, 1975, in Chennai, India. Raised in Kitwe, Zambia, he was educated in England and the United States. He began breakdancing on sets designed by his father at nine and later transitioned to rapping, performing for Zambian President Chiluba in October 1991. Shortly after, he produced and performed in the first Zambian music video, “Advice 4 Livin’”. In 2002, composer A. R. Rahman introduced him to Tamil cinema with the song “Baba Rap” for the film Baba. Contributions to other soundtracks include the songs “The Boss” for the film Sivaji: The Boss and “Gangsta Blues” for the film Slumdog Millionaire, for which he also co-wrote the song “Dreams on Fire”. Socially conscious lyrics and work on the official United Nations anthem for poverty, “Pray for Me Brother”, earned him the vote for MTV Youth Icon of the Year in 2008. His debut solo album, Time for Gandhi, was released in September 2011 on EMI Virgin Music, and a collaboration with music director Paul Jacob produced the Sanskrit hip hop album Rap Bhakthi Mala.
