Apache Indian

British singer Apache Indian (born Steven Kapur) performs a highly eclectic form of ragga inspired by the bhangra style of his Indian heritage. He was born on May 11, 1967 into a Punjabi family, and grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham, UK, an area of mixed ethnic communities and home to reggae bands such as Steel Pulse and UB40. Armed with his dreadlocks, Apache Indian forged his experience in UK dancehalls and began releasing singles in the early 1990s. Many of these tracks would appear on his 1993 debut album, No Reservations, including "Don Raja", a track perfectly emblematic of the cultural mix championed by the singer. By the mid-1990s, ragga production often included elements of hip-hop, and Apache Indian's next album was no exception. With appearances by Jamaican reggae stars such as Frankie Paul, Yami Bolo and American MC Tim Dog, 1995's Make Way for the Indian included sampled tabla rhythms and spawned a genuine hit: "Boom Shack-a-Lak". Apache Indian's international exposure grew, and he appeared in a number of films. He continued his recording career, releasing Real People in 1998, Karma in 2001 and Time for Change in 2005.