Yogi, who is popularly known as the godfather of Tamil hip-hop, with a music career that spans over three decades, turned 50 this December.
In the same month, the movie “Viduthalai Part 2”, directed by the acclaimed Vetrimaaran, was released in India. Yogi sang in one of the movie’s soundtracks titled “Poruthadhu Podhum”, composed by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja.
“It was a very happy moment when Vetrimaaran called and said, ‘Yogi, I want you to come and sing this track,” Yogi told FMT Lifestyle.
Yogi, whose real name is Yogeswaran Veerasingam, said yes immediately. “I am still in shock that my name is associated with such a great musician and my musical idol.”
Still, it wasn’t the first time that Yogi has worked with notable names from India: he once collaborated with renowned music composer AR Rahman on the soundtrack of the movie “Enthiran.”
“That was another milestone in my career. Working with AR Rahman was a very pleasant and easy experience. He is a very calm and composed person who knows exactly what he wants to do.”
Yogi made a big splash on the Tamil hip-hop scene with his first album “Vallavan” in 2006. It paved the way for his debut in Kollywood with the song “Engeyum Eppothum” for the movie “Polladhavan.” The song also featured the well-known Indian singer, SP Balasubrahmanyam.
Yogi’s success in India was built on hard work and perseverance, but his late mother, Kulasegary Sanjeevi, also played an instrumental role in his music. She helped him to translate his Tamil rap lyrics. “She was my first co-writer. She was an inspiration for a lot of things in my life.”
His earlier experiences in music also played a part in his later success: before Yogi became a pioneer in Tamil hip hop, he was making waves in the English hip-hop scene of the 1990s and early 2000s with his band, Poetic Ammo.
Fans may remember playing the songs “Monay Monay” and “Somebody’s Watching” repeatedly or watching their music videos.
“My fond memories with the band are winning the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) awards because I think Poetic Ammo opened the door for hip-hop to be a household name and genre in Malaysia,” said Yogi.
In composing for Poetic Ammo, Yogi stayed true to his Malaysian identity, and drew inspiration from his country, in particular, the city of Kuala Lumpur. “I wasn’t trying to be a black American hip-hopper, and it wasn’t about Americana. It was about the Malaysian lifestyle.”
“I always reminisce about the early 1990s, when ‘Jiwa Kuala Lumpur’ was very strong, and you could see the identity of the city,” he recalled.
Yogi, who hails from Sentul, described “Jiwa Kuala Lumpur” as the “soul and culture of the people of Malaysia in an urban environment.”
During his performances in the city, he recalled meeting people from all walks of life, who played different genres of music. “We loved that we were different, but music brought us together. There’s positive energy there. I don’t see that anymore.”
Describing Poetic Ammo as “retired” today, he added: “Playing with the band has been the most beautiful and memorable time in my life. And it will never fade away from me because I’ll always be Yogi B from Poetic Ammo.”
After his time with the band ended, Yogi found his footing in the Tamil hip-hop scene. He is planning to release a single from his new album, “Manthrahood.”
“When I perform in the Tamil independent scene or Kollywood, I always bring my Malaysian identity, soul and history with me because it all started from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“The independent scene here is what birthed an artiste called Yogi B, who is going all around the world and doing shows in countries like Switzerland, Paris and Germany. I’m very thankful to my Malaysian fans, the local music scene and my record label for making me who I am.”