Kev Rupee is a Sri Lankan rapper with roots in Colombo, formerly known as KVN, whose music blends trap, soul and R&B with old-school hip-hop.
Background
Born Kevin Sarathchandra, he came to hip-hop through piano, poetry and songwriting. He debuted in 2018 and spent the following years experimenting, releasing more than 60 tracks, features and mixtape pieces. His artistic growth was shaped partly in Toronto. He started as an English-only rapper and later added Sinhala to connect with local audiences while keeping his music accessible internationally.
Releases and milestones
His album CMB Raised Me (also titled The 6ix Pays Me) is presented as a complete album rather than a set of singles, with introspective themes of struggle, growth and independent artistry. Collaborators include Shevanti Rebecca, Zany Inzane, Freaky Mobbig, Master D, Kenny Wolf and Ramesses Reezy. He produced the project independently over a year-long cycle, with videos shot in Colombo and Toronto, and describes his mission as widening the possibilities for Sri Lankan artists with global ambitions.
Where to start
“Kolamba Kollek” is a Sinhala-language video shot around Colombo; the album’s listening-party and behind-the-scenes films are also on his channel.
Sources
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