Yung Raja: The Artist Blending Tamil, Korean and English on the Global Stage

Summary

• Yung Raja released two new projects: a trilingual music video for “MISSED CALL” with Jay Park, and the single “BRAND NEW!” with SVDP
• “MISSED CALL” is a first-of-its-kind track blending Tamil, Korean, and English
• The projects showcase his boundary-breaking artistry and focus on representing Southeast Asia

Rising Southeast Asian rapper Yung Raja is making a significant mark on the global hip-hop scene with two recent releases: the music video for “MISSED CALL” and his new single “BRAND NEW!”

The “MISSED CALL” music video, directed by A Good Feeling and executive produced by Dreamfellas, features global hip-hop icon Jay Park and dance crew EQUIPO. The song is potentially the first-ever track to blend Tamil, Korean, and English lyrics within a single record. This trilingual approach highlights Yung Raja’s cultural background and Jay Park’s worldwide influence, reimagining what cross-cultural hip-hop can sound like on a global scale. Yung Raja calls the project a landmark moment as it brings together different cultures, languages, and creative communities.

Just days later, on September 5, Yung Raja released “BRAND NEW!” with Toronto’s SVDP, a track that builds on their signature Tamil-English fusion with a darker, club-focused sound. The accompanying music video, filmed in Tokyo, is a high-energy visual experience that pays homage to anime, street fashion, and the city’s underground nightlife. The collaboration between Yung Raja and SVDP is part of a larger plan, as the duo is already setting the stage for a collaborative LP set to be released in the summer of 2026.

With these two projects, Yung Raja solidifies his position as a boundary-breaking artist. He spoke to Hypebeast in an exclusive interview surrounding his recent releases, and what fans can expect in the near future.

“Collaboration is key when it comes to representing Southeast Asia. The creative landscape is so diverse and connected as a region.

“MISSED CALL” is being called the first-ever trilingual track blending Tamil, Korean, and English. What inspired you to experiment with this mix, and what does it mean for you personally to see it come to life with Jay Park and EQUIPO?

Last year both Riidem and I were locked in the studio just making music. I will never forget the day we had the missed call session. When Riidem made that beat I just knew in my heart its special. As soon as the beat was done I laid down the chorus and the verse to it all in one session. It was magic. We had never done a track like that it felt so new and exciting. For me I always keep an open mind in the studio to see what energy manifests itself and I try my best to not judge it too soon or box myself in with what I’m comfortable to do, etc. — the moment we completed the record it took me some time to sit with it and process its potential. It’s Tanglish and it’s pop and it’s a love song. The lyrics are kinda sad but the song is so moving. It felt so big and bigger than anything else I had done at that time. Riidem and I just knew we had to release it.

In an insanely unexpected turn of events I had the opportunity to send it to Jay Park and he ended up liking the track a lot and within days the track was finalised and ready. Praise God really cause I can’t explain how it all came together this way and how blessed I feel to have lived thru that experience. It’s honestly my most favourite project to date and for EQUIPO to kickstart a dance challenge for it which led to an organic regional wave on socials was another unexpected blessing. Putting out a record like this is one of my biggest dream come true moments for me and I’m so grateful for all the love it’s gotten.

You’ve mentioned that this project feels like a landmark moment. Can you talk about the biggest challenges and the most rewarding parts of making this vision a reality?

I’d say the biggest challenges were right before we had gotten into the studio to really lock in and make music we love. We had went thru so much in the years prior to that trying to navigate music business side of things and a lot of what we went through honestly pulled up further and further away from the love of creating and the love of music itself. It took us so much spiritual strength at one point to show up for our love of music. I really cherish those times with Riidem because we had to really work our way out of some dark moments.

To have had the opportunity to get back together and to have captured a moment like missed call. And all the other records we made. To have such a beautiful and honest intention of wanting to make good music manifest in the most blessed way. Honestly it’s one of the most rewarding feelings ever and it just makes every moment of hardship so worth it.

The video evolved from a dance-driven concept into a full-fledged cinematic experience. What shifted along the way that made you realize it needed to be something bigger?

It was one of the first times we had put out a single without a MV. We wanted to just drop the record on DSPs. We started to get some strong organic traction on it and since the dance challenge picked up we thought of coming together for a dance MV for it. It was perfect timing and so glad the vision came to life so smoothly.

With “MISSED CALL” being tied so closely to Singapore’s creative community through Dreamfellas, A Good Feeling, and DISRUPT, how important is it for you to showcase and uplift homegrown talent on a global stage?

I believe that collaboration is key. It really does take a village and team work makes the dream work for real. I have been fortunate in my journey to have had the opportunity to work with some of the best in the field from Singapore. These past few years of navigating the creative space here I’ve come to learn that there’s just so few of us that are trying to build with a sense of purpose of wanting to reshape the identity of our creative space. To really wanna do great work and figure out how to push the creative envelope with every opportunity. That’s really the energy that’s needed to move the needle I feel and coming together with such like minded creatives in a space like Singapore is something that has been foundational for all of our journeys. The greatest value lies in teamwork and the responsibility lies in our hands to make sure we move as unit cause together we’re stronger. All of us coming together made us realise it’s no longer just passion but its purpose. We’re here to put the city on in every way we can and that’s most definitely a team effort.

“BRAND NEW!” reunites you with SVDP after the success of “AIYO!” What was different this time around in terms of chemistry, creative process, or energy between the two of you

I played SVDP the moment the song was done. For me our collaborations are some of the most pivotal for me as an artiste cause I’ve so much love and respect for SVDP for the genius that he is. To collaborate and create something with someone I’ve looked up to as an artiste and a creative it’s so exciting and inspiring. I remember watching the first cut of our video and crying tears of joy. Like this is the hardest shit I’ve ever seen. When we made “AIYO!” we hadn’t met in person yet. Two years after the song came out the video for “AIYO!” dropped. It premiered on the screens at Shibuya scramble crossing. We all flew down to catch that and decided might as well shoot the video for “BRAND NEW!” which we had just completed around that time.

What started as a run and gun shoot became one of the most insanely serendipitous shoots I’ve ever been on. We shot in locations we didn’t even know we could shoot at. Thanks to the support of our friends in Tokyo that really came through to help us with it. Coming together with SVDP on this was a more ambitious energy of wanting to create something never before done. We’re so aligned on our vision as Tamilans on the global landscape and the mark we trying to make. We’re always trying to do something insane and with “BRAND NEW!,” SVDP knocked it out of the f*cking park.

The Tokyo-shot video feels like a cultural mash-up — anime references, underground nightlife, street fashion. How did those influences shape the story you wanted to tell visually?

We were chatting about Japan and I got to share my stories thru the past decade of me visiting — my first clothing brand I ever launched was in Osaka and every time I visit we get taken care of. We were talking about our love for the culture and Japan as a country. Its people and food and so on and so forth we were really having the best time. And when we started shooting the MV in the streets of Tokyo it felt surreal to know we’re really a bunch of tamilans in Tokyo. And it became a thing. TAMILANS IN TOKYO.
from there the anime idea came and this concept was born where we build a visual universe that represents Japanese culture but with Tamilans in it. Wild. Just as an idea it felt insane. SVDP really brought that to life. I mean I really can’t express how much of a creative genius he is. I have watched the video 26847 times. As an artist, I’m always trying to put out something that inspires me and Japan was the perfect place that helped to make our dream a reality.

Tamil-English fusion has become part of your signature. How do you balance honoring your roots while still pushing your sound into new, global directions?

Beyond being a signature, I feel like Tamil-English is my DNA and my voice. It’s the most accurate representation of me as a Tanglish-speaking Singapore-born brown fella. That’s my truth. As a rapper I feel like I’ll always protect that. And for me taking this movement to a global space is of ultimate importance. Making the right moves with the right perspective. It’s also super, super important.

Both singles seem to set the stage for bigger projects — your upcoming solo album and the collaborative LP with SVDP. What can fans expect from this next chapter, and how are you thinking about representing Southeast Asia on the global hip-hop map?

I feel that collaboration is key when it comes to representing Southeast Asia. The creative landscape is so diverse and connected as a region. The world of Southeast Asian hip-hop is really something else and I am always thinking of staying innovative in my space from cross-cultural collabs and dabbling in different genres. To grow our movement and join forces with other artists that are thinking of a global footprint and of representing Southeast Asia on the world stage is of major importance.

Man, and about the album… brown boy szn otw!