Rapper Yashwardhan Puts Dehradun on the Map with Debut EP ‘FML (For My Life)’

Representing the new generation of hip-hop from Dehradun, Yashwardhan Sharma (who goes by his first name as an artist) is vulnerable and vociferous across five tracks on his debut EP FML (For My Life).

In his words, Yashwardhan says he’s trying to “set up benchmarks for the youngsters to never give up […] no matter how bad your situation is.” A student at Berklee College of Music in Boston at present, the rapper has a vision set out for Uttarakhand as well, which has regularly seen rappers roll out music on a prolific level in the last five years, from heavy-hitters like Karma to current stars like Dakait and Aniket Raturi (who have worked with ace beatsmith Sez on the Beat), plus the likes of Young Aytee, Kumauni 17 and Devil J.

Yashwardhan, for his part, is sticking to a saying he quotes. “You need to push the wheel harder first, before it catches the momentum. I believe in struggling through the difficulties to keep the wheel turning,” he adds.

Unsurprisingly, like most Indian rappers, Eminem is a key influence for Yashwardhan and on the lyrical front, he went from journaling and listening to hip-hop to putting his pen to paper for rap rhymes. He adds, “My dedication has reached a level where I had to drop out of my MBA [business] school to pursue music. Today I have not just gained quite a few followers in the city but am seeing a vision, to establish a music school for the blooming artists with similar constraints but substantial talent, getting closer with every passing day.”

The dedication to the craft is heard loud and clear on FML (For My Life), with spoken-word pieces, aspirational rap and hard-hitting drill. The EP opens with the deeply confessional “Bachpan,” addressed to his current and perhaps younger self. On it, he addresses his over-dependence on rap as an outlet and how he’s unable to push back when he’s called weak. Elsewhere, “Picasso” references Kanye West and digs into a resolute hook about owning his performances. 

There’s a reference to cult film Scarface and “Best” opens raucously with actor’s Al Pacino’s lines as Tony Montana. Yashwardhan paints the picture of having a trophy in hand and being judged the best. The more menacing and drill tune “Khabib” adds much-needed diversity, even as Yashwardhan hypes himself as the Shakespeare of rap, something that may not be entirely original but sticks nevertheless. The EP closes with a contrasting touch of melodic and melancholic hip-hop on “Zindagi.”

Yashwardhan’s strength is in his sincerity and he’s not afraid to take on tried and tested topics to bring something new to it, with his own experiences.              

Listen to ‘FML (For My Life)’ below.