Yung Dsa Quit His Job After ‘Yeda Yung’ Blew Up. Now He Wants to Build an Empire

Pune-bred hip-hop artist Yung Dsa flexes his newfound fame on “Maaf Kar,” his first release since his sitar-infused rap track “Yeda Yung” went viral earlier this year.

The rapper also turns introspective on the wild ride it’s been over the last few months. “It’s me owning up to my past, the choices I made, and understanding that while I did a lot of things that weren’t always right, I did them to rise above my circumstances,” he tells Rolling Stone India.

Produced by Cosmo Drop, the Marathi track is Yung Dsa’s reflection on “sudden fame” while not forgetting his roots and those who stood by him (and those who didn’t in his time of struggle).

“Maaf Kar” was written earlier this year, shortly after “Yeda Yung” went viral. He says, “That experience changed my life, and it inspired me to reflect on everything that had shifted—the sudden fame, the new lifestyle, and the realization of who was real and who wasn’t. The song is a confession and a flex at the same time.”

A rapper since the age of 12 when he grew up in the Pune neighborhood of Yerwada Kanjar Bhat, Yung Dsa started out in 2021 with his self-produced song “Yung Sitar,” followed by “Sangeet” in 2023. “From the start, I wanted to bring the sound of the sitar and my culture into hip-hop, and I’m proud of where that journey has taken me,” he says.

With 58 million views on YouTube, over 22 million streams on Spotify and nearly 4 million Reels set to “Yeda Yung,” it’s safe to say a lot of things turned around for the artist. He recalls, “The biggest change was quitting my job. I was working at a BPO, trying to support my family while chasing my dreams. After ‘Yeda Yung’ blew up, my life completely changed. I could finally focus on music full-time, which is what I truly feel I was born to do.”

Getting co-signs from the likes of Sambata, Loka and Divine‘s Gully Gang, Yung Dsa has been touring on the back of “Yeda Yung.” Now, “Maaf Kar” marks his majordebut, out via Sony Music India.

While desi hip-hop fans have been quick to point out similarities to Pune rap star MC Stan, Yung Dsa is part of the growing voices repping Marathi in the movement. He says, “Marathi rap is evolving fast, and more artists are stepping up to represent it on a bigger scale. I believe it’s just the beginning—soon, Marathi hip-hop will be heard globally as artists continue to collaborate and push boundaries.”

The goal for 2025 is clear for the artist, though. He adds, “I’m building an empire from the ground up. This year is going to be about staying real, keeping it authentic, and pushing boundaries.”