Yung Raja Releases First Independent Track, ‘Too Dope’, in Collaboration With Strange Alias
‘This song represents for me the feeling of enjoyment after you’ve paid your dues and slogged your way through to arrive’ says Yung Raja
Strange Alias & Yung Raja - Photo Courtesy of Collective Artists Network
Strange Alias & Yung Raja have collaborated for the first time on the track “Too Dope,” released worldwide on March 1, 2024.
While this track marks the first official release for the duo, both artists have a longstanding history of collaboration under the guise of Strange Alias’ A&R and producer persona, known as Flightsch. It’s noteworthy that they have now reached a point where they both contribute vocally, singing and rapping alongside each other, resulting in a unique sound not heard in their previous joint endeavors.
Following the viral success of his debut single, “Mustafa,” Singapore-based rapper Yung Raja kept his momentum going with a steady stream of hits. His second single, “Mad Blessings,” received cosigns from Lupe Fiasco and M.I.A. and was the first English-Tamil song to receive airplay on Malaysia’s leading Malay-language radio station, Era. Following that, “The Dance Song” skyrocketed in Singapore, Malaysia, and India, with the track garnering over six million views and eight million videos created with its sound on TikTok.
“Arriving at this juncture of creative self-acceptance did not come without its challenges,” says Yung Raja. The artists had navigated both independent and bureaucratic creative systems in the past, only to come out with lifelong learnings and blessings that serve as the basis of their self-belief today. Raja, namely, having recently gone independent from his long-standing prior relationship with Universal Singapore, marks this as his first foray into independent releases.
At the center of this years-long creative relationship lies a linchpin that keeps both individuals going—purpose, without which we would not have the repertoire we see today by these two collaborators.
“This is what it feels like to live your best life after the sacrifices you’ve made to move towards a place in life where you can embrace what you’ve always wanted. This song represents for me the feeling of enjoyment after you’ve paid your dues and slogged your way through to arrive,” Yung Raja divulges.
Similarly, Strange Alias adds, “This song is just about being completely honest and bold enough to be politically wrong or impolite. Sometimes it’s okay to validate yourself without the need for external validation.” “Too Dope” is now available to stream everywhere.
