Rikesh Chauhan

RKZ

RKZ, 2016
Background information
Birth name Rikesh Chauhan
Born (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990
Luton, England, United Kingdom
Genres R&B, Hip Hop, Spoken Word
Occupation(s) Singer, Rapper, Writer, Photographer, Creative
Years active 2008 – present
Labels Independent (2008–present)
Associated acts ADP, Handbook, Raxstar, Chino XL
Website www.RKZUK.com

Rikesh Chauhan (born 5 June 1990), better known by his stage name RKZ, is a British recording artist, writer, photographer, creative and ambassador for Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Career

(2008–2011): Early Career

RKZ began his career in 2008 as a 17-year-old, after setting up indie label DAS Records and releasing his first project, 'Releas'd: Vol I'. In 2009, RKZ left DAS Records after releasing his first mixtape.[1] In March 2010, he released 'Dark Night of the Soul', followed by third and fourth singles, 'Defeat Me' and 'How Are You'. On his 21st birthday, he released '21'[2] which included a prelude of forthcoming single, Gonna Be That. Gonna Be That was featured as part of the soundtrack for Bashy's film, The Man Inside.[3]

(2012–): Present

In 2012 he released Power Trippin' along with the music video to lead single, Are You Down. Produced by ADP, the EP was released independently after initially being scheduled to release under RGS Music Group. In November 2012, RKZ released Jhené's Song which was inspired by, and samples, Jhené Aiko's single, 3:16am.[4] The Words of Adrenaline mixtape featuring Jhené's Song released in December 2012, via RKZ's website.

On 1 January 2013, he released 'Superstars' featuring Shawn Sanderson. The video incorporated the team members of UK charity, CALM (see Philanthropy) and promoted their 2013 Save The Male campaign. He performed Superstars on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends with Clive Anderson.[5]

In August 2013, he released his EP SOULar which peaked at #97 in the Top 100 R&B/Soul iTunes Chart. In August 2014 he released his fifth mixtape Science X Soul with Still Oceans, Favourite Song and Think Of Me as the main singles.[6] On December 14 he released the single Visionaries via Roundhouse Radio show, The Soul Diaries who premiered the song live on the show. He notably performed at 2013's Leeds & Reading Festivals for BBC Introducing.[7]

In November 2015, RKZ released the song They Don't Know Nothing featuring American rapper, Chino XL.[8]

On March 3rd 2016, RKZ formed a group with producer Handbook and St. Louis rapper Supreme Sol called TRIAD and released the self-titled EP via Berlin-based music blog, Stereofox.[9] Bad was the lead single, with the video (directed by RKZ) released in May 2016. He is currently working on an album with Handbook, titled Somewhere In The Afterbeat.

Philanthropy and Additional Work

In February 2012, RKZ officially announced he was one of the new ambassadors for UK charity for mental health, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). The charity aims to tackle suicide rates in the UK, particularly within young men aged between 15–35 years.[10] His first written article for CALMzine discussed the stigma of Depression within Brit-Asian communities.[11] In 2013, CALMzine won Publication of the Year at the PSCA Awards.[12] He has notably featured on BBC Radio discussing the importance of mental health awareness, most recently on BBC Asian Network on Mim Shaikh's Shaikh Debate. [13]

He contributed to music blog Sampleface as a writer,[14] as well as a guest writer for CALM (both print and online). In addition to writing, he is a noted photographer and creative. Until 2015, RKZ worked as a music video director, having made videos with artists including Cashtastic, Roach Killa, Preeya Kalidas and more. His video for GIRLS by GV was nominated for Best Video at the 2014 UK Bhangra Awards.

Discography

Albums and EPs

Year Title Label
2012 Power Trippin' Independent
2013 SOULar Independent
2016 TRIAD Independent
2017 Somewhere In The Afterbeat Independent
TBC Wanderlust Independent

Mixtapes

Year Mixtape Label
2010 Dark Night of the Soul Independent
2011 21 Independent
2012 Words of Adrenaline Independent
2014 Science X Soul Independent

Singles

Year Single Featured On
2010 Defeat Me feat. Raxstar & Menis N/A
2010 How Are You N/A
2011 Gonna Be That Power Trippin' EP
2012 Are You Down Power Trippin' EP
2013 Superstars feat. Shawn Sanderson Words of Adrenaline
2013 Find You SOULar
2014 Still Oceans Science X Soul
2014 Think of Me feat. Shawn Sanderson Science X Soul
2014 Favourite Song Science X Soul
2014 Visionaries Somewhere In The Afterbeat
2015 They Don't Know Nothing feat. Chino XL Somewhere In The Afterbeat
2016 Bad TRIAD EP
Year Song Main Artist Label
2010 This DJ DJ Dips 4Play Recordings
2011 The Other Man Raxstar Dream Warriors
2014 Ego Remix Raxstar Dream Warriors
2015 Touch Equals Ultra Slump Records
2015 Once Around The Block Handbook Independent

Videography

Music Videos

Year Title Artist
2011 Gonna Be That Remix RKZ
2011 Interlude Cashtastic
2012 Run Dis City Roach Killa
2012 Are You Down RKZ
2013 Superstars RKZ
2013 Deal or No Deal Part 2 Skott Summerz
2013 Find You RKZ
2014 Legends Boliyan GV
2014 T-Virus Jupiter Son
2014 See Right Through You Jupiter Son
2014 Eyes Up Jem Cooke
2014 Save It Sophia Thakur
2014 GIRLS GV
2014 Still Oceans RKZ
2014 Favourite Song RKZ
2015 Flower LS Lucky feat. GV
2016 Mayeh Ni Mayeh Manmitt feat. Hunterz
2016 Bad TRIAD

References

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/RKZMusic/info
  2. ↑ http://supercritic.tv/2011/06/05/rkz-21-questions-interview/
  3. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1989674/
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/JheneAiko/status/270631957002584065
  5. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qspy3
  6. ↑ http://www.mtv.co.uk/the-wrap-up/blog/new-music-rkz-still-oceans
  7. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ezc5d4/acts/a6p9mb#p01fnqlk
  8. ↑ https://twitter.com/RKZUK/status/663871451355848704
  9. ↑ http://www.stereofox.com/album-review-handbook-x-rkz-x-supreme-sol-triad-ep
  10. ↑ http://www.thecalmzone.net/2012/02/define-calm-ambassador/
  11. ↑ http://issuu.com/reset-magazine/docs/issue6nobleed/17
  12. ↑ http://www.publicsectorcommunicationsawards.co.uk/useruploads/files/publication_of_the_year_calmzine.pdf
  13. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07bq1gp
  14. ↑ http://sampleface.co.uk/meet-the-team/
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