Rahul Kumar Velpula (రాహుల్ కుమార్ వెల్పుల), known professionally as Roll Rida, is an Indian rapper, lyricist, singer, and actor born on 26 January 1992 in Karimnagar, Telangana. He attended Johnson Grammar School, Hyderabad, completed his intermediate at Narayana Junior College, Tarnaka, and earned a B.Tech in Computer Science from CVR College of Engineering, Hyderabad. After graduation, he worked as a Quality Analyst at Tech Mahindra, Hyderabad, before quitting his software job in 2017 to pursue music full-time. He adopted the stage name Roll Rida upon a friend's suggestion, as a tribute to American rapper Flo Rida. He formed a college band with Syed Kamran and became popular at campus events and stage shows. In 2013 he released his debut single 'Patang' on YouTube, which became a viral Sankranthi anthem with 17 million+ views and was officially designated by the Telangana Government as the anthem of the International Kites Festival. Follow-up tracks 'Kirana', 'Dilkush', 'Kattif', 'Breaking News', and 'Arupu' (which won Best Music Video at the 2018 San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival and addressed women's issues) further cemented his reputation as the pioneer of Telugu rap music. He toured the USA in 2015 and 2016 to promote Telugu hip-hop, was featured on VH1, and worked with top composers including M.M. Keeravani, S.S. Thaman, Devi Sri Prasad, and Anoop Rubens. His most noted film contribution was Chiranjeevi's 'Megastar Entry Rap' in Bruce Lee: The Fighter (2015); other film credits include rap segments for Manam (voice for Akhil Akkineni), Temper (voice for Jr. NTR), and Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo ('OMG Daddy', 2020). He has performed with rapper Divine. In June 2018, he entered Bigg Boss Telugu Season 2 and was evicted in Week 15, finishing sixth overall.

Being the first Telugu-language rapper from Telangana State; viral hit 'Patang' (2013, 17 million+ YouTube views, declared an anthem for Sankranthi kite festival by the Government of Telangana); 'Arupu' with Syed Kamran (Best Music Video, SF International New Concept Film Festival 2018); collaborations with composers M.M. Keeravani, S.S. Thaman, Devi Sri Prasad; rap contributions to films including Bruce Lee: The Fighter (Chiranjeevi's Megastar Entry Rap), Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo ('OMG Daddy'); finishing sixth on Bigg Boss Telugu Season 2 (2018).

Frequently Asked