Raja Kumari wins American Music Award, a first for Indian origin artist
Rapper Raja Kumari becomes first Indian origin musician to win American music award
Indian-American rapper and singer Raja Kumari has made history by becoming the first Indian origin musician to win an American Music Award (AMA). This momentous win took place on Monday night at the 51st AMA ceremony held in Los Angeles. She won the award in the Favourite Soundtrack category for the song Renegade (We Never Run), which was part of the soundtrack for Arcane: League of Legends Season 2.
The song is a collaboration between Raja Kumari, UK rapper Stefflon Don, and Dominican-Brazilian singer Jarina de Marco. The show Arcane: League of Legends is based on the popular video game League of Legends and is available on streaming platforms.
Earlier, Raja Kumari had already made headlines for being the first Indian origin artist to be nominated for an AMA. Now, by winning it, she has created a new record that inspires artists across India and the world.
A personal journey
Speaking to PTI, Raja Kumari shared her excitement and gratitude. She said the award came at a time when she had started to believe that maybe she needed to stick to only one genre of music to become truly successful. Winning this AMA has given her the confidence to continue as a global artist, blending multiple cultures and sounds in her work.
Raja also spoke emotionally about her song Renegade. She said she never expected the song to become such a huge success. “I just did a song for a film. I didn’t have many expectations. But it ended up really impacting people,” she said. The song became a Top 10 hit globally on Spotify’s ‘Viral 50’ chart, which came as a big surprise even to her.
Raja also talked about her connection with late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, which she shares with fellow artist Stefflon Don. She said, “Stefflon and I both have songs with Sidhu. When I was collaborating with him, he had played me a song with her. That’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for her. We both share a connection with this gentle giant.”
This emotional connection made the collaboration even more special for Raja. She said the opportunity to sing for Arcane came because the team wanted someone who could represent Indian culture and also create strong, bold music. The character in the show for which the song was made is also of Indian origin.
“They (the Arcane team) had heard of me as someone who represents our culture and makes aggressive music as a woman. That’s why they reached out to me,” she explained.
A moment of pride
Raja Kumari’s win is being seen as a huge milestone for Indian artists on the global stage. It shows that Indian-origin musicians can compete and win at international events like the American Music Awards, which are among the most prestigious music awards in the world.
Raja has always identified herself as a global artist who blends hip-hop, Indian classical music, and modern pop sounds. Her journey has not been easy, but she has continued to push boundaries and make a name for herself in a competitive music industry.
In her words, this win is a reminder that “there’s still much more work for me to do, and still much more for me to impact and grow.”
This achievement is not just personal—it’s a moment of inspiration for artists of Indian origin everywhere who dream of making it big on international platforms.
