Ranidu Lankage
| Ranidu Lankage | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations | Hip Hop, R&B Artist |
| Instruments | Piano, Keyboards |
| Years active | 2003—present |
| Labels | Sony BMG India |
| Associated acts | DeLon, Anson of the DID Crew from Trinidad, Holee Smokez and the MDT crew from New york, Yohan Rakapakse, Yauwanan, Ranga D (The god) |
| Website | www.raniduonline.com |
Ranidu Lankage (Sinhala:රනිදු ලංකාගේ) is a Sinhalese R&B and hip hop artist who raised the international profile of Sinhalese RnB/pop.[1] Lankage is the first Sinhalese artist to be played on BBC Radio 1[citation needed] and the creator of the first Sinhalese single to be played on MTV and channel V and Z music India.[1] He is a graduate in Economics from Yale University.
Education
Ranidu was educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo, where he was ranked fourth in Sri Lanka, third in Colombo district in the competitive General Certificate of Education Advanced Level exam in 2000 and went on to study economics at Yale University on a full scholarship.[2] He had represented Sri Lanka in squash at the Asian junior championships and played cricket for Royal College.
Career
Lankage has produced hits that have revolutionized Sri Lankan music.[1] In 2007, DeLon's single "Nasty Girl" debuted at No.36 on the Billboard Charts.[3] Lankage's first single with Ashanthi, "Oba magemai," gained popularity and made Ranidu & Ashanthi the youngest Sri Lankan artists to be signed by an international record label, Sony Music India.[4] Ranidu followed his first single with four Top 20 hits: "Obe ath allagena," "Sinasenna," "Kandulen midee" and "Sadaa." The "Oba Magemai" (You're mine) album was one of the top-selling albums in Sri Lanka.[5]
In summer 2003, he returned to the studio to create the album "Diviyapura" (All my life) Released in summer 2004, the album included the single "Ahankara Nagare," which climbed to the top of the charts within days and became the biggest original Sri Lankan single in a decade.[6] The song also charted on the BBC's Asian Music list, which led to its becoming the first Sinhalese single to be included in an internationally distributed compilation,[6][citation needed].It became one of the most successful albums by a Sri Lankan artist of all time.[1][5][6]
Lankage followed up with "Kelle," which landed on the BBC Asian Chart, received rave reviews, and got worldwide airplay.[1][6]
The album "Iraj" featured three tracks by Lankage, "Ninda noyana handawe", "Madumathiye" and "Playas lounge". Composed and sung by Lankage, "Ninda noyanawas" was the most popular love ballad to come out in 2005.[citation needed]
In March 2005, Lankage performed at the Sydney Opera House in Australia with Iraj Weeraratne and his group.[6]
That summer, Ranidu embarked on his first major tour in Sri Lanka; all shows were successful.[6] Ranidu collaborated with Iraj to produce " Mata Aloke Genadevi Sansaraye," a Sri Lankan No. 1 that was aired on BBC Radio 1, BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio 1Xtra. Aloke was also included in the "Bombay Bronx" compilation by the BBC's DJ and Ranidu and Iraj's mentor DJ Nihal. Ranidu appeared on the Adil Ray show of the BBC's Asian network to promote the single's inclusion in the station's main playlist.[6]
Current life
His self-titled third album, which contains Sinhalese Neo Soul, Asian hip hop and reggae music, is the first to combine Sri Lankan music with American- and Caribbean-style Rap.[citation needed] Ranidu sang all the vocals and produced all the tracks. Ranidu is collaborating with many artists on this album including Iraj, West coast Rapper DeLon, Anson of the DID Crew from Trinidad, Holee Smokez and the MDT crew from New York, Yohan Rakapakse, Yauwanan, Ranga D (The god) and many more. One song, "Herde Keniththuwa" produced by Iraj, was the theme for the 2006 movie "Anjalika".[citation needed] The first official single "Paa salamba sala- ft Anson" was released on Radio 1 and BBC Asian Network in December 2006 and was the first Sinhalese single to be on the “A” list of the Asian network[citation needed]. Lyrics for the album were provided by Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Chanaka Jayasekera, Kelum Shreemal, Vasantha Dukgannarala and a childhood friend of Ranidu’s Anuradha Uduwage. Ranidu along with Iraj and the crew are planning a tour of the United States, Canada, Australia, Dubai, Cyprus and the UK.[citation needed]
Discography
Diviya Pura (2004)
- Ahankara Nagare
- Diviyapura
- Sansaraye
- Kelle
- Minisathkame
- Obe Adare (Osuwak Wage)
- Get Up Get Down
- Kali Yugaye II
- Sanda Thaniwela
- Oben Mulawennam
- Ahankara Nagare (Iraj's Punjabi Mix)
Ranidu (2007)
- Sithuwili
- Surangana As
- Paa Salamba Sala
- Jeevana Mera Thu
- Herede Keniththuwa
- Palayanne Naa Maa
- Mata Adara Asena Ime
- Mage Adare Namin
- Samanaliye
- Oba Aa Nisa
- Unmada Dethol (Bhangra Mix)
- Nasty Girl
- Kelle (Hitfactory Mix)
Singles
Videos
Oba Magemai (2003)
Sinasenna (2004)
Ahankara nagare (2005)
Kelle (2005)
Ninda Noyana Handawe (2005)
Unmada dethol (2007)
Paa salamba sala(2008)
Hinahenne mung/Nil Nayaniye(2009)
Mage Nangi (2009)
Sebalanani (2009)
Athamita kasi/Fake Friendz (2010)
Amme mathakai nam (2010)
Meghatthin Nanam(2011)
Dile Ape tharu/Sri Lanka Cricket world cup ICC Official theme song (2011)
Visekara Arumatthi (2012)
Template:Hachchiyak(2012)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Dance to the music of Ranidu, By Sanath Weerasuriya, Sundaytimes
- ↑ A pleasant blend of East and West, by Umangi de Me, Sundayobserver
- ↑ Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales
- ↑ It’s all in a song, The morningleader
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ranidu Lankage, The Undisputed Icon of Sinhalese RnB & Hip Hop
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Ranidu,The Official Artist Page, desihits.com