Thats Racy

Im at the Taco Bell (Naw)

Im at the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell

Their music polarises. Gibberish to some,the future of rap to others. But Das Racist with Indian Americans Himanshu Suri,Ashok Kondabolu and Californian Victor Vazquez attracts attention. Simmering anarchy prevails through their brainy lyrics,boisterous videos and haphazard live shows. Even their stage names suggest quiet rebellion. MC Suri goes by Heems,Vazquez is Kool AD and Kondabolu – Dap. At first glance,their 2008 song Combination Pizza Hut Taco Bell might sound like catchy twaddle,but for many listeners,it was a commentary on the prevalence of commercialisation and the illusion of choice.

A Guardian article commented,Das Racist are bringing new racial and cultural identities to rap that have rarely spoken before,erasing the tribal baggage hip-hops getting squashed by and opening things up to a Technicolor,worldwide future. 2011 was their year,with Rolling Stone anointing their album Relax as the 28th best album of the year and their song Girl the 34th best single of the year. They ranked fourth in Spins 40 Best Rap Albums for representing the most energising force in New York indie-rap.

While rap provides a convenient description of their music,Das Racist defies easy categories. Their official description,a white-guilt art project/science experiment/ponzi scheme piloted by Heems,Kool AD,and the Honourable Prophet Dapwell, leaves their enterprise open-ended and critics puzzled. But what does that mean? Suri replies,I guess Victor is the poco (little) maverick,Dap is the science dude since he knows so much about computers,and I am Raj Rajaratnam.

While Suris explanation might not simplify matters,Das Racist can be best understood through their music. Songs like Middle of the cake,Michael Jackson,and Relax open with Indian-sounding riffs. But their lyrics crackle with irreverence and commentary. If Pizza Hut touches upon commercialisation,Relax deals with immigrant experience and Whos that brown grapples with identity politics. The tunes are often simple and forgettable but the songs make an impact for their sharp commentary.

Suri raps in Shut up,man,which yanked them into the limelight,They say I act white,but sound black /But act black,but sound white/But whats my sound bite supposed to sound like.

While Suri and Kondabolu negotiate their Indian American backgrounds,Vazquez navigates through his Afro-Cuban and Italian lineage. They bring their varied backgrounds and influences to their music. If Kondabolu grew up on 90s rock and reggae hits,bhajans provided the soundtrack of Suris childhood. Vazquez adds,Like most Mulattos,I grew up on Sade. Together,they mock those who try to slot them into crevices depending on their appearances or mannerisms. Kondabolu explains,I dont think about it that often. Not that I dont care,or am not curious to find out how Im generally perceived,or how one person describing me to another person who had never heard of me would say. Were not trying to be the Indian-Cuban rap group. Unless thats cool,then were trying to be that thing for sure.

The name of the group also arises from shredding the typical commentary on race. Inspired by the MTV2 series Wonder Showzen where a child yells Thats Racist,Suri and Kondabolu found themselves doing the same as they watched television. Started as an inside joke,Suri says,In 2008,I often found myself yelling THATS RACIST at my television set. Thats how they stuck with the name.

They dont take the rare Asian in rap status,which is often endowed on them,too seriously,as there arent too many Asian rappers,they say. But they admit they enjoy discomfiting the White audience. Kondabolu says with signature irony that he enjoys playing at liberal arts colleges as they pay well and the stage gets crowded by kids trying to dance indiscriminately,making their jobs very easy. Suri adds,We may make them a little uncomfortable although most of our White fans are fans because they suffer from White Guilt.

The group hope to make a trip to India soon as they can fix their dates to rile and provoke an audience.