Draft:EPR (rapper)
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EPR | |
|---|---|
| Born | Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer 3 April 1989 Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Origin | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2010–present |
| Label | Adiacot |
Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer (born 3 April 1989), known professionally by his stage name EPR or EPR Iyer (standing for Emcee Poet Rapper), is an Indian rapper, singer, and songwriter from Kolkata, West Bengal.[1] He first came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of the Kolkata-based rap-rock band Underground Authority, which reached the finals of the television reality competition India's Got Talent in 2010.[2]
As a solo artist, Iyer was the first runner-up on the debut season of MTV India's rap reality show MTV Hustle in 2019.[3] He subsequently served as a team mentor and "Squad Boss" across subsequent installments of the series, including MTV Hustle 2.0 (2022), MTV Hustle 03 Represent (2023), and MTV Hustle 4: Hip Hop Don't Stop (2024).[4][5] His music frequently focuses on socio-political commentary, civil rights, and protest poetry.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer was born on 3 April 1989 in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, and was raised in Kolkata, West Bengal. He completed his schooling at A. K. Ghosh Memorial School and later attended Asutosh College in Kolkata.[1] He subsequently completed a degree in broadcast journalism at the NSHM Institute of Media and Communication in Kolkata.[1]
Iyer began writing poetry in the early 2000s and became interested in hip hop and alternative rock, citing artists including Rage Against the Machine, KRS-One, Eminem, and Linkin Park as formative influences.[1] During the late 2000s, he participated in underground rap cyphers and online text battle forums, including the Insignia community on Orkut.[1]
Musical career
[edit]Underground Authority (2010–2023)
[edit]In early 2010, Iyer co-founded the alternative rap-rock band Underground Authority in Kolkata with lead guitarist Adil Rashid, bassist Soumyadeep Bhattacharya, and drummer Sourish Kumar.[2] The group gained national visibility in 2010 after competing on the second season of Colors TV's talent show India's Got Talent, finishing as finalists.[6]
With Underground Authority, Iyer served as the principal emcee and lyricist, releasing two studio albums: You Can't Stop Us (2014) and Propaganda (2018). On 18 April 2023, Iyer announced his departure from Underground Authority after 13 years, stating that he was stepping down to focus on his solo projects.[6] His final live performance with the group took place on 13 May 2023.[6]
Solo work and television (2019–present)
[edit]In August 2019, EPR appeared as a solo contestant on the inaugural season of the reality competition MTV Hustle, judged by Raftaar, Nucleya, and Raja Kumari.[3] Over the course of the competition, he performed socio-political tracks such as "ADR / ABR" and his autobiographical song "Srini Bana EPR", finishing the competition as the first runner-up behind winner M-Zee Bella.[3]
Following the first season, Iyer returned to the series as a "Squad Boss" (team mentor) on MTV Hustle 2.0 in September 2022 alongside King, Dino James, and Dee MC.[4] During this season, his performance of the song "Religious Extremism"—which addressed communal violence and the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur—received widespread coverage across national media.[4] He reprised his role as a Squad Boss on MTV Hustle 03 Represent in 2023, on MTV Hustle 4: Hip Hop Don't Stop in 2024, and on MTV Hustle 5: Apna Homeground in 2026.[5]
Outside television, Iyer released his debut solo studio album, Protest Poetry, on 9 June 2020 through Adiacot Entertainment.[1] The 17-track record addressed contemporary issues such as the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest, systemic corruption, and freedom of speech.[4] On 15 October 2023, he released his second studio album, Uncertainty Principle, a 9-track concept album incorporating references to physics, philosophy, and personal introspection.[7]
EPR has also performed on Indian film soundtracks. In 2016, he provided rap vocals for the title track of the courtroom drama film Pink, composed by Anupam Roy and featuring Jonita Gandhi. In 2023, he recorded the track "Practice Till I Crack This" with Belgian composer Simon Fransquet for the film Lakadbaggha.
Artistry
[edit]EPR characterizes his creative persona as a "reporter from the streets."[1] His work is aligned with conscious hip hop and rap rock, often utilizing multi-syllabic rhyme structures, internal rhymes, and fast-cadence delivery.[7] Lyrically, his tracks regularly critique administrative negligence, religious fundamentalism, caste discrimination, and economic inequality.[4]
Discography
[edit]Solo studio albums
[edit]- Protest Poetry (2020)
- Uncertainty Principle (2023)
With Underground Authority
[edit]- You Can't Stop Us (2014)
- Propaganda (2018)
Selected singles and guest appearances
[edit]| Year | Title | Other artist(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Pink" (Title Track) | Jonita Gandhi, Anupam Roy | From the soundtrack of Pink |
| 2019 | "ADR / ABR" | — | |
| 2020 | "Srini Bana EPR" | Bombay Beat Broadcast | Lead single from Protest Poetry |
| 2020 | "Ekla Cholo Re" | — | Single from Protest Poetry |
| 2020 | "Surakshit" | — | |
| 2021 | "Koi Gham Nahi" | — | |
| 2022 | "Religious Extremism" | — | Performed on MTV Hustle 2.0 |
| 2022 | "Banjo Bounce" | Raftaar | From Hard Drive Vol. 1 |
| 2023 | "Practice Till I Crack This" | Simon Fransquet | From the soundtrack of Lakadbaggha |
| 2023 | "Fibonacci" | — | From Uncertainty Principle |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | India's Got Talent (Season 2) | Contestant | Colors TV | Finalist (with Underground Authority) |
| 2019 | MTV Hustle (Season 1) | Contestant | MTV India | 1st Runner-up |
| 2022 | MTV Hustle 2.0 | Squad Boss | MTV India | |
| 2023 | MTV Hustle 03 Represent | Squad Boss | MTV India | |
| 2024 | MTV Hustle 4: Hip Hop Don't Stop | Squad Boss | MTV India | |
| 2026 | MTV Hustle 5: Apna Homeground | Squad Boss | MTV India |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Karia, Vedant (27 December 2021). "EPR Iyer: A rapper on stage and a 'reporter from the streets'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Exclusive Release: Underground Authority Power Up on 'Gypsy'". Rolling Stone India. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Farzeen, Sana (13 October 2019). "Deepak Singh aka M-Zee Bella wins MTV Hustle". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Baruah, Antara (15 September 2022). "MTV Hustle's EPR Iyer, Bengali rapper who sang on Udaipur beheading, is no Hindutva hero". ThePrint. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Lashcurry Crowned Winner of 'MTV Hustle 4: Hip Hop Don't Stop'". Rolling Stone India. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Tagat, Anurag (18 April 2023). "Kolkata Rap-Rock Act Underground Authority's EPR Iyer Announces Exit from Band". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Exploring Protest Poetry With EPR Iyer's Latest Album, 'Uncertainty Principle'". The Indian Music Diaries. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2026.