Rapper KING is on his New Life India tour and he ensured the crowd at Aquatica had a rah-rah experience. "Kemon achho Kolkata?" he said and the crowd replied with enough enthusiasm: "KING! KING! KING!" Gucci Mane accompanied him on stage and added to the energy and charm. The accompanying dancers and a powerful band that supported KING turned in an experience to remember. It's what one calls a powerhouse performance. The rapper has won hearts all over India (and beyond) with hit numbers like Tu aake dekhle and Maan meri jaan. He followed up his debut album, Champagne Talk, with his latest, New Life. The album appears to celebrate a new beginning, embracing transformation.
At the concert, the 24-year-old jumped, roared, danced and made the audience swoon with his charm and energy. Some climbed up on their friend’s shoulders, smiled at the hip-hop artiste and sang along. It was a moment to cherish when KING took a bouquet of red roses and threw it into the audience. The hip-hop star was full of ungirdled energy and charmed with songs like Aafat, Baazi, Runaway, Gumshuda, O Mere Sona, Tum saath rehna, Ektarfa and Teri ho na saki. As he started Maan meri jaan, almost all the smartphone flashlights were turned on and people sang along. He wrapped up by saying: “Har bar yahaan ake mujhe pyaar ho jaata hai.” Right back at ya, KING!
"The show begins nowwwww,” roared American rapper Gucci Mane as the second half began with songs from KING’s latest album, New Life.
(Clockwise from left) “Tere dil se na, kabhi khelunga/ Saare raaz apne, mai tujhko de dunga/ Meri jaan tune mujhko pagal hai kiya/ Mera lagda na jiya/ Tere bager,” the crowd sang along with KING as he delivered his popular number Maan meri jaan. They turned their smartphone flashlights on and made KING say: “Agar bas chalta toh main saari raat yahaan pe gaata!”
(L-R) Komal Cahlon (model), Parul Sehgal Gulati (former Mrs India Universe Fab 2018) and make-up artiste Sneha Verma struck a pose for the t2 camera. “I think I love all the songs KING has made and produced, and I’m happy that I got to watch him live,” said Parul.
Sumanthi Nagarajan (second from the left) and Tuli Roy (second from the right) dropped by to enjoy the concert with their friends. “What could be better than some good music by KING?” they asked t2.
The best part about the concert? Concertgoers knew all of KING’s songs by heart and they sang along for two hours.
(L-R) Aiva came dressed in a classic black outfit; Model Ali Abraham; Preety Gupta, entrepreneur; Abhay Sarawgi, Radhika Agarwal and interior designer Vandana Budhiya enjoyed every song that KING delivered
(From left) “It was a wonderful experience to see 4,000-plus people turn up for the event. We have associated with Team Innovation in the past also and it has always been a fruitful outcome,” said Rajdeep Chakraborty, director of What’s in d Name (Calcutta partner for the event).
“I’ve been following KING for a while now and been watching MTV Hustle. My love for him grew after watching him mentor other artistes and I think he has brought about a huge transformation in the Indian hip-hop scene,” said Debdatta Dutta.
“We love all of KING’s songs and it was superb to watch him live,” said Gul Basra (in white) and Farhan Gilani.
“We came colourcoordinated for the show and opted for some leather and monochrome,” said Monika Gupta (right) and Aarti Prasher.
