Subhas Nair

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Subhas Nair
Subhas Nair.jpg
Born1992
EducationBachelor of Arts (Urban Studies)
Alma materNew Town Secondary School, Hwa Chong Junior College, Yale-NUS College
RelativesPretti Nair (Prettipls)

The older brother of Preeti Nair (more commonly known as Preetipls), Subhas Nair (born 1992) is a Singapore-based musician who uses hip hop music as a form of social commentary.[1] A graduate of Yale-NUS College’s pioneer cohort, Subhas has referred to himself as “a concerned citizen unsatisfied with (the) status quo”.[2][3] Subhas made headlines in 2019 when he and his sister dropped a scathing rap video in response to the NETS "brownface" campaign.

Background

Early life

Subhas (aged seven) and Pretti (aged five) pictured at the void deck of their 101 Sunset Way home. Photo from 3eigth.co.

Growing up, Subhas did not have an easy childhood. His father's gambling habits had put a tremendous strain on the family's finances to the point that they could not pay rent. His family was continually harassed by loan sharks who knew where they lived.[4][5] To escape from the harassment, Subhas has lived in more than 10 houses throughout his life - some of which have been featured in his music later on.[6][7] Subhas' father left the family a week before his 18th birthday.[8] While his mother tried to raise him and Pretti single-handedly, Subhas supported the family by taking up as many as five part-time jobs at a time.[9]


Subhas found solace in playing basketball and listening to music from rappers like 50 Cent, Nelly and Eminem.[10] Both of these activities would come to play a significant role in his later life.

Education

Subhas attended New Town Secondary School where was a part of the school's basketball team.[11][12] There, he had studied Chinese as his second language.[13] His basketball skills landed him a place in Hwa Chong Junior College where he studied History, Literature, Economics, and Higher Chinese.[14][15]


Outside of academics, he had been appointed as the captain of the school’s male basketball team.[16] Subhas recounted that this did not come easy as he had been "one of the last few players selected" for the first-team roster in his first year on the team.[17] To improve himself, he had "religiously watched his idols in the NBA".[18] Subhas was awarded the SINDA Excellence Award for his achievements in junior college.[19] He graduated from Hwa Chong Junior College in 2010.


Subhas pursued his tertiary education at Yale-NUS College under the Georgette Chen Study Award - a hefty financial grant that made furthering his studies possible.[20] He continued to excel in Yale-NUS, winning the third prize in the 2016 National Climate Change Competition and also becoming the co-captain of the college’s basketball team.[21][22] It was also in college that Subhas started songwriting. In a 2018 interview, Subhas commented that: 

“[Yale’s] liberal arts curriculum pushed him to start questioning systems in his own life”.[23]

This mindset drove him to create music purposefully. In 2017, Subhas became the first in his family to graduate from college, specifically with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies.[24]

Career

Subhas is now a staff member at his alma mater, Yale-NUS College. Photo from Yale Alumni Magazine.

After graduating, Subhas pursued a solo music career for a year. It was only after his first debut album did he find a nine-to-five job.

Yale-NUS College & Ministry of National Development

As of March 2020, Subhas holds an executive position at Yale-NUS’s Dean of Students Office where he contributes to student welfare through health and recreation.[25][26] He is also a Data Analyst at the Yale Data-Driven Environmental Solutions Group[27] and a Research Assistant at the Ministry of National Development’s Centre for Liveable Cities.[28]

Music

Subhas started writing music during his spare time in Yale-NUS. To pay for his home-recording music equipment, he worked as a basketball coach and a research assistant.[29]

Debut album: Not A Public Assembly (2018)

Album cover art by Natalie Christian Tan.

In May 2018, Subhas released his first debut album titled “Not A Public Assembly”.[30] Partly inspired by his childhood experiences, the album addressed socio-political issues in Singapore.[31] The album’s title was coined by his friend - freelance illustrator and designer, Natalie Christian Tan - who had also designed the visuals and merchandise for his album release.[32]

Album Not A Public Assembly Duration
1 blk101sunsetway 3:24
2 heartlands 3:44
3 monarch 3:02
4 modern slavery 2:50
5 PUNISHMENT 2:53
6 riot! / dumbshit! 4:02
7 firstworld 4:24
8 swearing in 4:15

Informed by his belief in artistic freedom, Subhas intentionally refused to submit his lyrics to Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for approval.[33] As a result, he did not have a license to hold a public launch party.[34] The closed-door party was held on 27 April 2018 at The Substation (45 Armenian Street), drawing a crowd of approximately 250 individuals.[35]

EP

The art for Bird$ - a song in Subhas' EP.

As of March 2020, Subhas has produced nine more singles and one Extended Play (EP) album. He has approximately 8,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

EP Man on a Mission Mixtape Duration
1 Autographs 3:31
2 Bird$ 3:12
3 Man on a Mission 2:59
4 Ana De Armas 3:17
5 Red Dot 4:02

Singles

Subhas and Pretti pictured with their mother on the covert art for Murukku (2019). Photo from Tamil Murasu.
Year Released Song Title Duration
2020 Suit 2:44
D.N.A 3:45
2019 TRUSS 3:04
Murukku 3:12
Runaway 3:59
Link Up 3:17
N.S 3:00
2017 Man on a Mission 2:59
Red Dot 4:02

Rap video controversy (2019)

In 2019, NETS promoted E-pay, a unified payment system through a video campaign. Local actor Dennis Chew was hired to portray four characters of different ethnicities, engaging in what the Nair siblings viewed as “brownface”.

Response to NETS brown face advertisement

A screengrab from the rap response video.

In response, the duo produced a satirical rap video addressing Chinese privilege and racial discrimination in Singapore, particularly towards minority groups. Subhas uploaded it onto Facebook on 29 July 2019.[36] Some members of the public took offence to the expletive-laden video, going so far as to file a police report.[37] Following an investigation, Subhas was called down to the police station to break down the song's lyrics. Subhas however, had been notably reluctant to apologise when asked to by the police, instead saying: 

"For what, Chinese fragility?"[38]

The situation was eventually settled with two public apologies from the Nair siblings and a 24-month conditional probation.[39][40]

Cancellation of CNA documentary

Before the rap video controversy, Subhas had been one of four local musicians selected for Channel News Asia’s musical documentary titled "Roar".[41] The documentary meant to follow these musicians in their song-writing journey for National Day.[42] For Subhas, he had chosen to co-produce a song with Migrants Band Singapore. Subhas was removed from the show after the rap video saga.[43] Despite a petition by Sand - an arts magazine -, CNA stuck to their original decision to remove Subhas and by association removing the foreign workers who had worked with him.[44][45]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ Sandran, Aravin. “Mental health in Singapore: Young creatives discuss self-care, self-love, and self-awareness”. Buro. October 10, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  2. ↑ “RCGNTN: THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY WITH SUBHAS”. Subhas Music. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Yuen Sin. “Nearly two-thirds of Yale-NUS College's pioneer batch of students graduate with job or graduate school offers”. The Straits Times. May 29, 2017. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  4. ↑ “Channel NewsAsia has erased all content on anti-brownface rapper Subhas Nair”. Reddit. July 30, 2019. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Sheryl Yeo. “3EIGHTH Conversations: Place & Memory with Preetipls & Subhas”. YouTube. January 13, 2020. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  6. ↑ “#3EIGHTHCONVERSATIONS: PLACE & MEMORY WITH PREETIPLS & SUBHAS”. 3EIGHTH. January 10, 2020. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Jayaraman, Arjun. “Subhas uses rap to hold a mirror up to society – gig report”. bandwagon. May 2, 2018. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Fong, Victoria. “Why This Yale-NUS Grad Chose Rap Over The Corporate Life”. YP SG. October 10, 2017. Accessed on 5 March 2020.  
  9. ↑ “Murukku video to celebrate Deepavali”. Tamil Murasu. November 8, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Fong, Victoria. “Why This Yale-NUS Grad Chose Rap Over The Corporate Life”. YP SG. October 10, 2017. Accessed on 5 March 2020.  
  11. ↑ New Town Alumni - Endorsed. “Subhas Nair, a NUS Yale Graduate is now a Man On A Mission. Read more…”. Facebook. October 15, 2017. Accessed on 4 March 2020. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/NTSSALUMNI/posts/subhas-nair-a-nus-yale-graduate-is-now-a-man-on-a-mission-read-more-about-his-jo/333262663749853/.
  12. ↑ Chew, Ian. “Combined Schools (White) wins to keep alive Youth Cup basketball qualifying hopes”. Red Sports. June 15, 2008. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  13. ↑ “Murukku video to celebrate Deepavali”. Tamil Murasu. November 8, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  14. ↑ Nair, Subhas. “Subhas Nair”. LinkedIn. Accessed 4 March 2020.
  15. ↑ “Murukku video to celebrate Deepavali”. Tamil Murasu. November 8, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "Subhas Nair - SINDA Excellence Award (Basketball) Recipient (Part 1)”. Rameshon. September 30, 2010. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "Subhas Nair - SINDA Excellence Award (Basketball) Recipient (Part 1)”. Rameshon. September 30, 2010. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  18. ↑ "Subhas Nair - SINDA Excellence Award (Basketball) Recipient (Part 1)”. Rameshon. September 30, 2010. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  19. ↑ “Subhas Nair - SINDA Excellence Award (Basketball) Recipient (Part 2)”. Rameshon. October 21, 2010. Accessed 5 March 2020.
  20. ↑ yalenuscollege. “Georgette Chen Study Award Recipient - Subhas Nair”. YouTube. February 19, 2017. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  21. ↑ “V4I5”. The Octant. September 15, 2015. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  22. ↑ Yale-NUS College. “Congratulations to the team from Yale-NUS comprising Janel Ang, Subhas Nair…”. Facebook. November 16, 2016. Accessed 5 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/yalenuscollege/posts/1486310714732176
  23. ↑ Lester, Caroline. “Trailblazers”. Yale Alumni Magazine. September/ October 2018. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  24. ↑ Yuen Sin. “Nearly two-thirds of Yale-NUS College's pioneer batch of students graduate with job or graduate school offers”. The Straits Times. May 29, 2017. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  25. ↑ “Meet Our Team”. Yale NUS College. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  26. ↑ “Subhas Nair”. Yale NUS College. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  27. ↑ Nair, Subhas. “Subhas Nair”. LinkedIn. Accessed 4 March 2020.
  28. ↑ “Meet Our Team”. Data Driven Envirolab. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  29. ↑ “NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL 2018: Rapping his love for Singapore, one song at a time”. Today. August 4, 2018. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  30. ↑ “Preetipls and Subhas”. Neon Lights. Accessed 5 March 2020.
  31. ↑ Marvelous, Paz. “THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY WITH SUBHAS”. RCGNTN. May 17, 2018. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  32. ↑ Tan, Natalie. “Natalie Tan”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  33. ↑ “NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL 2018: Rapping his love for Singapore, one song at a time”. Today. August 4, 2018. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  34. ↑ Pandey, Surabhi. “Preeti and Subhas Nair Open Up About Their Ambassadorship Ahead Of Pink Dot 2019”. YP SG. June 27, 2019. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  35. ↑ Subhas. “Not A Public Assembly - Album Launch”. Facebook. April 27, 2018. Accessed on 5 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/events/223822761692690/?active_tab=about.
  36. ↑ Liotta, Edoardo. “Two Singaporean Siblings Published A Viral Video Questioning Chinese Privilege. They Were Investigated By Police”. VICE. September 26, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  37. ↑ Mohamad Rosli, Tatiana. “Nairs handed two-year conditional warning for controversial rap video”. The New Paper. August 15, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.  
  38. ↑ Liotta, Edoardo. “Two Singaporean Siblings Published A Viral Video Questioning Chinese Privilege. They Were Investigated By Police”. VICE. September 26, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  39. ↑ Cheng, Kenneth. “Siblings Preeti and Subhas Nair apologise ‘unconditionally’ for rap video”. Today. August 14, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  40. ↑ Oh, Tessa. “Siblings Preeti and Subhas Nair given conditional warning for rap video: Police”. Today. August 14, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  41. ↑ Today. “The Roar documentary was going to feature four Singapore musicians,...”. Facebook. July 31, 2019. Accessed on 5 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/todayonline/posts/the-roar-documentary-was-going-to-feature-four-singapore-musicians-including-the/10156935569112572/
  42. ↑ Lim, Adrian. “CNA drops local rapper from upcoming documentary after his appearance in controversial rap video”. The Straits Times. July 31, 2019. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
  43. ↑ “Rapper Subhas Nair removed from CNA musical documentary over 'offensive' rap video”. Today. July 31, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  44. ↑ Lin, Jessica. “A new petition is calling CNA to keep Subhas Nair’s segments in its music documentary – here’s why”. Business Insider. August 2, 2019. Accessed on 4 March 2020.
  45. ↑ “Against The Erasure of Migrant Communities and Their Stories from ROAR, a CNA Documentary”. Change.org. Accessed on 5 March 2020.
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