{{short description|Telangana rapper}} {{BLP sources|date=August 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Roll Rida | image = Roll Rida by Rudhra Varma.jpg | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Rahul Kumar Velpula | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|01|26}} | birth_place = Warangal District, Telangana | origin = Hyderabad, Telangana, India | genre = Hip hop, R&B, Indi-pop | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * keyboards * drums * sampler }} | occupation = Rapper, songwriter, actor | years_active = 2010 – present }}
'''Rahul Kumar Velpula''' (born 26 Jan 1992),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DFRvGU3TxJ6/?igsh=ejhpc2U1YmF2YjJ3|title=Roll Rida Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> known professionally as '''Roll Rida''', is an Indian rapper, songwriter and actor in Telugu films and music.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/bigg-boss-2-telugu-june-16-update-nani-appreciates-deepthi-sunaina-calls-out-samrat-for-being-a-bad-captain/story-O0OMc9Ovqs0iI6HynN7QmM.html | title=Bigg Boss 2 Telugu, 16 June update: Nani appreciates Deepthi Sunaina, calls out Samrat for being a bad captain | date=17 June 2018 | newspaper=Hindustan Times | accessdate=8 June 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/telugu-rapper-roll-rida-shares-video-of-man-riding-bike-with-2-children-in-poultry-cage-2708834-2025-04-14|title=Telugu rapper shares video of man riding bike with 2 children in poultry cage|first=India Today Trending|last=Desk|date=14 April 2025|website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/telangana/watch-telugu-rapper-roll-rida-and-friends-sum-lockdown-bore-kodthundi-123233|title=Watch: Telugu rapper Roll Rida and friends sum up lockdown with 'Bore Kodthundi'|first=Rajeswari|last=Parasa|date=10 April 2020|website=The News Minute}}</ref>
He became popular with his YouTube rap song on Sankranthi, ''Patang'',<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|date=2016-01-12|title=Watch Here: 'PATANG' Rapper Music Video Which Made People Go Craze All Over{{!}} Sankranthi Special {{!}} Roll Rida, Kamran|url=https://allindiaroundup.com/news/patang-rapper-music-video-roll-rida-kamran/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=All India Roundup|language=en-US}}</ref> was a huge hit with over 17 million views. His other popular songs are Kirana rap, Breaking news Kattif, Shankar Ka Beta, Ivvalane Dilkush, Ignite, Arupu<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kanoj|first=Priyanka|date=2018-08-27|title=Bigg Boss Telugu 2 contestant Roll Rida's rap song Arapu takes the internet by storm|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/bigg-boss-telugu-2-contestant-roll-ridas-rap-song-arapu-takes-internet-by-storm-778846|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.ibtimes.co.in|language=en}}</ref> etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/hyderabad/Hyderabad-raise-a-toast-to-mana-very-own-Telangana-rapper-Roll-Rida/articleshow/53911055.cms|title=Hyderabad, raise a toast to mana very own Telangana rapper, Roll Rida|date=30 August 2016|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref> In 2018, he appeared as a contestant for ''Bigg Boss 2'' and successfully reached the 15th week of the show and finished in 6th place.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-23|title=Bigg Boss 2 Telugu: Roll Rida to be eliminated|url=https://www.tollywood.net/bigg-boss-2-telugu-roll-rida-to-be-eliminated/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Tollywood|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/telangana/rise-telugu-rapper-roll-rida-youtube-tollywood-159730|title=The rise of Telugu rapper Roll Rida: From YouTube to Tollywood|first=Rajeswari|last=Parasa|date=2 January 2022|website=The News Minute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/hyderabad/2021/May/08/to-momsour-biggest-cheerleaders-2299822.html|title=To moms,our biggest cheerleaders|first=Shreya|last=Veronica|date=4 May 2021|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
==Early life== Roll Rida was born in Karimnagar, Telangana, India. He did his schooling at Johnson Grammar School in Hyderabad; intermediate at Narayana Junior College, Tarnaka and completed his BTech in computer science from CVR College of Engineering, Hyderabad. He was popular for his singing in school and started a band in college with Syed Kamran.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
==Career== Roll Rida initially worked at Google, Hyderabad and as Quality Analyst at Tech Mahindra.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
He picked his professional name, Roll Rida, upon a friend's suggestion, after popular American rapper, Flo Rida, of Low song fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/roll-ridas-ignite-a-musicians-travails/article17465829.ece|title=Roll Rida's Ignite: A musician's travails|first=Srivathsan|last=Nadadhur|date=15 March 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/dilkush-hyderabad-on-the-rap-map/article8508779.ece|title=Dilkush: Hyderabad on the rap map|date=22 April 2016|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> He quit his job to pursue his successful singing career in 2017.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} His rap song ‘Arupu’ with Syed Kamran became popular.<ref>{{Cite web|title=రోల్ రైడా 'అరుపు'.. గౌరవం పెరిగిందంటూ ప్రశంసలు|url=https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/cinema-news/roll-ridas-telugu-rap-arupu-garners-respect-for-the-issues-it-addresses/articleshow/65562205.cms|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Samayam Telugu|language=te}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/roll-rida-and-manishas-arupu-rakes-in-almost-2m-views/articleshow/65669609.cms|title=Roll Rida and Manisha's 'Arupu' rakes in almost 2M views|date=4 September 2018|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref> He was the first to do a rap song in Telugu language from Telangana State.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hyderabad, raise a toast to mana very own Telangana rapper, Roll Rida - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/hyderabad/hyderabad-raise-a-toast-to-mana-very-own-telangana-rapper-roll-rida/articleshow/53911055.cms|access-date=2021-12-25|website=The Times of India|date=30 August 2016 |language=en}}</ref> In 2013, he debuted on Sankranthi with a single, ''Patang'', on YouTube became a huge hit, with over 14 million views.<ref name="auto"/> His songs Patang, Kirana song, Dilkush are popular among young listeners. He toured USA in 2015 and 2016 to promote his Telugu rap and Hip Hop songs. Roll Rida was featured on VH1 in 2010.
He worked with Telugu music directors like M. M. Keeravani, S. S. Thaman and Anoop Rubens. He also performed with Divine.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} He worked as a voice artist for Akhil Akkineni in the film ''Manam'', and Jr. NTR in ''Temper''.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} He acted in a short film, ''Hello!'', an urban rom com. It was released on YouTube. He was selected for ''Bigg Boss 2'' for his popularity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/bigg-boss-telugu-2-written-update-july-5-2018-tejaswi-has-a-change-of-heart-on-her-bday-eve/articleshow/64879343.cms|title=Bigg Boss Telugu 2 written update, July 5, 2018: Tejaswi has a change of heart on her b'day eve|date=6 July 2018|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=22 June 2018|title=Bigg Boss Telugu 2: Nani's show impresses viewers, tops the TRP ratings|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/tv-bigg-boss-telugu-2-nani-show-impresses-viewers-tops-the-trp-ratings-448725}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hooli|first=Shekhar H.|date=2018-06-11|title=Bigg Boss Telugu 2 contestants list: Here are profiles and pictures of 16 participants [Photos]|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/bigg-boss-telugu-2-here-all-you-need-know-about-16-contestants-photos-771653|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.ibtimes.co.in|language=en}}</ref> He stayed in the house till the week before the finale of that season.
==Artistry== Roll Rida's rapping is a combination of Hyderabadi Telugu and Deccani slang spoken in Hyderabad old city.
==Discography== === Singles/Music Videos ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Track ! scope="col" |Lyrics ! scope="col" |Artist |- | rowspan="2" | 2013 | Patang | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | The Kirana | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | rowspan="3" | 2015 | Dilkush | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | Kattif | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | Ivvalane | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | rowspan="2" | 2017 | Shankar ka Beta | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | Baitikochi Chuste (RAP Version) | Shree Mani | Roll Rida & Dan Madhireddy |- | rowspan="5" | 2018 | Saava Kottethadi | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | O Pilla | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | KTR Birthday song | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | Arupu | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | Raadhu | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | rowspan="2" | 2020 | Don't ride rude | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- |Nagali | Roll Rida | Roll Rida |- | rowspan="3" |2021 |Allu Arjun Rap Song |Roll Rida, The Hyderabad Nawabs |Roll Rida & Harika Narayan S. Thaman (composer) |- |Thaggede Le |Roll Rida |Roll Rida & Praveen Lakkaraju (composer) |- |Chinna |Roll Rida |Roll Rida |- |rowspan=3|2024 |kakinada Kaja |Roll Rida & Sameera |Roll Rida & Sameera |- |Fake Friends |Roll Rida & Manoj Juloori |Roll Rida |- |Ready Go |Roll Rida |Roll Rida |- |2025 |Hello Chittamma |Roll Rida & Sameera |Roll Rida |- |}
===Film songs=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Work ! scope="col" |Song ! scope="col" |Composer !Notes |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 | ''Bruce Lee'' | Chiranjeevi Entry Rap | Thaman | |- |''Gopala Gopala'' | Pawan Kalyan Intro Rap | Anup Rubens | |- | 2016 | ''A Aa'' | "Anasuya Kosam" Rap Pieces | Mickey J. Meyer | |- | rowspan="2"|2018 || ''Kumari 21F'' |"Lets Party in Bangkok" |Mahati Swara Sagar | |- |''Husharu'' || "Kaboom", "Bad Boys" (Rap portions) || Sunny M.R. | |- | 2019 || ''Suryakantham'' | "Friday Night Baby" (Rap) | Mark K Robin | |- | 2020 | ''Ala Vaikunthapurramloo'' | "OMG Daddy" Rap Pieces | Thaman | |- | rowspan="3" |2021 |''Cinema Bandi'' |"Cinema Teesinam" |Varun Reddy |Also lyricist |- |''Veyishubamulukaluginku'' |"Hey Senorita" |Gyaani | |- |''Anubhavinchu Raja'' |"Kaki Nemali Ke Votu" |Gopi Sundar | |- | rowspan="5" |2022 |''Hero'' |"Donal Daggu" |Ghibran |Also lyricist |- | rowspan="2" |''Rowdy Boys'' |"Date Night " | rowspan="2" |Devi Sri Prasad |Only lyricist |- |"Rowdy Boys Title Song" |Also lyricist |- |''Bheemla Nayak'' |"Bheemla Back On Duty" |Thaman |Only lyricist |- |''Lucky Lakshman'' |"College Song" |Anup Rubens | |- | rowspan="5" |2023 | rowspan="4" |''Leo'' (Dubbed Version) |"Ney Ready" | rowspan="4" |Anirudh Ravichander | |- |"Naa Ready" | |- |"Njan Ready" | |- |"Ready Chal" | |- |''Waltair Veerayya'' |"Poonakaalu Loading" |Devi Sri Prasad | |- | rowspan="5" |2025 | rowspan="3"|''War 2'' | rowspan="3"|"Shaitan" | rowspan="3"|Sanchit and Ankit Balhara |Hindi film; Also lyricist |- |Telugu version |- |Tamil version |- |''Chaurya Paatham'' |"Kanne Kaane" |Davzand |Also lyricist |- |''Bakasura Restaurant'' |"Bakasura" |Vikas Badisa | |}
=== Other songs === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Work !Song !Composer !Notes |- |2023 |''Nijam With Smita'' |"Episode 4 Closing Song" |Saketh Komanduri |Television talk show |}
== Filmography == * ''90ML'' (2019) as Kishore
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|8241662}} *{{Facebook|rollrida}} *{{Instagram|rollrida}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rida, Roll}} Category:Living people Category:Indian rappers Category:Indian male pop singers Category:Indian male playback singers Category:Singers from Telangana Category:People from Karimnagar district Category:Telugu-language playback singers Category:1989 births Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema