Apache Indian is the stage name of Steven Kapur. He has also worked as a reggae deejay/toaster. Steven Kapur was born on 11th May 1967 at Handsworth, Birmingham. The new hybrid sound of bhangra raggamuffin also known as `bhangramuffin` was introduced to the world of music with the hands of Steven Kapur in collaboration with his cousins Simon & Diamond. They introduced this genre of music through their album, `No Reservations` (produced by Simon & Diamond, Phil Chill, Robert Livingston, Bobby Digital and Sly Dunbar) in the year 1993. This was their first album.
Career in Music for Apache Indian
`Make Way for the Indian` was their next album released by Sly & Robbie, The Press, Mafia & Fluxy, Pandit Dinesh and Chris Lane. The album featured rapper Tim Dog and engendering the hit, "Boom Shack-A-Lak". After that under the production of Harjinder Boparai another album was released namely, `Real People / Wild East- You Know You Owe Him Money`, which proved to be his most experimental album, featuring more Indian elements compared to the other albums. Apache also made an appearance in the Tamil film `Love Birds`, where he has danced alongside Prabhu Deva.
The fourth album by Apache Indian was `Karma`. The album was considered as the rerouting towards more conventional forms of reggae. The album featured legends like Luciano, Boy George as well as Mafia & Fluxy. Through all these attempts, he blended raggamuffin with Indian music. His creations were influenced from the mainstream pop and hip hop style. With this combination, a new trend of the genre stood up and fetched a distinguished place in the musical world. On a day-to-day scale, Apache sings in Jamaican patois. He is famous for his incisive social criticism - ("Arranged Marriage" featuring Natacha Atlas; "Mention") as well as his party tracks ("Boom Shack-A-Lak", "Jump Up").
Apache Indian has the honour of recording with groups like Boyz II Men, Blackstreet, Wreckx `n` Effect, UB40, U.S. chart toppers like, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, General Levy, Brian and Tony Gold, Shaggy, Yami Bolo, Boy George, A. R. Rahman, Sameera Singh, Asha Bhonsle and Pras of the Fugees. In recent times he has sung with Jazzy B (self proclaimed as the `Crown Prince of Bhangra`) on the album Dil Luteya. He has also toured U.S. with Reggae singer Sean Paul, which is an honour indeed, because Sean has been on top of Billboard charts with his duet accompanying Beyonc, Knowles.
In five different Hollywood movies, "Boomshackalack" was featured including Dumb And Dumber. More importantly, across the globe the song has featured in a record number of 52 commercials. The song was used for various brands. Along with artists like Fatboy Slim, The B-52`s, 2 Unlimited and New Radicals, the song also featured in the soundtrack of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. His single number "Om Numah Shivaya" featured in the Putumayo World Music compendium album, World Reggae, a collection of reggae tracks; the reggae tracks were performed by artists from round the world. In the year 2004, Apache Indian was also nominated for the Central British Media and Arts Asian Jewel Award.
Awards and Honours for Apache Indian
Best Newcomer British Reggae Industry Awards 1990
Best Newcomber Reggae Awards 1991
Best Newcomber Asian Awards 1991
Best Male Newcomer British Reggae Industry Awards 1992
Outstanding Service & Contribution Yuva Rttan Awards 1992
Vaisakhi Awards Vaisakhi Celebration Awards 1993
Appreciation Awards Rotary Club Delhi 1993
Appreciation Awards National Association of the Blind 1993
Best Reggae Video Black Music Awards 1993
Ambassador Awards Caribbean Crucible 1993 (CANADA)
Four Nominations Brit Awards 1993
Best Rapper/Rap Track/Best Live Act Independent Asian Music Poll Awards 1994
DJ Awards Asian DJ Awards (Entasi & Apna Beat) 1994
Best Asian Mainstream Singer Movie Bhangra Awards 1997 (UK)
Appreciation Awards BBC Networks East Mega Mela 1999 (UK)
UK Asian Music Awards - Best International Success 2003
UK Asian Music Awards - Outstanding Achievement 2005
UK Asian Music Awards - Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
Discography for Apache Indian
Albums
1993 No Reservations
1995 Make Way for the Indian
1997 Real People / Wild East
2000 Karma
2005 Time for Change
2007 Sadhu - The Movement (Indian Release on TIPS Music)
Single Albums
1990 "Movie over India"
1993 "Chok There"
1993 "Don Raja"
1992 "Fe` Real"
1993 "Boom Shack-A-Lak"
1993 "Arranged Marriage"
1993 Chok There
1993 Nuff Vibes (EP) UK #5
1993 "Movin` On" UK #48
1994 "Music Relief"
1994 "Wrecxx Shop"
1995 "Make Way for the Indian"
1995 "Ragamuffin Girl"
1997 "Lovin`
1997 "Real People"
2005 "Om Numah Shivaya"
2005 "The Israelites"
2006 "Teriyan Adawaan" (Preet Harpal)
2007 "Ground Shaker 2" (Kudi Dekhi Lagdi by Aman Hayer)
2008 "Ruff n Ready" (Lick 2 Shotz Mirza Mc)
2009 "Sohni Lagdi" (Punjabi by nature)
2011 Dildar (Sarbjit Cheema)