Ranidu Lankage

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ranidu Lankage

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Background = solo_singer
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Origin = Colombo,Sri Lanka
Genre = Hip hop
Associated_acts = DeLon, Anson of the DID Crew from Trinidad, Holee Smokez and the MDT crew from New york, Yohan Rakapakse, Yauwanan, Ranga D (The god)
Instrument = Piano, Keyboards
Occupation = Hip Hop, R&B Artist
Years_active = 2003—present
Label = Sony BMG India
URL = [http://www.raniduonline.com/ www.raniduonline.com]

Ranidu Lankage is a Sinhalese R&B and hip hop artist who raised the international profile of Sinhalese RnB/pop [http://sundaytimes.lk/070325/TV/000tv.html Dance to the music of Ranidu, By Sanath Weerasuriya, Sundaytimes] ] . Lankage is the first Sinhalese artist to be played on BBC Radio1 and the creator of the first Sinhalese single to be played on MTV and channel V and Z music India.

Education

Ranidu was educated at Royal College, Colombo, where he was ranked fourth in Sri Lanka, third in Colombo district in the competitive General Certificate of Education Advanced Level exam in 2000 and went on to study economics at Yale University on a full scholarship] [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/08/29/mag08.html A pleasant blend of East and West, by Umangi de Me, Sundayobserver] ] . He had represented Sri Lanka in squash at the Asian junior championships and played cricket for Royal College.

Career

Lankage has produced hits that have revolutionized Sri Lankan music. In 2003, DeLon's single "Nasty Girl" debuted at #36 on the Billboard Charts. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3086435&cdi=9395872&cid=09%2F22%2F2007 Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales ] ] Lankage's first single with Ashanthi, "Oba magemai," gained popularity and made Ranidu & Ashanthi the youngest Sri Lankan artists to be signed by an international record label, Sony Music India. [http://www.themorningleader.lk/20061025/Travel.html It’s all in a song, The morningleader] ] Ranidu followed his first single with four Top 20 hits: "Obe ath allagena," "Sinasenna," "Kandulen midee" and "Sadaa." The "Oba Magemai" (Your mine) album was one of the top-selling albums in Sri Lanka [http://www.lankanjamz.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=print_pdf&pid=2 Ranidu Lankage, The Undisputed Icon of Sinhalese RnB & Hip Hop] ] .

In summer 2003, he returned to the studio to create the album "Diviyapura" (All my life) Released in summer 2004, the album included the single "Ahankara Nagare," which climbed to the top of the charts within days and became the biggest original Sri Lankan single in a decade. [http://www.desihits.com/artist/view/Ranidu Ranidu,The Official Artist Page, desihits.com] ] The song also charted on the BBC's Asian Music list, which led to its becoming the first Sinhalese single to be included in an internationally distributed compilation,Fact|date=August 2008.It became one of the most successful albums by a Sri Lankan artist of all time. Lankage followed up with "Kelle," which landed on the BBC Asian Chart, received rave reviews, and got worldwide airplay.

The album "Iraj" featured three tracks by Lankage, "Ninda noyana handawe", "Madumathiye" and "Playas lounge". Composed and sung by Lankage, "Ninda noyanawas" was the most popular love ballad to come out in 2005.Fact|date=August 2008

In March 2005, Lankage performed at the Sydney Opera House in Australia with Iraj Weeraratne and his group.

That summer, Ranidu embarked on his first major tour in Sri Lanka; all shows were successful. Ranidu collaborated with Iraj to produce " Mata Aloke Genadevi Sansaraye," a Sri Lankan No. 1 that was aired on the Radio1 BBC, BBC Asian network, 1 Xtra. Aloke was also included in the "Bombay Bronx" compilation by the BBC's DJ and Ranidu and Iraj's mentor DJ Nihal. Ranidu appeared on the Adil Ray show of the BBC's Asian network to promote the single's inclusion in the station's main playlist.

Current life

His self-titled third album, which contains Sinhalese Neo Soul, Asian hip hop and reggae music, is the first to combine Sri Lankan music with American- and Caribbean-style RapFact|date=August 2008. Ranidu sang all the vocals and produced all the tracks. Ranidu is collaborating with many artists on this album including Iraj, West coast Rapper DeLon, Anson of the DID Crew from Trinidad, Holee Smokez and the MDT crew from New York, Yohan Rakapakse, Yauwanan, Ranga D (The god) and many more. One song, "Herde Keniththuwa" produced by Iraj, was the theme for the 2006 movie "Anjalika".Fact|date=August 2008 The first official single "Paa salamba sala- ft Anson" was released on Radio1 and BBC Asian network in December 2006 and was the first Sinhalese single to be on the “A” list of the Asian networkFact|date=August 2008. Lyrics for the album were provided by Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Chanaka Jayasekera, Kelum Shreemal, Vasantha Dukgannarala and a childhood friend of Ranidu’s Anuradha Uduwage. Ranidu along with Iraj and the crew are planning a tour of the US, Canada, Australia, Dubai, Cyprus and the UK.Fact|date=August 2008

Discography

Oba Magemai (2003)

* Oba Magemai
* Kali Yugayi
* Sihinayai
* Kandulen Midee
* Freedom
* Sinasenna
* Sadha
* Don't Waste My Time
* Obe Ath Allagena
* Angel
* Obe Magemai (Remix)
* Back To The Roots

Diviya Pura (2004)

* Ahankara Nagare
* Diviyapura
* Sansaraye
* Kelle
* Minisathkame
* Obe Adare (Osuwak Wage)
* Get Up Get Down
* Kali Yugaye II
* Sanda Thaniwela
* Oben Mulawennam
* Ahankara Nagare (Iraj's Punjabi Mix)

Ranidu Lankage (2007)

* Unmada Dethol (New York Mix)
* Sithuwili
* Surangana As
* Paa Salamba Sala
* Jeevana Mera Thu
* Herede Keniththuwa
* Palayanne Naa Maa
* Mata Adara Asena Ime
* Mage Adare Namin
* Samanaliye
* Oba Aa Nisa
* Unmada Dethol (Bhangra Mix)
* Nasty Girl
* Kelle (Hitfactory Mix)

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.raniduonline.com/ Ranidu's Homepage]
* [http://cdbaby.com/cd/ranidu Ranidu Lankage Biography]