‘Who You Are’ Explained: KR$NA and Aitch on Fame, Fortune, and Forgetting the Rest
“Who You Are,” a hard-hitting collaboration from KR$NA’s album Yours Truly, featuring the well-known British rapper Aitch, is a bold and confident anthem. It’s all about reaching a level of success and self-importance where smaller, less significant individuals or critics simply don’t matter anymore. The song’s chorus powerfully asks these irrelevant people, “So tell me who you are? Because I don’t know who you are.” This isn’t a real question; it’s a strong way of saying, “You are not important enough for me to know or care about.”
KR$NA fills his verse with declarations of his sharp lyrical skill, his journey from facing struggles to now enjoying a luxurious lifestyle (like expensive watches worth more than others’ cars), his influence on the rap scene in India, and how he effortlessly outshines his rivals. Aitch brings his own distinct UK rap style and energy, boasting about his wealth, his street credibility, his crew’s toughness, and his return to a dominant position or “throne” in his own right. Together, “Who You Are” is a global statement of being at the top of their game, so focused on their own success and world that they simply don’t have the time or interest for those who haven’t reached their level. It’s a power move, a song about being so successful that you genuinely don’t recognize the naysayers.
“I Don’t Know Who You Are”: The Ultimate Dismissal
The song kicks off with KR$NA (Dollar Sign) making his presence known, coming from “Dilli” (Delhi). The most impactful part, the chorus, is a direct challenge and dismissal. When KR$NA and Aitch say that wherever they go, people know them when they “roll through” (arrive), but then turn to an unnamed person and say, “I heard even in your own city they don’t know you,” it’s a way of highlighting their own fame versus the other person’s lack of recognition.
The question, “So tell me who you are? I don’t know who you are,” is the ultimate put-down in the world of fame and recognition. It means the other person is so insignificant or unknown to them that their identity doesn’t even register. It’s a cold but effective way of stating their superiority and brushing off anyone they consider beneath their notice. This isn’t about being forgetful; it’s about being on such a different level that others simply don’t appear on their radar.
KR$NA’s Kingdom: From Humble Roots to Diamond-Studded Wrists
KR$NA’s verse is a showcase of his journey and current status. He declares he’s here to “raise the temperature,” warning naive competitors that his pen (his lyric writing) is always alert and dangerous. He boasts that what takes others many lifetimes to achieve, he can cover in just a few steps, highlighting his exceptional skill and rapid rise. He even playfully calls himself a bit “sanki” (crazy/eccentric) like the famous rapper ODB (Ol’ Dirty Bastard), and says he and his team “smoke” other rappers lyrically, as if they were rolling papers. He uses a complex acronym (likely G.B.H.A.O.T.W.) to describe himself in grand terms, leading to the “OPD” (Outpatient Department), as if his lyrics make others sick.
He confidently states that his earnings are so large (“moti kamaai”) that his Chartered Accountant regularly needs OTPs for transactions. He asserts his influence, saying that even those who criticize him will eventually become his fans, and that other rappers’ styles were essentially “born” from his influence, cheekily telling them to “sit in his lap.” He dismisses any idea that his time is nearly over, saying he’s still very much present and on top, like a “cap on his head.” His neck is “icy” (full of diamonds) even in July, and the watch on his wrist costs more than other people’s cars. He tells a rival on the mic that they sound like a “traditional, demure woman” – a sharp insult in the rap world, meaning they lack aggression and skill. He ends his verse by noting his name is widespread while others’ hype is low, and his expensive Rolex watch shines so much that he barely notices the time, perhaps because he’s too busy or successful.
Aitch Arrives: UK Flavour, Global Success, and No Time for Haters
Aitch, a prominent rapper from the UK, brings his own distinct style and international flavor to the track. He starts with confidence, mentioning making a lot of money (“a ticket, a plus”) every year. He tells haters to focus on getting their own money up instead of wondering about the expensive cars (“whip”) he drives, specifically mentioning a luxury Mercedes model (GLS 600). He talks about filling it with ladies and their friends.
He boasts that he can’t even see any haters through the windows of his car. His verse includes UK street slang and references, like being a “M40 soldier” (M40 is a UK motorway, implying toughness and experience from his area or “ends”). He talks about loyalty to his friends (“brodie”) who are ready to “cleanse” a rival’s block (area) with a “mop” (slang for a large gun), showcasing a tough image. He flaunts his wealth with chains made of different colored stones, many expensive watches, and even “different color homes.” He ends his verse by declaring that he had to let other rappers know that he is “back up on the throne,” reasserting his top position.
The Language of Success: When Your Achievements Speak for You
Both KR$NA and Aitch use the song to let their achievements and lifestyles do the talking. For KR$NA, it’s his lyrical skill, his journey from overcoming challenges, his financial success (diamond-covered neck, expensive watches), and his undeniable influence on the Indian rap scene. He feels his presence alone makes competitors uneasy. His “dialect” might be Hindi, but he also speaks the language of “money” fluently.
For Aitch, it’s his financial success (“ticket, a plus” annually), luxury cars, expensive jewelry (“different color stones” in his chain, multiple watches), multiple homes, and his respected, somewhat feared, position in his own scene (“back up on the throne,” “M40 soldier”). Both artists project an image of self-made success, and this success is what gives them the confidence to dismiss those who haven’t put in the same work or reached the same level. Their verses are filled with these symbols of having “made it.”
A United Front: Two Continents, One Message of Dominance
The collaboration between KR$NA (from Delhi, India) and Aitch (from Manchester, UK) on “Who You Are” is significant. It brings together two powerful voices from different hip-hop scenes, but they share a common message of confidence, dominance, and a disregard for the irrelevant. When they both deliver the chorus, “Anywhere that we go to, yeah, Jaante hai hume when we roll through, yeah” (People know us when we arrive), it’s a statement of their widespread fame.
The song, therefore, isn’t just one artist boasting; it’s a united front. They are both at a stage in their careers where they feel established and recognized by those who matter. For anyone else, especially those who might be “sneak dissing” or hating without basis, the message is clear: “I don’t know who you are,” because you are not on our level. It’s a global anthem of being at the top and not being bothered by those below.
“Who You Are” is a powerful display of lyrical skill and supreme confidence from two major artists, letting the world know they are recognized where it counts, and for anyone else, they simply don’t register.