Ali Ghazanfar
Rapper, Hip-Hop singer, Lyricist, Producer
Ali Ghazanfar is an independent hip-hop singer, rapper, songwriter and producer from Pakistan. Ali Ghazanfar was born in Pakistan and currently resides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is also an underground battle rapper. Ali Ghazanfar is multi-lingual and raps in Urdu, English, Punjabi, Saraiki and Arabic.
Early Life
Ali Ghazanfar was born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, and is of a Karachi and Lahori descent. He moved to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but kept visiting Pakistan all the time. Ali Ghazanfar started working with music production in 2012. Before that, he used to battle rap around his city. He made a good name for himself in the underground battle rap community in the city he lived in, Al Qassim. Ali Ghazanfar comes from a lower middle class family. Growing up, he and his family faced many financial issues. Ali Ghazanfar used to work cash jobs to raise enough money for his passion, hip-hop music. Ali Ghazanfar released his first track in 2012, under the name Big Ali but was writing and rapping way before that. He later became known under another alias, when 2 minor budget music videos featuring him, were released under the name kLench.
Career
Ali Ghazanfar writes his own lyrics and engineers his tracks himself. He also produces the beats for most of his tracks. Ali Ghazanfar also addresses social issues in his tracks. He talks about his daily life experiences in most of his tracks. Ali Ghazanfar performed his first show in Riyadh Gallery, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2014. Since then he has performed in numerous places around Saudi Arabia, the most notable of which is Asbar International World Forum. In a recent interview with Ali Ghazanfar, MBC team asked him who his inspiration was, he stated; “In the Urdu Hip Hop scene, Bohemia is my biggest inspiration but I also dig Faris Shafi and Young Stunners big time. In the Western Hip Hop scene, 2pac, Biggie, Big Pun, Method Man, Redman, Eminem and so many others”. He also said “I grew up listening to that retro old school music, but I also like rappers from the modern era, such as J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Joyner Lucas”.
Education
Ali acquired his early education from Army Public School in Lahore. After moving to Saudi Arabia, he studied his mid-junior years in Jawahir Al Riyadh International School and Middle East International School, Riyadh. Ali Ghazanfar moved to Al-Qassim in 2009 and studied his high school years in Pakistani International School, Buraydah and then moved to Pakistan again and studied in KIPS. Ali Ghazanfar took up business studies in his university life. He graduated in 2020 from Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Saudi Arabia, with a distinctive CGPA of 4.68/5.00 and made the first honor rolls.