K!llswitch on Reinvention, Hustle, and Holding the Mic for Sway Calloway
From spitting raw verses on MTV Hustle to staying up all night for a shot at Sway Calloway, K!llswitch has never been afraid to take risks.
Formerly known as Armaan Yadav, the Delhi-based artist has been evolving both on and off the mic: embracing reinvention, channeling new energy, and sharpening his voice as both a rapper and writer.
In this conversation with Desi Renaissance, he opens up about the philosophy behind his name change, the friendships that came out of Hustle, his journey into music journalism, and what it really takes to stay grounded in a chaotic industry.
Q) You originally released music under your real name, Armaan Yadav. What led you to reintroduce yourself as K!llswitch? Was it simply a change in name, or did it feel like a deeper shift in how you see yourself as an artist?
K!llswitch: At some point in my creative process, I realised the need to do things beyond my usual self and demeanour in music. With my original name, there’s a certain identity I’m attached to: what I’d say publicly, what I wouldn’t, the kind of inflections and tones I’d try or avoid, not to mention how the idea of you and how it exists already in the mind of someone that ‘knows’ you.
But sometimes you get tired of being the way you are in the world and, you want to become more.
K!LLSWITCH became that transformation. A way to kill the part of self that holds you back and shift into a persona that’s unafraid to experiment. As artists, we often blur the line between who we are and what we create.
K!LLSWITCH helped me separate the two, and encouraged me to switch styles with the mindset to kill it every time. Also, the first “i” in K!LLSWITCH is actually a “!”, inspired by a J. Cole bar—“I flip like exclamation points.”
To me, it denotes the flipping of the self, of the ‘i,’ tapping into an alter ego that, in some ways, is the opposite ‘!’ (or simply parts of myself I continue to discover with surprise over apprehension).
Q) Many listeners first connected with your work through MTV Hustle. Looking back, how did that experience shape you—not just as an artist, but as a person?
K!llswitch: Honestly, the listeners who connected with me through the show didn’t sway me either way.
For me, being on Hustle was a chapter in my life where I primarily found a community of artists I could identify with. Because who else is going to relate to you and understand you on that level, if not equally driven artists?
That sense of community is really important: especially when you’re chasing something that not everyone does, or even can.
My biggest win wasn’t the exposure. It was going toe to toe with some of the best rap lyricists in the country, building camaraderie and friendships, developing a more serious work ethic, and having a platform to better myself.
Everything else is noise. When good things are truly meant to happen, they will.
Now I have brothers like Vichaar, Siyaahi, Sujal, Sense, Danish, and many more.
I know they’re just a call away, probably facing similar confusions and excitements in their own lives. And the fact that we get to bring our inner worlds together through music, that’s the real gift.
Q) Beyond making music, you also write for platforms like HipHop-N-More. What drew you to music journalism? Was it a lifelong passion or a way to deepen your understanding of the culture?
K!llswitch: I’ve always maintained that I’m a student of the game. Most of my work in journalism has been within the space of hip hop specifically.
There isn’t one single reason that explains why I do it—instead, it’s a mix of things that come together and form the core of my work and identity.
For one, journalism keeps me tethered to the music. It pushes me to stay up to date with new releases and really listen: to analyse the music, the voice, the message, all of it.
That process naturally helps me grow as an artist too. When I’m studying art, I try not to let my ego interfere. Writing critical pieces allows me to just be a student, not a rapper in that moment. I think that kind of escape is important.
Then, there’s also the desire to interview both the best and the most unheard-of artists.
Those are the moments I truly like because then I get to really engage with culture on a real level and not just the ‘Culture’ people often throw around and a homogenised monolith of sorts.
Lastly, there’s the networking aspect. At the end of the day, I’m trying to make a sustainable living in a volatile industry, and being in this space lets me stay close to music—which I love—more often.
Q) The songs you’ve released recently feel like they come from a different mindset. Even your Can’t Fake the Hunger series touches on that shift. Has this change been building for a while? How do you stay mentally strong in such a competitive space?
K!llswitch: Like Honey Singh said, “Ab maza aagaya hai. Ab tayyari ho gayi hai,” lol.
But seriously, I’ve just run out of patience. I’m focused on becoming the best I can be and showing people what they’ve missed. The urgency is real now.
I’ve also stopped entertaining my insecurities. They feed the ego and get in the way of growth. If I don’t have time for my own doubts, I’m definitely not spending time thinking about others’.
When it comes down to it, I just remind myself—get over it and get to it. It’s that simple. Or like Kobe would say, “Job’s not finished.”
My emotions might shift. But the mindset stays locked in.
Q) One moment that really stood out was when you rapped for Sway Calloway—something few Indian artists have done. How did that happen, and what did it mean to you?
K!llswitch: No sleep got me there, quite literally.
As soon as the pandemic hit, I figured Sway would shift Sway in the Morning into something virtual. When he launched Bedroom Bars, I jumped in. I stayed up every night, spamming the comments, hoping to get picked. By the third or fourth day, he noticed. I think he saw that I wasn’t giving up.
Eventually, I got the slot. I rapped both an English and a Hindi verse. Didn’t expect a salute from Sway, but it’s a memory I’ll always hold close.
He was humble, super approachable, and even gave us permission to use the footage for Hustle. It didn’t make the final cut, but the moment meant a lot.
Q) Looking ahead, what are you most excited to create? Is there a sound or idea you’ve yet to explore that’s calling to you now?
K!llswitch: You’ll soon hear the sides of me that didn’t make it to TV.
No beat is too holy, no genre too sacred. That’s all I’ll say for now. New music is coming. And maybe even the battle track you didn’t hear on Hustle.
K!llswitch isn’t just a name change. It’s an artistic philosophy—letting go of what limits you and stepping into something bigger.
Whether he’s flipping flows, penning thoughtful reviews, or chasing every opportunity with relentless intent, Armaan Yadav continues to evolve while staying true to his core.
As he puts it, quoting the late legend Kobe Bryant: “Job’s not finished.”
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