Osama Karamat
Osama Karamat | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Syed Osama Karamat Ali Shah |
| Also known as | OCL, Osama Com Laude |
| Born | October 26, 1987 |
| Origin | Orlando, Florida |
| Genres | Hip-hop, rap, nu metal, electro-hop, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, rapper, actor, singer, lyricist, doctor |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, lyrics, rapping |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Syed Osama Karamat Ali Shah (born October 26, 1987), professionally known as OCL or Osama Com Laude, is a Pakistani-American musician, rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. Known for his blend of hip-hop, rap and pop, OCL has been a prominent figure in the Pakistani hip-hop scene, contributing through singles, collaborations and media appearances. He is also a medical doctor, having graduated from Rawalpindi Medical University.
Early life and education
[edit]Osama was born on October 26, 1987, and raised in Orlando, Florida. He began experimenting with music in his teenage years and later formed the group "No Front" in 2006. Alongside Da Beast and Myca C. The group recorded and distributed their underground debut album, "We're Back, No Front".[1] Following his secondary education, Osama moved to Pakistan, where he attended Rawalpindi Medical University and completed an MBBS degree.[2]
Music career
[edit]Beginnings and move to Pakistan
[edit]In the mid-2000s, Osama moved to Pakistan, where he gradually established a presence in the Pakistani hip-hop and rap community. His early performances, including a notable collaboration with Pakistani singer Ali Zafar on a live remix of "Sajania", brought Osama initial recognition.[3] His collaboration with artists in Pakistan included Bilal Saeed, Bandzo3rd, Adil Omar, Shamoon Ismail and others, highlighting him in the country’s growing hip-hop landscape.[4]
Viral success and recognition
[edit]In 2011, Osama collaborated with Nouman Khalid on the single Desi Thumka, which went viral on YouTube and gained over 15 million views. This collaboration, produced by Bilal Saeed, was an early career highlight that helped establish Osama as a well-known rapper in the South Asian music scene.[5] Later that year, he released "The Balance", a single produced by Talal Qureshi and directed by MRKLE. The music video gained notable attention, although its controversial imagery led to limited TV airtime.[6]
After taking a hiatus to complete his medical degree, he returned with "Baghdad" in 2017 and "Chaklala Scheming" in 2018, followed by a performance at Pakistan’s Mad Decent Block Party in 2018, headlining alongside Major Lazer.[2][7]
Following his solo breakout, Osama went on to found the rap collective Pindi Boyz in Rawalpindi — a group that spotlighted the raw talent of Rawalpindi. Under his leadership, the crew gained national attention with viral releases like Pindi Aye (2020), Pindi Aye 2.0 (2023) and a wave of collaborative tracks that defined the new school of Pakistani hip-hop through 2024.[8][9][10]
Recent projects
[edit]In 2020, Osama launched two EPs: "paKING" and "Barbaadi", further solidifying his place in the hip-hop genre. The single "Pindi Aye", a collaboration with young local artists, went viral, receiving praise for its production and its showcase of Rawalpindi’s hip-hop culture.[11] These projects, along with Osama’s performances, underscored his impact on Pakistani hip-hop.[12]
Acting career
[edit]In 2019, Osama gained viral attention due to his resemblance to actor Jason Momoa, which led to widespread social media comparisons to Game of Thrones' Khal Drogo.[13][14]
In 2024, Osama made his official acting debut in the Pakistani fantasy action film Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning, where he portrayed a supporting character alongside Sanam Saeed, Usman Mukhtar, and Ali Kazmi. The film, directed by Azfar Jafri.[15][16]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- 2010: Barack Osama
- 2011: The Balance
- 2012: Pakistani (Wild Boy Remix) (feat. Bali Shah)
- 2013: Bars of Steel (feat. Xpolymer Dar)
- 2014: Sunshine (feat. Da Beast)
- 2015: 15/27
- 2017: Baghdad
- 2018: Chaklala Scheming
- 2019: DIL
- 2022: Main Chick (feat. GVL Khan)
- 2022: Whack Scene
- 2022: Options (feat. Maria Unera)
- 2022: Pull Up
- 2022: Rollin
- 2022: Free (feat. Myca C)
- 2022: Juice Li
- 2022: Warrior
- 2024: Intr-O (from upcoming debut album IIWII)
- 2024: Dirty Laundry
Collaborations
[edit]- 2011: Desi Thumka (with Nouman Khalid)
- 2013: Pyaray Allah (with Asim Subhani)
- 2017: Teambackpack Cypher – Pakistan (with Hashim Nawaz & Xpolymer Dar)
- 2018: IslamaBAAP (with Xpolymer Dar & Shamoon Ismail)
- 2020: Pindi Aye (with Hashim Nawaz, Fadi, Hamzee, Khawar Malik, Zeeru & Shuja Shah)
- 2020: New Wave (with DJ Abdur)
- 2022: Street Rules (with Bandzo3rd)
EPs
[edit]- 2020: paKING
- 2020: Barbaadi
- 2021: Munkashif
Albums
[edit]- 2025: IIWII
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning | Shayan |
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/975396-true-grit-osama-karamat-talks-about-no-front
- ^ a b "Pakistani rapper Osama Com Laude explains what sets him apart". Dawn. May 27, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/567231-making-osama-com-laude
- ^ "Osama Com Laude reflects on how far he has come in music". The News International. May 1, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/267606/youtube-video-of-the-day-dare-to-a-desi-pitbull
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/489938/osama-com-laude-%E2%80%94-more-than-just-desi-thumka
- ^ https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/19-Jan-2018/diplo-is-coming-to-pakistan-for-a-good-cause
- ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/1079322-pindi-boyz-roar
- ^ https://theprint.in/go-to-pakistan/pakistani-politicians-have-new-side-gigs-sheikh-rasheed-ahmed-is-king-of-pindi-in-this-song/1625437/
- ^ https://images.dawn.com/news/1191805/the-pindi-boyz-are-back-with-a-new-song-with-the-og-pindi-boy-sheikh-rasheed
- ^ "Why Osama Com Laude's song 'Pindi Aye' is more than just music". The News International. July 24, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ https://www.redbull.com/pk-en/osama-com-laude-the-doctor-who-became-the-paking
- ^ https://www.geo.tv/latest/225281-pakistani-american-rappers-uncanny-resemblance-to-khal-drogo-stirs-social-media-frenzy
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/1889481/pakistani-rappers-resemblance-gots-khal-drogo-fans-screaming
- ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/982040-osama-karamat-on-the-evolution-of-rap-music-in-pakistan
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13151982