Kayra

Onur İnal (born 9 August 1985), better known by his stage name Kayra, is a Turkish rapper, lyricist and English teacher, best known for his work with the hip hop group and the album Hayalet Islığı.

He was a member of the Farazi V Kayra group, which he founded with , disbanded on 31 March 2021. He was also a member of the 90BPM collective until its disbandment in 2020. He is regarded as one of the best Turkish storyteller rappers, with the stories he tells being quite realistic and relatable. Kayra makes references to everyday life, politics, football, the city of Karabük and Turkish culture in his songs. He considers himself and his songs moody and pessimistic.

Career

2007–2015: Gına, Farazi V Kayra, Sarhoş Palavraları ve Bekar Evinde Kör Sinekler and Hayalet Islığı He started his career with the group Gına, which he founded with his beatmaker friend Bitap in 2003. They made a name for themselves in the underground hip hop community with the album Ars Moriendi in 2006, and the albums Doğum Lekesi and İfade Derdi in 2007, they released with the Gına group. Bitap got married and started a family so Gına was forced to disband. In 2007, he met Farazi, another beatmaker at "Freestyle King 2007" organised by Hiphoplife, and they came together under the name Farazi V Kayra.

In 2007 the duo released its first album Sarhoş Palavraları ve Nahoş Nidalar, which was the result of 4 months of work. The album was recorded at Zemin Kat Records in Karabük, and the mixing of the album was done by Bitap, who also did the scratches for the songs titled Muhterem Hayalet, Kül Yutmaz and Düş peşindeyim; Düş peşime. The cover art and application of the album was done by Emrah Çıldır. The lyrics of the songs in this album were written by Kayra and Farazi produced the songs in the album.

A year later, in 2008, Farazi V Kayra released its second album Sarhoş Palavraları ve Bekar Evinde Kör Sinekler, lyrics of the songs in this album were written by Kayra, and the tracks in the album were produced by Bitap, with there being no straches in the album. It consists of 7 songs: Makus Talihim, Şevket Hamdi Tan, Klozetin Tepesinde Hayat Muhasebesi, Horoz Dövüşlerinde Kanlı Çizmeler, Konulu Pornoda Figüran, Bir Günlük Öldürün Beni and Kuşluk Vakti Balgamı. The song Bir Günlük Öldürün Beni, contains samples of Mevsim Sonbahar by Metro, and the song Tortu, contains samples of Marianne Faithfull's There Is a Ghost. A fictional character was created for the album as well, named "Şevket Hamdi Tan" who is told to be as the editor-in-chief for the Turkish newspaper Bulvar in the song Şevket Hamdi Tan. The cover art and application of the album was done by Emrah Çıldır as well.

In 2009, the group released the single Mart, as part of the various artists themed album Hiphoplife Mixtapes Vol.1 - Nafile.

On 20 November 2010, the duo released the EP Yerel Radyo, the tracks that were prepared for a long lasting album, were brought to mixtape format due to the extension of the album release date due to Kayra's military service. The mixtape lasts about 20 minutes. The lyrics of the album are written by Kayra, infrastructures, mixing, cover art and design were done by Farazi and vocal arrangements in the album are done by Bitap. The first track (Ölmez) is not included in the tracklist because it is only a 2-3 second excerpt from Turkish drama Bizimkiler. The excerpt is taken when the character Cemil, a social alcoholic, is taken to the hospital for treatment with his free will. The words spoken by him are: "Cemil's don't die, they don't die." The single was later remixed by Farazi in March 2017. In Kayra's track Arafta Bile on the "Kayıp Gölgeler" EP released in April 2020, he makes a reference to Alt Geçit and complains about the process of 'a little patience I wonder who you are? (who?) Who is the host of the funeral? Sit down, take a breath, you still have a long way to go and "I won't leave you even if they cut you, you're my guest", the person for whom the song is written is actually called to listen to what is said in this song. It is also emphasised in the song that the person mentioned in the song behaved unscrupulously towards the people they left behind and that they are full of hatred.

The album's cover is a childhood picture of Kayra's dad with a friend of his taken at the Demirçelik High School in Karabük.

2016–present: Hayırsız Evlat, Bütün Ayazların Ortasında, copyright dispute with Farazi and Ömrümün Son Güzel Günleri On 21 November 2016, Kayra and Sycho Gast recorded the song Kaç!, as part of the “Serbest Atış” (Part 4) project with the Deadly Habits Music label. On 28 December 2022, it was licensed through the Zemin Kat Records label. This track (like the others from “Serbest Atış”) was completed in 4 hours.

In 2017, Kayra featured on the track Münnecim on İkra's album Herkes Kadar Kimse.

Along with Joker, Server Uraz, Da Poet, Kamufle and Tankurt Manas, Kayra featured on the protest track Hani Nerdeler (Remix) released by Lewo on 18 August 2017.

On 8 July 2018, Kayra released the single Hayırsız Evlat (English: Undutiful Child), produced by Erdem Sonkaya who is better known by his stage name Radansa. The song contains samples from Roberto Carlos's song Nuestro Amor.

On 25 January 2019, Kayra released the first part of the Bütün Ayazların Ortasında album constisting of 3 songs: Yol, Çok Yaşlıyım and Kafamda Cehennem with a music video being made for Kafamda Cehennem.

On 22 March 2019, Kayra released the second part of the Bütün Ayazların Ortasında album constisting of 3 songs: Olmadım Say, Kül Kalır and Dişçi Koltuğu with a music video being made for Olmadım Say.

On 24 May 2019, Kayra fully released the album Bütün Ayazların Ortasında (English: In the Midst of All Frosts), produced by Beatific Vision, Becrux, Da Poet and Radansa and written by Kayra, Da Poet and Radansa, the album contains a plot from beginning to end and is shaped around the character Veysel, who is voiced by Kayra in the skits. The rather dark theme of the album is about the troubles in daily life such as family problems, toothache, foreclosure and the emotions these troubles arouse in people. In this album, where solo songs predominate, Kayra is accompanied by Da Poet on Kül Kalır and Karaçalı on Felaketimi Beklerken. Three songs in the album have music videos, Olmadım Say, Öfkemin Şafağı and Kafamda Cehennem. The album's cover is a picture of Kayra's dad on a motorcycle. Both Sızlıyor Kemiklerim and Hayırsız Evlat are directly related to the album. According to Kayra, Sızlıyor Kemiklerim was one of the songs Kayra wrote when he was trying to create the first language for the album. Hayırsız Evlat was also one of the songs in the album as well, but he had to make eliminations as there would start to be too many songs. In 2020, comic book artist Ege Avcı published a comic book adaptation inspired by the album under the Baobab label and the album's original title.

On 20 December 2019, Kayra released the EP Bütün Ayazların Ardından - Single (English: After All Frosts - Single), constisting of two songs: Kara Leke and Pazar Yeri. Both songs were produced by Fonetik.

On 24 April 2020, Kayra released the EP Kayıp Gölgeler, constisting of 4 songs: Arafta Bile, CM 01-02, Beyoğlu, and Köprüaltı Kemancı. Kayra is accompanied by Barış Demirel on Beyoğlu. Tracks in the album were produced by Batubomaye and Da Poet.

On 31 March 2021, a dispute broke out the duo and Farazi removed their albums and singles from music streaming services. The reason for this dispute was related to copyright issues. Farazi claimed that he was not paid the revenues of the albums and singles released under his own production company Deadly Habits Music. Farazi said that Kayra collected 86.000 Turkish liras without informing him and did not share it with him. Kayra would go on to respond to Farazi, by denying Farazi's claims and stating that he has not received the royalties he deserves since 2013. Kayra stated that Farazi did not keep his promises to him, did not publish his albums, made him a victim and exploited him and his rights, also stating that he had filed a lawsuit against Farazi. Kayra also stated that he took care of everything himself and Farazi made no attempt at helping him with the group Farazi V Kayra.

On 10 June 2022, Kayra released the album Meçhul Bir Yalnızlığa Dair, constisting of 11 songs, all of which he is accompanied by various artists. The main theme of the album is Kayra's student life in Ankara between the ages of 18 and 22. He is accompanied by A-Bacchus on Muhtemel Son, Yeryüzünde Bir Akşam, Ölüm Bugün Uyu, Duymuyor Beni Ankara, SaklıKent, En Ölü Rockstar, Mutsuzlar Güzel Güler and Rezil ve Yalnız, by Fonetik on İçimdeki Yasal Boşluklar, Onlar Şehre Dönecek Bir Akşam and Fotoğraftaki Herkes Gitti. Tracks in the album were produced by Fonetik and A-Bacchus.

On 14 April 2023, Kayra released the EP Cehennem Kundaklayanlar, along with A-Bacchus and Vinyl Obscura. It consists of 6 songs: Rifle, Hırs, Cehennemden Manzaralar, Wicked, Kimin İçin and Bağırsam Çağırsam. Tracks in the EP were produced by A-Bacchus and Vinyl Obscura.

On 20 October 2023, Kayra released the album Ömrümün Son Güzel Günleri. Tracks in the album were produced by A-Bacchus and Fonetik. He is accompanied by Yiğit Seferoğlu on the song Bu Kaçıncı İsyan, by Fredd on the song Katil Gramafon and by Doruk Ereşter on the song Küçük Şehirlerde Trajik Tesadüfler in this album.

On 12 April 2024, Kayra and Da Poet released the album NORMAL, consisting of 9 songs, it includes collaborations with artists like Ceza, Defkhan, No.1, and İdil Meşe. The deluxe version, released on January 17, 2025, adds two new tracks; Kalamam Aranızda featuring Deniz Tekin and Önemi Yok, along with instrumental versions.

On 14 February 2025, Kayra released the EP Ölüler Parkı Fanzin, constisting of 5 songs: Vicdan Azabı, Basit Birer Tesadüf, Muazzam Hatalar, Ne Olmaz İhtimal and Beni Ölüler Gayet İyi Bilir. Songs in the album were produced by A-Bacchus and Fonetik.

Personal life He teaches English at Akçakonak Primary School in Aydın, Söke. He is a Karabükspor supporter, and has gone on to devote the EP "Mucizeye Bir Hafta Kala" to the teams relegation battle in the 1993–94 1. Lig, which ended in Karabükspor being relegated to the 2. Lig. He describes himself as timid and shy person. He is married.

Aliases

Kayra According to Kayra himself, he chose Kayra as his pseudonym due to the influence of Hakan Günday's novel Kinyas ve Kayra, a novel he read at 19 years old, he also stated that if he knew then when he knows now he would have chosen Kinyas instead.

Discography

Albums

Gına - Ars Moriendi (2006) Gına - Doğum Lekesi (2007) Gına - İfade Derdi (2007) - Sarhoş Palavraları ve Nahoş Nidalar (2007) Farazi V Kayra - Sarhoş Palavraları ve Bekar Evinde Kör Sinekler (2008) Farazi V Kayra - Yerel Radyo EP (2010) Farazi V Kayra - Hayalet Islığı (2013) Farazi V Kayra - Sarhoş Palavraları ve İbretlik Hikâyeleri (2015) Bütün Ayazların Ortasında (2019) Meçhul Bir Yalnızlığa Dair (2022) Ömrümün Son Güzel Günleri (2023) Da Poet & Kayra - Normal (2024) Da Poet & Kayra - Normal Deluxe (2025)

EPs

Gına - Inziva (2005) Saray Yakan Soytarı (2012) Gitmedim Ama İçinden Geçtim (2014) Mucizeye Bir Hafta (2015) Kayıp Gölgeler (2020) Cehennem Kundaklayanlar (2023) Ölüler Parkı Fanzin (2025)

Singles

Farazi V Kayra - "Alt Geçit" (2011) Farazi V Kayra - "Mertel Kasetçilik" (2011) "Mesela Yani" (2013) Farazi V Kayra - "Tutmayan Kuponlarım Var" (2015) "Kaç!" (2016) "Hayırsız Evlat" (2018) "Şehrin Hayaleti" (2019) "Karartma Enseyi" (2020) "Geceye Varınca" (2021) "Kanlı Karnaval" (2021) "Her Yerde Hiçbir Şey" (2021) "Haziranda Vurulmak" (2021) "Muhtemel Son" (2022) "Duymuyor Beni Ankara" (2022) "Gidin Başımdan" (2022) "Manifest" (2022) "Geçit Yok" (2022) "Buz Kesene Kadar" (2023) "Uzak" (2023) "Karışsın Kanla Yağmur" (2023) Deniz Tekin, Da Poet & Kayra - "Kalamam Aranızda" (2024)