Who Is Tommy Genesis? Singer Slammed For 'Mocking Religious Sentiments'

Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis recently grabbed the headlines for her controversial music video 'True Blue'. Her new song has been receiving backlash from the audience for 'hurting religious sentiments'. The video shows her embodying Goddess Kali in blue body paint and a gold bikini, which was the deal breaker for many Indian viewers. Many, including rapper Raftaar, have called her out for "disrespecting" their faith. 

The Rise Of Controversy

Tommy Genesis's latest video for the track True Blue, where she calls herself 'The Freak Of India', has drawn criticism for its provocative religious imagery. In the video, she appears as a stylised interpretation of Goddess Kali, painting herself blue, wearing a bikini and stilettos, adorned in gold jewellery.

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The video also features scenes of her licking a crucifix and performing a traditional namaste gesture, choices that have sparked backlash for allegedly offending Hindu and Catholic communities. 

Speaking to Office Magazine about the video, Genesis said, “If you like it, you like it, and if you don’t, you don’t. We don’t care. It’s not for you. It could not be for you for a lot of reasons—where you are in your life or your beliefs.”

Genesis, who identifies herself as bisexual, has consistently addressed themes of sexuality and identity in her work. In a conversation with W Magazine, she said, “I am a very sexual person, and it's something that has always been a con in my life because it's something that I have always had to defend. I'm not unaware of what I'm saying, but I don't realise it's so explicit until it comes out. Even if you say I'm hip-hop, I'm not hip-hop. I make sex-talk art weirdness.”

Who Is Tommy Genesis?

Indian-origin rapper Genesis was born in Vancouver, Canada. The rapper, also known as Genesis Yasmine Mohanraj, is linked to Malayali, Tamil, and Swedish descent. She graduated from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where she studied film and sculpture before turning her focus to music.

Her journey into music began in the early 2010s, and by 2013, she was recording rap for a project titled G3NESIS. She later joined Awful Records and released her debut mixtape, World Vision, which featured collaborations with fellow labelmate Abra on the track Hair Like Water Wavy Like the Sea.

Later, Genesis caught the attention of Downtown Records/Universal, leading to broader collaborations. On July 28, 2018, she released 100 Bad, marking her second partnership with producer Charlie Heat—the two had previously teamed up on the 2017 track Tommy. Over time, her work has intersected with prominent names such as Charli XCX, Austin Millz, Lana Del Rey, and Nessa Barrett.

In addition to her music, Genesis carved a space for herself in the fashion world. In 2016, she featured in Calvin Klein’s Fall campaign alongside other musicians. That same year, she also collaborated with M.I.A. at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Dazed magazine described her at the time as “the internet’s most rebellious underground rap queen.” Her academic background in gender politics, film, and sculpture often informs her music and visuals.