Hip hop music in India has gained tremendous momentum, evolving from its origins as an imitation of Western styles to become its own distinct sound.
Naved Shaikh (Naezy) and Divine, better known by their stage name of Naezy & Divine, rose to fame through songs that focused on social injustice in society and urban settings. Now they have an upcoming Bollywood film directed by Zoya Akhtar set for production.
What is hip hop music?
Hip hop is a cultural movement that first emerged among African American and Latinx communities in New York City during the 1970s, characterized by four elements: rapping, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti art. Together these components create an unique style of music and dance influenced by funk soul and R&B music styles. Hip hop also has a rich history of activism and community involvement that has become a global phenomenon with artists worldwide exploring their creativity through it.
Many perceive hip hop to be predominantly male in nature; this is simply not the case. Women have made significant contributions to hip hop culture and actively participated in its creation. Furthermore, female rappers use their craft as a way to empower and encourage other marginalized communities while using lyrics as social commentary addressing racism, sexism, and violence against minorities.
Hip hop is an influential form of artistic expression that continues to shape society today. By encouraging identity exploration and self-expression, it provides marginalized communities a space to tell their own stories and shape their own futures. Christopher Deis argues that hip hop challenges conventional understandings of politics and political behavior, transforming it into an ongoing subversive ideology which constantly evolves.
Hip hop music was catapulted into mainstream popularity with the debut album by Sugarhill Gang in 1979, which catalyzed its growth into a dominant genre. Over time, however, hip hop expanded internationally and evolved considerably; artists added features like drum kits, more complex sampling algorithms, metaphorical lyrics, collaboration with other genres such as electro music etc. to make their art unique and distinct from other musical forms.
Origins
Hip hop music has its origins in black American culture, and its founding pioneers such as DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash helped transform despair and racial barriers into creative outlets that encouraged youth to develop their voice and sense of identity in their community. Hip hop also promotes education – its founders believe knowledge is power which allows individuals to take control of their own lives.
Rappers often use music as a medium to express their thoughts and experiences with audiences. Rappers frequently discuss social issues such as racism, poverty and drug dependency; in addition to sharing tales from their personal lives. Although challenges exist along this journey, many rappers strive for success; some even becoming internationally-acclaimed musicians.
Hip hop music’s roots can be traced back to African-American sound system traditions, featuring live performers who play drums and bass instruments alongside MCs who chant or freestyle; their music influences numerous modern forms of rap music.
Sugar Hill Gang was responsible for popularizing the term “hip-hop” with their hit single, “Rapper’s Delight,” in the late ’70s. It became a breakthrough hit and established a whole new genre of music; its infectious Chic beat kept listeners dancing all night long! Plus, members of Sugar Hill Gang proved themselves adept MCs which led them into prominence within music industry.
Indian hip hop groups today include some dedicated to women’s empowerment while others promote healthy lifestyle and positive messages. Many groups have taken part in international festivals. Rappers like Raftaar and Divine have achieved much success within India’s hip hop scene and inspire young people to follow their dreams.
Styles
Hindi hip hop music fuses traditional Indian music and western hip hop beats into one genre, becoming increasingly popular over time. Artists use this genre as a platform to voice social and political issues facing youth in India. Characterized by catchy beats and fast-paced rhymes, its catchy music usually includes Hindi rapping while English may also be performed; these lyrics can come in the form of gangsta rap, mumble rap or crunk styles of performance.
Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that depicts graphic accounts of inner city life and gang culture, along with boastful elements and an aggressive sound. Lyrically, its lyrics depict street violence while using microphone as an automatic weapon against competition; most famous examples of Gangsta Rap include Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
Mumble rap is a subgenre of hip hop that emphasizes short rhymes over complex beats and rhythms, often popular among urban youth in the United States and similar to old-school rap but with modern production techniques; similarly it draws influence from dance music and R&B genres.
Bounce music, developed in New Orleans during the 1980s, combines hip hop beats with local musical traditions such as Mardi Gras Indian chants to form a genre known as bounce music. Now an integral part of New Orleans culture and popular form of dance performance.
India boasts several highly popular rap groups. Naezy, Divine, Raftaar, Emiway, RAGA and Badshah are well-known hip hop artists; Brodha V is a particularly underrated rapper with his own distinct style who uses different languages in his songs for added spice to his music.
Influences
Indian artists inspired by diaspora have begun reinterpreting traditional sounds with hip hop beats and Hindi lyrics, making the genre increasingly popular with youth. Hip hop’s messages of social justice and empowerment make it particularly well-suited for this generation of youth; its medium has also allowed rappers to voice their displeasure with politics and economic inequality in India – showing its immense power to impact lives positively and bring about social change.
Raftaar, Bohemia, and Badshah have made rap more mainstream; even Bollywood artists have adopted the genre into their music and incorporated rap elements into it.
Hip hop’s original intent remains intact despite commercialisation; you can hear its protest roots through rappers such as Naved Shaikh (Naezy), who went viral for his song “Aafat!” due to its rawness and political message. Other artists, like Mumbai-based collective Swadesi, are building greater followings due to their unique skillset and persuasive storytelling techniques.
While Yo Yo Honey Singh remains at the forefront of India’s mainstream music industry, an emerging wave of rappers are using their voices to effect change within society and have gained wide-scale fame for spreading messages of equality, unity and liberation through underground scenes.
Rappers have taken an important stand against discrimination of North Eastern states of India, through the likes of Khasi Bloodz and Symphonic Movement who raise awareness of sociopolitical problems facing their people. With continued expansion and reach reaching even further audiences, rappers look set to change lives for good!
Audience
Hip hop culture transcends borders, including language barriers. Rappers from different regions have come together to form a distinct Hindi rap scene, sharing their experiences and their daily struggles (such as racism, poverty and drug addiction). Through music they inspire others and empower individuals to make change in their lives.
India’s rap scene is experiencing steady expansion despite many challenges, and the film Gully Boy based on Mumbai rappers Divine and Naezy has contributed greatly in bringing this genre into mainstream. Gully Boy increased Divine and Naezy’s following while giving audiences an idea of their lifestyle; thus inspiring many individuals to follow in their footsteps by becoming rappers themselves.
As Indian rappers have gained in popularity, several labels and streaming services are beginning to focus on this genre. Universal Music India recently established Mass Appeal Hiphop as a dedicated Hiphop label in order to promote it while nurturing new talent; their aim is to focus on raw talent that produces “mind-blowing music.”
Indian rappers tend to be predominantly male; however, some female artists are present. Additionally, some rappers have begun incorporating elements from other musical genres into their hip-hop performances; for instance Punjabi MCs are exploring electronica music styles.
Indian rappers have recently started addressing social issues through their lyrics, like Raftaar who recently addressed sexual harassment within the industry and generated considerable debate among their listeners and media alike.