FeniFina, one of the pioneers of Desi Hip-Hop, uses her versatile skills and constructive storytelling techniques to tell India’s tale.
Her raw, honest raps about life in her neighborhood resonate with audiences across the country and she addresses issues related to inequality, injustice and corruption through her music.
Gully Rap
Gully Rap is an underground hip-hop scene that recently emerged in India, featuring mostly male rappers who use music as an escape route out of poverty and into something better.
VICE India explores how gully rappers are shaping the music scene through their lyrical skills and music videos.
Gully rappers have been inspired by American hip-hop icons like Tupac, Nas, and Notorious B.I.G and have adopted their own style. Not shying away from discussing slum life, street culture, equality struggles or Mumbai itself in their music videos or lyrics, Gully rappers make listeners feel part of their journey by inviting listeners along for the ride!
As it should be remembered, the increasing popularity of Indian Hip Hop does not signal its demise; on the contrary, rap has become one of the most beloved forms of expression among young people and street cyphers are increasingly used to share strong opinions with fellow young people. Even college fests now host battles as an indicator of its growing appeal in India.
With the release of Gully Boy, hip hop music has seen an incredible boost. Its songs have been played all across the country and helped rappers who aim to become gully superstars gain notoriety; more people have since joined gully rap communities to pursue their dreams of becoming superstars themselves.
MC Altaf, part of Gully Gang family has been heavily influenced by American hip-hop. After watching b-boy competitions and championships he learned how to beatbox and became an adept rapper. Over time he produced his own music while working with several prestigious brands and received significant support from label mates.
Desi Hip-Hop
Desi hip hop has emerged as an effective tool for cultural dialogue and empowerment, dispelling stereotypes while pushing boundaries. It has opened the door to an entirely new form of expression among artists that explore personal and societal issues affecting Indians – not afraid to question accepted norms and explore topics not previously addressed within India’s music scene – this creative freedom has allowed Desi hip hop to transcend its original roots and have global reach.
Rappers are among the most influential artists in Indian rap and hip-hop music. Their music often incorporates elements of Punjabi culture and Hindi lyrics, giving it its distinct sound. Badshah, Raftaar and Emiway Bantai have established themselves as popular artists within this genre and achieved mainstream success and international recognition; performing at major festivals across India while also collaborating with well-known artists – increasing accessibility of rap/hip-hop to an entire new audience and fuelling an exponential rise in its popularity among Indians themselves!
Indian rappers differ from western artists in that they do not rely on traditional instruments like guitars and violins to produce beats for their rhymes; rather they create beats with drum machines and synthesizers instead, leading to an inimitable sound that has gained an audience among young people. Desi hip-hop has also led to an increase in independent artists free from record labels who can focus on perfecting their craft without worrying about business issues.
Hip-hop may not be as widely popular in India as it is in America, but its popularity has steadily been increasing over time. Many aspiring rappers have turned to digital platforms as a platform to share their rhymes and express themselves creatively; connecting with an online community allows them to reach a broader audience while sharing ideas about music and life with fans across different platforms.
Indians have taken to rap as an avenue for expression. The genre has allowed Indians to overcome perceptions that they aren’t “real” Americans, as well as give them a way to reclaim their identities within America. Unfortunately, Desi rappers face unique difficulties when confronting themes of racism and inequality in this country.
Punjabi Rap
Jay Z is generally credited as having first fused bhangra music and hip-hop together, when he rapped over Panjabi MC’s classic Panjabi song, “Mundian To Bach Ke.” Since then, Punjabi rappers have emerged as major forces on South Asia’s popular music scene; their blend of trap beats and melodic lyrics have become fan favorites both within India and North America. Their music even earned them their own Prime Video docu-series called AP Dhillon: First of a Kind which follows their rapid ascent alongside their team at Run-Up Records.
Punjabi rappers take inspiration from various sources, but are best-known for their extravagant style and overconfidence. They stand out on dance floors thanks to their signature swagger and lyrical flow; many songs reference drugs, fast cars and hot girls; yet others find its lyrics repellant due to sexism or violence glorified within these tracks – “it glamourises rapping as something violent and sexual,” commented one young female rapper who gave up law school to return to this genre of rapping.
There are artists taking a more ethical approach to Punjabi music. UK-based producer Manni Sandhu has combined traditional Punjabi rhythms with more modern sounds such as trap beats and UK garage, collaborating with many talented musicians like Dhillon and newcomer MC Sukha.
Punjabi pop culture has found great resonance across Canada and the United Kingdom, where migration has altered cultural landscapes over recent decades. British artists like Steel Banglez and Mist have collaborated with Punjabi rappers to produce an eclectic fusion that appeals to a global audience.
These trends may appear contradictory, but they represent a larger shift in our perspective of reality. Thanks to the internet and collaboration tools like social media platforms like G+ and Instagram Stories, more opportunities have emerged for collaboration and creativity across cultures – creating a more accepting society overall. But this change comes with its own set of challenges – we must not allow ourselves to fall into defensively attacking cultural imperialism while giving young people credit for using popular culture sources in ways that empower themselves while remaining authentic and creative.
Hip-Hop in India
Indian hip hop has experienced significant growth over the years. Rappers such as Divine and Naved Shaikh, better known by his stage name “Naezy”, have helped take it global while also helping change how Desi Hip hop is perceived – showing that hip hop can serve not just to materialize women but to also empower and inspire.
Desi Hip-Hop songs tend to address topics rarely addressed in mainstream media, like corruption, police brutality and government oppression – issues which especially impact poor and lower class people in India. Rap music provides an outlet for their voices while providing hope to those struggling on India’s streets.
Many rappers who specialize in hip hop use multiple languages – Hindi, Marathi and English among them – in their songs. This linguistic diversity proves how effectively hip hop transcends cultural barriers to reach a wider audience.
Dhruv Research conducted a recent survey which demonstrated that hip hop music genre is the preferred genre amongst young Indians, capturing over 49% of respondents’ preference – an impressive achievement!
MC Mawali, an established name in the rap industry who raps in Konkani, Marathi, and English rap music genre is another powerful figure within her industry. A passionate advocate of hip hop as an art form and strong believer that it can act as a form of protest – she hopes that her music can contribute towards social transformation in future.
Other rappers such as Chandigarh-based Bagi Munda are using their voices to address issues facing their communities through music. His song, “Gully Ganga,” portrays life in his neighborhood and has captured audiences nationwide. In it he discusses struggles of people within it while detailing corrupt authorities exploiting people within it.