Hip-hop as a genre is still very much underground. While one could argue that we have seen a highly successful film based on hip-hop in “Gully Boy”, the fact remains that “Gully Boy” was a very introductory and generic movie in terms of its complexity, songs, and portrayal of hip-hop culture.
Ask any hip-hop enthusiast, and they will tell you about the surface-level representation of the battles shown in the movie. There is a huge difference between what was depicted in the film and what actually happens in underground spit-dope battles that take place in Delhi and Mumbai.
Desi hip-hop has been an underground genre for a long time, but slowly and steadily, it is going mainstream. Earlier, we would only see mainstream artists like Honey Singh and Badshah featuring in Bollywood songs, but now things are changing. Just a few days ago, not only India but the world went crazy over “Big Dawgs”, a rap song written and performed by Hanumankind, who has been a significant discovery in recent years.
The rapper from Kerala has gone viral with his track, breaking global boundaries. Recently, he was cast in Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming project titled “Rifle Club”. Additionally, a recent series titled “Khalbali Records” was released on JioCinema, which received mixed reviews but portrayed the lives of rappers and the underground scene in a more realistic way. It features relatively lesser-known artists like Prabh Deep, Ahmer, and others. The show’s hardcore songs and production were its biggest highlights despite its shortcomings. Another show released last year, “Bajao”, featured Raftaar in the lead role.
As we can see, the number of hip-hop listeners is increasing, and today, hip-hop songs are pulling huge numbers on various platforms. Hence, creators are beginning to explore this genre more. Let us know your thoughts.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
