The Indian hip-hop scene is currently flourishing, and it has become a major phenomenon not only within the country but also across the world, and hip-hop’s evolution is taking place across India and several regions are coming up with unique styles or representations of this genre.
You will be able to find many of these artists in Rap 91, the flagship Indian hip-hop playlist by Spotify, which has seen a rapid growth in the count of its followers in the last couple of years.
During this time, Rap 91 hosted two live shows over two years that would feature the most promising upcoming artists of the genre. This year was no different as the third edition of Rap 91 Live 2024 took place at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, featuring excellent hip-hop artists such as Paal Dabba, Dhanda Nyoliwala, Kinari, Shreyas, KR$NA, Cizzy, and many more. So join us as we dive into the background of these hip-hoppers who were an integral part of the 3rd edition of Spotify’s Rap 91 Live.
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1) Paal Dabba
Paal Dabba is the stage name for Anish, a rapper, singer, songwriter, and choreographer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A professional dancer before making his name in the music industry, Paal is extremely popular for his singles, 170 CM, Kaathu Mela, and Galatta, from the Indian Malayalam Language action comedy film Aavesham.
2) Dhanda Nyoliwala
When it comes to Haryanvi rap, Dhanda Nyoliwala is the name that rules! Born in Nyoli Kalan, Haryana, and currently based in Australia, this versatile rapper has been bringing the heat with his unapologetic lyrics and iconic status since entering the music industry in 2019. Moreover, he has developed a unique sound called Haryanvi Drill in his debut track, AFGAN, where the listeners can experience a fusion of authentic West Coast vibes with his native Haryanvi flow.
3) Kr$na
Kr$na is the stage name for one of the most popular and earliest rappers in the Indian hip-hop scene, Krishna Kaul. Born in Delhi, Kr$na lived a part of his life in South London, where he began rapping at the age of fourteen to blend in with other children at his school. He is highly popular in the desi hip-hop community for bringing a lyrical revolution in the genre by infusing a new wave of poetic depth and lyrical complexity into the narrative.
4) Loka
Loka is the stage name for rapper and songwriter Abhinav Lok Bista, the heartthrob of the hip-hop scene in Mumbai, India. He is an outstanding artist who boasts a signature street style and a unique sound that the listeners can find in some of his highly popular songs, like Shot Deke Gayab and Ou. What sets him apart from his peers is his innovative songwriting skills and unique sound.
5) Tricksingh
Tricksingh aka Tirath Sandhu, an artist and composer leading the movement for a new era in Punjabi musicis popular amongst music lovers. He seems to know no bounds as he has done a sold-out international tour right during his first year as an artist, besides having his name in Rolling Stones’ “Future of Music“ list as well as winning the “Debut Artist Of The Year” award in the year 2022.
6) Rapper Big Deal
Rapper Big Deal is the stage name for Samir Rishu Mohanty. Born in Puri, Odisha, to an Indian father and a Japanese mother and raised in Darjeeling, people often mistook him for a North-Eastern due to his features. This racial discrimination urged him to raise his voice through his raps. Eminem’s chart-topping track, 8-mile, was his first inspiration to become a rapper. Besides that, he is a highly popular artist in the Indian hip-hop scene and has numerous accolades.
7) Simiran Kaur Dhadli
An outstanding hip-hop artist hailing from Punjab, India, Simiran Kaur Dhadli is making waves in the music industry with her unique style, which involves blending traditional Punjabi folk music with modern-day hip-hop beats, thereby creating an authentic sound of her own that resonates with listeners all across the world. Her lyrical style is highly uplifting and inspirational, and she continues to push the boundaries of Indian hip-hop with this unique songwriting approach.
8) Shreyas
Shreyas Sagvekar, known by his stage name Shreyas, is a multilingual rapper, music producer, battle rapper, and recording artist from Maharashtra, India. With rigorous training in Bhaktigeete (Marathi devotional music tradition) by his grandfather, while learning how to play harmonium and dholak at a young age, Shreyas comes up with the perfect blend of Orient and Occident in his music.
9) Kinari
A queer rapper from Delhi, India, Kinari is an artist whose songs hook the listeners within seconds as her artistry boasts high-end originality, creativity, and an unapologetic nature that encapsulates their fans. Besides that, their uniqueness lies in the fact that they tend to work with the rhythms of songs of the Gaana genre, which is a typical genre in Chennai, and merge them with sampled beats, thereby creating a unique soundscape.
10) Reble
With roots in Shillong, Meghalaya, Reble, is an upcoming artist who represents the voice of the northeast in the Indian hip-hop community. Dalaphi Lamare happens to be one of the rising female rappers of the country, a force to reckon with when it comes to Hip-Hop with a dash of pop and folk in between. Moreover, drawing inspiration from artists like Linkin Park, Eminem, Andre 3000, and others she listened to while growing up, Reble’s expertise lies in her razor-sharp lyricism and unique flows that set her apart from her contemporaries.
11) Cizzy
Cizzy is the stage name for Kolkata-based rapper, songwriter, and music producer Rounok Chakraborty, who is also considered one of the most interesting voices in Bengali rap and a pioneer of the city’s underground rap scene since he has played a significant role in revolutionizing West Bengal’s hip-hop scene.
Here’s what Cizzy had to say about the event,
“Spotify Rap 91 was a vibe! The Mumbai hip-hop audience is among the best I have ever performed for. They chanted Bangla words and asked for an encore even two hours after our set, so that says it all, I guess. Huge shoutouts to the East India Cypher. We all killed it! So many props to Spotify India. Mad, mad energy! Loved every bit of it.”
In conclusion, Spotify Rap 91 Live 2024 in Mumbai was a huge hit as it witnessed a gathering of some of indie hip-hop’s best and upcoming artists, who set the stage on fire with their artistry.
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