Keep the Gullies Grooving
With Bollywood at its doorstep, 2019 could be Indian hip hop’s biggest year yet. But it could also be its last.
There's a curious paradox at the heart of Indian hip hop in 2019: the local hip hop scene has undeniably arrived, yet it’s still finding its voice.
In less than a decade, hip hop has transformed from being a joke to a poor imitation to a massive cultural phenomenon. Desi rap has infiltrated Bollywood, cricket, and religion. Yet, the intense hype and money swirls around a scene that has yet to build enough resilience and community, calling into question its lasting power.