An Introduction To India's Best Hip-Hop Artists Part 2

Continuing our collaboration with 101India, this series introduces the freshest artists on India‘s burgeoning hip-hop scene, this time from the streets of Mumbai

Shawty Pink aka Preeti Tiwari

One of India’s top B-girls, Shawty had to drop out of school at a young age because of financial hardships. She credits her struggle and her never-say-die attitude for making her the artist she is. She believes that hip-hop is knowledge and growth, clearly since she’s come a long way from being a little girl who couldn’t stop dancing to being a pioneer in the B-girl scene.

Dee MC aka Deepa Unnikrishnan

A true rarity in the Indian hip-hop scene, Dee is a female rapper who loves rapping about serious issues like gender inequality. She was first taken in by rap music when she heard Kardinal Offishal in the tenth grade, and she hasn’t looked back since! She’s been a performer since she was five, known for putting on a show wherever she went. She’s always been a rebel, although you’d be surprised to know she’s also been trained in classical Indian dance for eight years.

Beast Mode Crew

A crew that considers itself family, Beast Mode is a collective of Mumbai‘s hip-hop all stars. It consists of rappers, MCs, skateboarders, BMX bikers, B-boys, B-girls, krumpers, and graffiti artists – basically, everyone who is anyone in Indian hip hop.

MC BobKat aka Robert Omulo

The only Kenyan on this list, BobKat has worked on Hollywood, Bollywood and even Tollywood films! He speaks fluent Hindi and is a veteran of the scene, having come back to where he is at home after a short stint in the corporate world. He frequently collaborates with Kwest and Bombay Basement and says that the meteoric rise in popularity of hip-hop in the Mumbai youth is proof that ‘Hip hop is not dead.’

Voctronica

Voctronica traces their genesis to famous UK-based artist Shlomo’s hunt for India’s first mainstream a cappella and vocal instrumentation band. A complete niche to begin with, Voctronica has risen to near household popularity with their Youtube covers and the freshness of their sound, which combines beat-boxing and a cappella. With two beat boxers, each with their own sound, and some incredible vocalists, Voctronica seems to be heading for the big stage.
For more videos and information on India’s hip hop scene, visit 101India.

About the author

Gayatri Sapru

As Director Of Culture for Culture Trip's first Indian hub, Gayatri's job and passion overlap to a great extent. She completed her undergrad at St.Xavier's in Mumbai with an English Lit (hons) degree, while also writing papers in religious studies, anthropology, Pscychology, Law and Human rights. She then went up to the University of Oxford to do an MSc in Social Anthropology. She dreams of being a renaissance woman - She loves writing about travel, history and culture, and spends her free time experimenting with food and watching bad reality TV.