Publish-lockdown, there’s an unprecedented enthusiasm for hip-hop and rap as performers problem audiences with reside, electrical performances
A daily alfresco Sunday dinner at Bounce in Kompally remodeled into an electrifying night when The Deccan Hype Vol 1 took the stage.
Diners had been pleasantly shocked to see 15 artistes, two emcees, one DJ, and a spread of rap battles akin to Go The Mic command the open leisure area. After months of continuous lockdowns, this high-octane vitality was simply what native artistes in Hyderabad had been ready for.
As rappers challenged one another within the true custom of Go the Mic, the scene modified quickly with the curious, appreciative crowd including to the synergy. “They’re going to rap in Telugu”, exclaimed a woman. An adolescent yelled, asking for hip hop, whereas one other boy begged his mother and father to attend so he might watch performers beatbox. Because the artistes cheered one another on; the enthusiastic crowd spurred some artistes to carry out a number of of their unreleased tracks.
The vibe that night signifies that the music scene in Hyderabad is opening up for native artistes who don’t just do covers. Just a few years in the past, with no platform, the identical artistes would meet up on Necklace Highway and carry out for one another, and a handful of curious onlookers and passers-by.
Discussing the rising audiences, Pramod Seshu, a member of Nawab Gang, a number one group of rappers, says, “Earlier we couldn’t have considered a gathering like this. We’ve got two classes of viewers — reside and people who observe us on-line. Whereas our on-line presence is robust, our reside viewers was not. This yr, surprisingly, we’ve reveals the place folks have come as much as us, appreciating our lyrics and likewise admitting they’d regarded away from this music earlier. We at the moment are invited to carry out reside units at golf equipment and areas we couldn’t have imagined earlier; the whole neighborhood of rap and hip-hop artistes is overwhelmed!”
‘Promote our personal expertise’
Except for Bounce Kompally, areas akin to Posh Nosh, Tabula Rasa and Moonshine Venture (all in Jubilee Hills) have been actively selling ‘make in Hyderabad’ occasions.
Ritesh Thodupunuri, a associate at Bounce says, “We’ve got the artistes, we’ve the expertise, so why look elsewhere. This style of music is totally different however there’s nothing unfavorable about it. The artistes spotlight quite a lot of points round us. Whilst they carry out a reside set in an open area, a number of of them stress on sporting masks and staying protected. It’s all about altering perceptions and providing the viewers one thing new to understand.”
A few feminine artistes who took the stage on the occasion included rapper Sherni and hip-hop dancer Chandini Seth. Having given her first efficiency there, Chandni appears ahead to performing extra typically.
Does Hyderabad’s warming as much as rap have something to do with the ‘OMG Daddy’ music in a blockbuster Telugu movie? Common Telugu rapper Feroz Israel says that Ala Vaikanthupuram can’t be totally credited for it. “If films launched rap to Hyderabad, then Prabhu Deva’s Premikudu (1994) with ‘Petta Rap’ ought to get the credit score. To say films don’t contribute can be flawed; they positively assist listeners relate to and determine with what we do.” Feroze remembers an occasion at Tabula Rasa the place somebody within the viewers thanked him for opening his thoughts to ‘this music.’
A well-liked emcee, hip-hop artiste, rapper, reside looper and beatboxer, Rahul Deval feels it’s the high quality of content material that’s making heads flip to this style. Occasions like Cypher assist and the change of platforms from rooftops to venues will be attributed to this present musical pattern, he believes. Rahul says, “We most likely began out when Hyderabad was not prepared for this music. I keep in mind having to present demos at golf equipment. Music lovers are warming as much as a complete vary of genres and hip-hop is certainly one among them.”
The sturdy neighborhood of hip hop artistes in Hyderabad lately held a fundraiser for a fellow artiste known as Mutant who requires common dialysis on account of his spina bifida situation. When 21-year previous Mutant is carried on to the stage to carry out, his vitality and elegance makes anybody’s head bob. Pramod shares, “The immense response to assist him made us pleased with our music and neighborhood.”
