# Desi hip-hop

Desi hip hop is a term for music and culture which combines the influences of hip hop and the Indian subcontinent; the term desi referring to the South Asian diaspora. The term has also come to be used as an alternative for rap music and even pop music which involves rappers of South Asian origins.

## Overview

The launch of Bohemia's second album Pesa Nasha Pyar (2006), whose tracks such as "Kali Denali", "Kurti" and "Sahara" became big hits, generated a new-found interest in rap songs performed in desi languages during the early 2000s. Even though there were several occasional hits during this period, the desi hip hop scene remained limited largely to the underground, with a very niche loyal audience. Hip-hop culture, including graffiti and b-boying started seeping into the club scene and street culture of big cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Also, 2017 saw a major boost in this genre through the start of Rap battle culture introduced by an entertainment and music production house named 6FU. Rap battles being a culture of western countries, saw India inheriting it and witnessing its first rap battle in regional languages through 6FU's first event Frontline that was held in Delhi. The label started its YouTube channel in 2017 and has since given underground rappers a new hope to be heard and establish rap as a career. Started by Trouble, who hosts rap battles and cypher (freestyling) sessions, 6FU started seeing an influx of more than a dozen rappers who perform turn-by-turn on the same stage to see who has the better verses.

## Collaborations

Desi hip hop has crossed paths with Western hip-hop multiple times, notably when musicians from both sides of the world collaborate. American rapper Snoop Dogg has worked with different artists such as rapper Dr Zeus, Bohemia (rapper), and the band RDB. Bohemia also collaborated with hip-hop artists such as Kurupt, Sean Kingston, Iraj Weeraratne and Baby Bash & The Game. The group RDB also worked with different hip hop artists such as T-Pain and Ludacris. In 2016, famous Indian rapper Badshah worked with dancehall musician Sean Paul in a song called "Move Your Body" with DJ Shadow Dubai. Desi rappers born and/or raised in the West have also bridged the cultures within their music, incorporating desi influences into their music. Anik Khan has blended Queens culture with Bengali influences into his music, and similarly, rappers Riz MC and Heems of the group Swet Shop Boys incorporate many South Asian influences in their music. In 2017, Pakistani rapper Ali Kaz collaborated with WWE music producer Jim Johnston for the theme song of WWE wrestler Jinder Mahal. In 2017, Badshah also did international collaboration with Major Lazer as a commercial promotion of Tuborg Brewery.
In 2017, Los Angeles based Hip Hop group - Bhanga Bangla - introduced a type of Trap music that leans heavily on South Asian stories from the trap. They went on to create a new trap movement that has sparked the attention of audiences around the world. The same year Emiway Bantai collaborated with Nigerian Canadian rapper Dax for their song I Been That. In 2020, Emiway Bantai collaborated with the likes of Macklemore and Snoop Dogg. In January 2021, KR$NA was featured on American rapper Hi-Rez's song "Crossroads" with Royce da 5'9". Later in July, another collaboration with Hi-Rez was released, titled "Playground" featuring former Slaughterhouse member, KXNG Crooked. In the same year in November, KR$NA was featured along with A-F-R-O, Joell Ortiz, Bizzy Bone, Tech N9ne and Twista, on the song "Overdrive", by Hi-Rez.
In 2019, the release of the film of Gully Boy, saw the commercialization of the genre and witnessed collaborations of Nas, the executive producer of the film and Divine and Naezy, on whom the film was loosely based. Divine would go on to be the first signee of the Indian extension of Nas's label Mass Appeal Records. During the same year, Divine collaborated with Mass Appeal artist Dave East for his song Remand.
In 2022, Rapper Badshah announced that he's collaborating with Colombian singer J Balvin and Puerto Rican record producer Tainy in a song called Voodoo. While in July 2022, DJ Shadow Dubai, a dubai based DJ announced collab with Yo Yo Honey Singh and Lil Pump for track called Casanova. In August 2022, Emiway Bantai collaborated with Detroit based Pakistani rapper Lazarus for track called LOBOTOMY.