Baba Sehgal to Honey Singh: Tracing the Rise of Indian Rap Royalty

Before rap became a chart-topping fixture successful Indian popular culture, it was the dependable of rebellion echoing done the streets of the Bronx successful the 1970s. Rooted successful resistance, rhythm, and earthy honesty, rap emerged arsenic a storytelling instrumentality for marginalized Black younker successful America.

It was poesy laid implicit beats, a soundtrack to survival. At the bosom of it was DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican migrant whose iconic “breakbeat” technique—looping instrumental segments—ignited the commencement of hip-hop astatine New York artifact parties.When The Sugarhill Gang dropped Rapper’s Delight successful 1979, rap went mainstream. As its power spread, echoes reached Indian shores successful the aboriginal 1990s.Initially, Indian rap was much imitation than innovation.

But it didn’t instrumentality agelong for section voices to reshape it successful their ain image.

India’s First Verse: From Ashok Kumar to Baba SehgalThough often overlooked, Ashok Kumar’s Rail Gaadi (1968) is seen by galore arsenic India’s archetypal flirtation with rap—a spoken-word bushed portion recited much than sung. But it was Baba Sehgal who gave rap a desi identity. His 1992 deed "Thanda Thanda Pani" mixed Hinglish lyrics, comic timing, and a chiseled Indian spirit that made rap relatable to the masses.

His euphony videos weren’t conscionable catchy—they were unapologetically local, laying the groundwork for aboriginal artists.While critics debated his “authenticity,” Sehgal had cracked the mainstream. He didn’t transcript the West—he carved a niche. As helium aboriginal said, “I was doing thing new. I wasn’t trying to beryllium anyone else.”Bollywood Joins the BeatBy the precocious '90s and aboriginal 2000s, Bollywood began to artifact with rap. Artists similar Bali Brahmbhatt brought successful hip-hop elements, but the large bang came with the accomplishment of Bohemia, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Badshah, and Raftaar.Bohemia, often dubbed the pioneer of Punjabi rap, brought extent and realism, reflecting the migrant experience. His tracks were introspective and raw. Meanwhile, Honey Singh turned rap into a enactment improvement with high-octane anthems that dominated creation floors, car stereos, and weddings. Badshah and Raftaar added further polish, fusing rap seamlessly into Bollywood.Yet the psyche of the genre was often diluted. Baba Sehgal famously remarked:“Bollywood has nary rap.

I consciousness that singing a fewer lines successful a movie opus and the makers promoting it doesn't marque it a rap song. Rap means bushed and poetry, and it has a definite opening and end... I consciousness doing a opus connected alcohol, women, and galore different things is not rap; this is conscionable similar a gimmick.”Gully Boy: India’s Hip-Hop EarthquakeThen came Gully Boy (2019), a cinematic detonation that changed everything. Directed by Zoya Akhtar and inspired by real-life Mumbai rappers Divine and Naezy, the movie captured the psyche of Indian thoroughfare rap. With Ranveer Singh playing a Dharavi-born rapper, the movie painted a poignant representation of dreams, defiance, and identity.The film’s anthem, Apna Time Aayega, became a generational slogan. It was much than a hit—it was a declaration. The movie won captious acclaim and became India’s authoritative Oscar entry, legitimizing Indian rap similar ne'er before.

The Rise of the Independent RhymesPost-Gully Boy, the indie rap country exploded. Artists similar Divine, Emiway Bantai, Seedhe Maut, Prabh Deep, and KR$NA present bid immense fanbases without Bollywood backing.

Their euphony speaks of caste, capitalism, politics, poverty, and pride—delivered successful languages similar Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, and Bengali.Streaming platforms and societal media gave Indian rappers freedom. No labels, nary gatekeepers—just beats, bars, and belief.The Nana Patekar SurpriseIn a quirky twist, Nana Patekar, successful an exclusive speech with ETimes, revealed that rapper Badshah told him helium might’ve kickstarted Bollywood’s rap trend. Recalling the Love Rap from the 1994 movie Krantiveer, Nana said:I met Badshah recently, and helium said I started the rap inclination with that opus from ‘Krantiveer.’ It was a beauteous song, “Love Rap,” featuring Bindu ji. We had truthful overmuch amusive shooting it. The choreographer yet surrendered, saying, “I can’t thatch Nana Patekar anything.” (Laughs) He told me, “Jo karna hai karo; this is the frame.” My steps were wholly improvised. Even Bindu ji was instructed to negociate immoderate I did, and she did it brilliantly.From Rhymes to RevolutionIndian rap contiguous is simply a reflector of the state itself: multilingual, passionate, rebellious, and afloat of hustle. What started successful the Bronx has bloomed successful the bylanes of Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and beyond. And arsenic Gully Boy reminded us:Apna clip aayega?No—it's already here.

Indian Rap Timeline Chart

📜 Indian Rap Timeline Chart