Soumya Vajpayee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 11, 2019)

Rap music has garnered a lot of attention in India, of late. Ask him about the genre featuring prominently in the desi music scenario, and Raftaar cannot contain his excitement. “I’m loving it. After all these years, there is finally some momentum towards a more positive and optimistic avenue. It’s time rappers get their due credit. Everybody now can support their families because of this rap revolution, so it’s good,” says the musician, as he speaks about his mother’s love for rap, its evolution, the need for more representation of music from the Northeast and more. Excerpts:

Do you think that rappers have started getting their due in the country?
Yes they have, but there is scope for improvement and growth. The movement shouldn’t stop here and we shouldn’t be happy with the five-minute fame theory. It’s just the beginning and a perfect one at that.

Music in India is often synonymous with classical and popular film music. So, while modern musical genres like beat-boxing and rapping are emerging, they could be taken more seriously as the other two, right?
I believe rap music is already being taken seriously. If you see the list of top 10 Indian music artistes, you will definitely find three-four rappers dominating the charts, and that speaks for itself. There was an era when every song felt like a Pakistani singer has sung it. All the Pakistani bands were coming to India and doing a lot of work. At that time, it was the wave of rock. I hope rap is not a rage, because musical genres should stay.

There has been an new-found interest in rapping even in Bollywood. Has that helped in changing the way rappers are perceived?
Of course, let’s take Gully Boy for instance. Apart from the mainstream rappers, what the film has done is that it has put the spotlight on those who are still raw, like a person who is yet to find a way out of home.

Words play a major role in rap music. However, in India, the major grouse being attributed to the genre is its lyrics, which often border on vulgarity...
I don’t want to be a hypocrite, but a realist. Indians seem to have no problem enjoying western songs like Gucci Gang. In fact, the video of Ed Sheeran’s Closer has been portrayed in a rather hypocritical manner. It objectifies a woman’s body, constantly making sexual remarks. I don’t think you walk up to a girl and say your body looks like so and so. There’s a thin line between romancing and exploiting.

Is there a difference between the rap scene in Mumbai and Delhi?
There’s only a difference in the diction — Mumbai’s Hindi rap has Marathi influences, while Delhi’s Hindi rap has a Punjabi touch. There’s a difference in the tone. A rapper from Atlanta (USA) sounds different when compared to a rapper from California (USA), but, at the end of the day, we are all same. We all have a common cause — progress and diversification. No matter where we come from, we want a better place for our parents to live in and a better lifestyle.

Have your parents ever tried rapping with you?
They always do. One day, my mom was listening to Naachne Ka Shauk Hai. She loves this kind of music. Even when I was a kid, I used to play Eminem’s songs and she would enjoy them with me. Once she asked, ‘What are these words like f*** in the songs?’ (laughs!) I remember, I made her listen to White America and explained the lyrics. She said, ‘Yeh achhi cheez hai, yeh sab sunna chahiye.’ My parents were very supportive when I decided to pursue a career as a rapper. They said, ‘Tereko jo karna hai, woh kar… Kuch nahin hoga toh hum ek roti mein kaam chala lenge, but you follow your dreams.’

You shared a close bond with Yo Yo Honey Singh, but things turned sour a few years ago. How’s your equation with him now?
I met him on a flight recently and we greeted each other. He was seated next to me throughout the journey. You need to evolve, let the maturity get the better of you and let bygones be bygones. At least, I’d like to be the bigger person. Life doesn’t keep giving you chances and when you do have the chance, make the most of it.