It wouldn’t be wrong to say that hip-hop is among the most celebrated genres in India today. Being one of the pioneers of the music form in the country, Badshah feels there should be more gender parity in it.

Talking about the male-dominated hip-hop space, the rapper shares, “I am proud of the progression and inclusivity that are being witnessed within the hip-hop industry. We need to get rid of the ‘boys’ club’ tag. Men and women [artistes] should get the same kind of respect. I’m happy to see women advocating for themselves today. This generation is more courageous, and they know exactly what they want and how they can get it.”

While a lot of hip-hop numbers objectify women, the rapper doesn’t subscribe to that. “I don’t approve of music that glorifies objectification of women... my music comes from a place of responsibility and respect.”

But what about some of his tracks that have such lyrics too? “I do take certain lyrical liberties for entertainment, as eventually, art is about freedom,” responds the rapper, who recently released a single, Gone Girl, to mark hip-hop’s golden anniversary.

The 37-year-old believes that social media is an important tool for artistes today in terms of being recognized or putting their work out there. However, as a word of caution, he adds, “Remember to not let social media consume you and assume that it is the end game. If you’re able to consistently put your best foot forward each time, you don’t have to worry about discovery; you will get discovered.”