Raga, Hanuman Kind, Bella, Rawal, Bobkat, Killa K, Irfana, Chaar Diwaari, Parimal Shais, DJ Ishani, and DHP are among the artists included.
Swati Bhat
To acknowledge and celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th birthday, Def Jam Recordings India is happy to announce a spectacular celebration with a series of rap performances on the 11th and 12th of August 2023 in three major cities: Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
In honor of this significant milestone, Def Jam Recordings India is teaming up with top Indian rappers and record producers from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru for an unforgettable experience. The label has sincerely strived to push the burgeoning Hip-Hop culture in India by supporting various hard-hitting bodies of work.
Def Jam India's signed emcees Raga, Bella, and Chaar Diwaari will perform in Delhi-NCR; HanumanKind, Rawal, Parimal Shais, Killa K, and DHP will perform in Bengaluru; and Def Jam India's Rapper Irfana, DJ Ishani, and Bobkat will perform in Mumbai.
The multi-city events, dubbed "Def Jam India Presents 50 Years of Hip-Hop," will take held on August 11th and 12th, 2023, in Delhi and Bengaluru at Imperfecto Patio, Gurugram, and Fandom, respectively, and in Mumbai at Khar Social.
Aside from the artists who will create the most vibrant gathering in Hip-Hop on this historic day, performing their biggest hits, some of them will showcase and perform unreleased bodies of work for the guests.
Furthermore, star-studded guest appearances are expected at events in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Sanujeet Bhujabal, EVP and Head of Content, Universal Music Group India, shared “At the Universal Music group both globally & here in India, Hip-hop is a huge priority for us as its one of the fastest growing genres in the youth & we’ve already done some incredible work in the past 4 years across multiple labels. Since our foray into mainstream indigenous hip-hop, we’ve published more than 150 songs from some of India’s hip-hop elite like Divine, Badshah, Ikka, Raja Kumari, Dino James, Wazir Patar, Raftar & Paradox to name a few. At Def Jam India, we carry on the storied history of the world’s most well-known hip-hop label and its legacy and so it’s our duty to celebrate the most awaited moment in hip-hop history. Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with our artists and fans is the only natural thing for us to do & I can’t wait for our communities to help us throw the largest & and loudest celebration in recent times”
On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc created the groundwork for hip-hop during a dance party in The Bronx, New York. Since then, the genre has grown to become one of the most influential forms of artistic expression in the world, altering performing arts and entertainment on an unparalleled scale.
By signing legendary Hip-Hop groups like Beastie Boys and LL Cool J in 1984, Def Jam Recordings played a vital role in anchoring rap music in the West and beyond. Def Jam was founded by famed Hip-Hop composer and record producer Rick Rubin and African-American entrepreneur Russell Simmons and has been vital in representing some of today's most influential Rap Artists. From Public Enemy to Kanye West, LL Cool J, Rihanna, and others, the label's eclectic lineup has left an unmistakable influence on worldwide Hip-Hop culture.
Universal Music India's intention in hip-hop was to strengthen its presence in the South Asian peninsula and encourage the genre's growth in India beginning in early 2019. Bringing down Mass Appeal and cooperating with musicians such as Divine, Ikka, Raja Kumari, Gully Gang, and others demonstrated their dedication to the Indian Hip-Hop genre.
Universal Music continues to uphold this history with the recent formation of Def Jam Recordings India in February 2023, promoting a broad archive of Hip-Hop music in India. The label has collaborated with various Hip-Hop artists such as Badshah, Ikka, and Dino James, along with Punjab's Wazir Patar, GD 47, Ellde Fazilka, and Trick Singh, Delhi-NCR's influential rap artists Paradox, Bella, Fotty Seven, Raga, and Aghor, Kolkata's J Trix, Mumbai's hard-hitting rapper Sambata, and southern India's Hanumankind and Irfana Hameed, and others, highlight their dedication to supporting the vibrant Hip-Hop culture across the entire country.
“It’s important to celebrate a culture that has given so many people around the world a space to express themselves and speak their truth. It has given me so much throughout the course of my life. The Hip-Hop scene in India is still young but a fast-evolving and diverse scene. Celebrations and events such as this one are important to me as they provide a great opportunity to invite more and more people to experience the culture and become a part of it themselves.” shares Raga.