By Aparmita Das | SHILLONG:
With numerous talented artistes rising to national as well as international platforms and awing the audience with their rhythm and harmony, North East India’s tryst with music is no longer alien to its citizens. Over the years, hip hop, the cultural movement that is associated primarily with rap music, has made its roots stronger in the North East, one of the country’s most culturally diverse areas. In fact, way before the exponential rise of hip hop in the country, a scene had already started brewing in every nook and cranny of the region.
That being said, one cannot confidently assert when hip hop had actually begun in this part of the country. However, All-Stars – a posse cut that was released on April 15 through an independent label from Shillong called MOX – is a culmination of the efforts put in by its scenesters to make North East hip hop a staple diet of India’s mainstream hip-hop audience.
Produced by Guwahati-based Stunnah Beatz, who is well known for the production of 2021’s major hit 3:59 am by DIVINE, the track All-Stars features Meba Ofilia, Khasi Bloodz, G’nie, Borkung Hrangkhawl and Young Dirrt.
Having made a name in their respective fields, these artistes have individually contributed to holding the torch of hip hop in the region for almost more than a decade. Speaking to The Meghalayan, Shillong’s very own Meba Ofilia, one of the few female hip-hop artistes in India, said that this project is something that she and the other artistes had not seen coming. “I’m so glad that we got the chance to connect despite everything. We all did our part showing that music or art is bigger than us and I’m inspired,” Meba said.
Shillong-based rapper Big Ri from Khasi Bloodz, who had earlier won Best Indian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, along with Meba Ofilia said that historically hip hop is a collaborative genre of music. “Through this song, I got to experience the true spirit of hip hop.”
Borkung Hrangkhawl, a rapper, singer and songwriter, who hails from the Northeastern state of Tripura, said that he was thrilled to learn the news of this collaboration.
“When I first heard about the project I was very excited because this has never happened before and all of us together means serious business. It’s a dream project. This is history in the making,” Hrangkhawl said. “I had fun recording my verse and I had to give my best shot because I was sharing the track with the ‘sickest’ MCs in the game. All the pioneers of NE together in one track, itself speaks volumes,” the artiste added.
Mizoram rap artiste G’nie said that the song was made to make an impact on the North East. The team, which consists of a group of multiple, influential individuals from different states, have been cooperating via WhatsApp chat group amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and “so the project understandably took two long years to finish”. G’nie highlighted how they are a motley collection of hardheaded rappers who just came off of a lyrical crossfire two years ago.
“There were times when egos were hard to put aside and tension ran a little high but we managed to stick together and push through for the culture because we believed in the cause of the project,” he said.
Zing Chongtham, popularly known as Young Dirrt from Manipur, mentioned how there was a “heavy atmosphere of competition” amongst the artistes because they did not know each other in person. “Thanks to Mox, BK, Stunnah and all the artistes involved, we communicated and came to an understanding that we had no animosity toward each other. We heard some beats sent by Stunnah and decided on one that each of us felt,” he said.
“This is unity, this song, this is North East hip hop, the OGs, the best we have to offer, this might not be the best song you’ve heard from the NEST, but this is the most real one there is ever going to be,” the rapper stressed.
The five minutes fifty-six seconds track, according to the artistes, is a celebration of the fans and supporters of North East hip hop and at the same time, a tribute to the lives of OGs- Late Michael M Sailo and Late DJ Bom, whose contributions to the hip hop scene in the Northeastern region of India can never be forgotten.
All-Stars is the first single off a seven-track mixtape titled Northeast Flava featuring over 20 rappers, producers and singer-songwriters from North East India. Each song from this “first-of-a-kind” compilation will be released as singles for the rest of 2022.