Exclusive Premiere: Hip-Hop Artist Rishaad’s ‘But I Do’ Video Hones In on Loneliness

After releasing a slew of formative singles over the last two years, Gurugram-based rapper Rishaad Chaudhry is out with his debut music video, for the melancholy tune “But I Do.”

The 20-year-old artist released the song in November, showcasing a hip-hop/pop sound in which he flips his vocal style from verse to verse, something he believes is his “unique selling point” and more so done to drive home the point of the lyrics. “But I Do” is still a sad boy bop at the end of the day, produced by Hungarian beatsmith Erki Kristoff, who balances tenderness, nostalgia and a thumping bassline with straightforward hip-hop beats.

The music video plays up Rishaad’s brooding mood, as he reflects on a past relationship in solitude as he roams around places such as Leopard’s Trail and Farouk Nagar in Gurugram, plus an unnamed abandoned fort in Delhi. “A particular favorite shot for me is the abandoned fort, as it represents the loneliness of a broken heart, with its closed ancient walls and no one else around,” he says.

Where there have been lyric videos and photoshoots before, filming a music video was a wholly new experience for Rishaad to prep for. He calls the creative process of shooting as exciting. “I felt like I was bringing my song to life, albeit in very hot summer conditions, but it was so worth it,” he says. Intentionally created with dimmer lighting and soft focus, Rishaad adds that he wanted the video to “better suit the vibe as it encompasses feelings of sadness, frustration, and nostalgia throughout.”

“But I Do” caps off three releases this year for Rishaad, including the Hindi songs “Tu” and “Khafa.” He adds about the forthcoming year, “Along with experimenting with various genres including desi hip-hop, R&B, and lo-fi, I am eager to keep making new tunes in the hip-hop and rap genres.”

Watch the video for “But I Do” below.