COVER STORY: Breakout Hip-Hop Star Fotty Seven Discusses Identity, Integrity and Why He is Holding Valid Grudges

Indian hip-hop in 2023 is at a stage when those who honed their craft a decade ago are obviously thinking far beyond the basics of the rap game, now focusing on how to tell stories in the most effective and experimental ways alike.

For Gurugram’s Fotty Seven aka Ankit Gudwani, he’s been delivering the goods for more than a decade now. Although starting out in English, Fotty Seven knew that Hindi was the best way to rap his heart out. Over the years, Fotty Seven has gone from being part of the group Rapkingz – Da Rapaholix Crew to becoming that sneering, snarling voice with everyman songs, laced with an honesty that makes every young Indian relate to his bars.

Fotty Seven’s early Hindi repertoire spans from the heartfelt “Papa” to the socially-conscious “Meri Bhi Sunn Lo,” both from 2017. It didn’t take long for the artists and labels to notice, with Fotty Seven teaming up with Badshah for “Boht Tej” in 2020. The same year saw the release of his status-cementing EP Asli Independent, which brought in fellow New Delhi rapper KR$NA for the lethal “Baap Se.” Although his work continues to be marked with a sense of vulnerability and openheartedness, when Fotty Seven got seething, it brought out incendiary bars, making songs like “Haath Toh Laga” and “Kar Lenge Bhai” a sublime summation of his Delhi tough-guy attitude.

There is humor too, often self-deprecating but honest, that makes Fotty Seven’s personas just that much more easy to embrace. On “Banjo,” his 2022 single that marked releases via Def Jam India, the rapper admits, “Jawline nahi aa rahi thi, daadhi rakh li” [I wasn’t getting a jawline, so I grew my beard out]. Between then and now, Fotty Seven put out a collection of songs called Emojis Vol. 1 (listed as But I Like It on streaming services) which delved further into his psyche, as he spoke about insecurities, sureties, trust issues and more.

In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Fotty Seven talks about major milestones, building his style and his next single “Tu Jo Na Hota.”

What has the past year been like for you in terms of having these major releases and having all eyes on you?

Well, in the beginning, it involved a lot of hard work and that was important for me to gain momentum as an artist. However, the difficult year before these releases was a challenge that I had to go through… but once I got it going, I didn’t stop. I just had the biggest year of my life, both music-wise and for my mental health.

You’ve got a real sense of vocabulary and flow that I think is very much why people love New Delhi rappers. Can you tell me where that control and understanding of rapping in Hindi came from for you?

For anything that requires art or creativity, it all boils down to observation and how good you’re at it. Ever since the early days of my career, I have lived my life through experiences and observations. To be honest, now it doesn’t take me long before I understand how people speak and behave in certain situations… and that too on a human level. Writing that down into music and creating an honest story of that environment is only so far from there. 

That said, how do you keep improving and evolving that sense of control and understanding of rap? A lot of people say they’ll always be students, learning. Is that the case for you as well?

I think I’ve mastered the skill of rhyming and rapping on a beat and there are only so many tweaks that you can do to the basic techniques of it. I’ve worked hard to get that sense of rap music and had thousands of studio sessions. I’m still learning that skill. However, I don’t think that stops me from experimenting with this genre or outside this genre too. It doesn’t matter if it’s rap, any other art form or anything that requires and provides stimulation. My next single “Tu Jo Na Hota” with Def Jam India, is not a rap record in the true sense. It’s a massive shift for me in terms of musicality and lyricism. It’s a whole other Fotty Seven that you never saw coming. 

You released “But I Like It” and bundled it as an EP in February. What has the response to that been like? I think it showcased a few different styles and approaches across tracks, from the confessional style to more combat mode kind of bars.

These five songs were not just an experiment for me. As you said, they touch upon a lot of themes and my personal experiences. I curated those records into an EP and wanted to see if they add value to my listeners as they go through those experiences themselves.

The EP felt like a journey after those songs were put together and I felt like I can do something more for the culture. It wasn’t just about seeing if I can do more than ‘an average guy from Delhi’ rap, I truly needed to say all the things I did in those 5 tracks. People loved it more than I expected. It was an eye-opener for me and the love I’ve received is humbling.

On “POV Freestyle” you did rap about the cover of Rolling Stone and said it’s something you’re manifesting. How does it feel right now to be on the cover?

Oh! Those lines were inspired from Jared Leto’s Oscar speech where he said, “People like us don’t win awards” and I’ve been wanting to use that reference for a very long time now. Rap still has a long way to go and doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. With the chances so slim, I did not wanna make it sound negative either. I wanted to manifest it and who knew, right? Here we are. Turns out it’s real.

There’s always a bit of humor in your rap bars and this is, of course, common in hip-hop all over the world, but I wanted to ask how do you think about humor in your rap and what is it like writing something and hoping the punchline lands?

That’s the best part about rhyming. Jokes become less lame when you put them in a rhyme. Worst case scenario, the joke doesn’t land; hey, you at least rhymed it. My humor is simply based on the observations that are so common and obscure that everyone believes it’s unique to them. When I say it out in the open, most people laugh and I truly love that. As an entertainer, I feel moved by that innocence and how connected we all are. Through my music, I unite all of us and we all share a laugh.

What’s been one of your recent favorite bars that you wrote? How do you feel your writing process has changed now compared to before?

It has to be “Therapist ne bola, mai Teri dost jaisi hoon, par ye pehla dost nahi jisse dosti ke paise doon.” [My therapist said, I’m like your friend. This wasn’t the first friend who asked for money] That has to be, perhaps, the most personal bar that I’ve written. We all go through experiences and I felt the most vulnerable as an artist when I wrote that one. Nowadays, one of the biggest differences I’ve felt in my writing process is that it used to be very observational and now it’s reflective.

With your own ascent, you’ve seen friends grow, you’ve had veterans become friends and also had your share of haters and rivals. What lessons do you take away from the journey so far in terms of seeing people around you? You mentioned that you trust people less now, because of the journey you’ve had.

People need to understand that no one’s looking out for them. It’s harsh but it’s true. I do trust people less and I don’t see replacing this ‘skill’ of mine, with vulnerability, anytime soon. I don’t pray badly for anyone but it’s life as we know it. I have been put into testing times too many times and have survived many difficult times to be the artist that I’m today. I do hold grudges. The valid ones. And as much as I’d like to say that I wouldn’t want to spit on my enemy’s grave, the situation would warrant a grin.

You’ve worked with different labels over time, from Sony to Kalamkaar to Def Jam India now. What have your experiences been like? What would you advise those seeking to get a major label deal?

I’ve had an entire spectrum of experiences with the labels. With Def Jam India, I put my true self forward and had the freedom to know myself as an artist. I mean, “You know the drill.” You’ll be glad to know that I’ll be releasing my third single with that label and it’s going to surprise everyone. I’ve truly challenged myself on this track and built upon my versatility as an artist and a performer. It’s the first time I’ve talked about hopeless romanticism at length.

For everyone seeking advice, just do your due diligence and you’ll navigate easily through the music business. It’s crucial to know your worth. Deals will come and go but your sanity and integrity are more important than anything else.

What else is coming up in 2023?

Oh, I’ve been putting in studio time. In and out sessions, hours of writing and just practicing. This is the time for me to build on the legacy. 2023 is full of music. Not just for my fans who have supported me throughout this career but for myself too. I’m tapping into my potential that I didn’t even know I had. Lots of music. Lots of adventure. And hopefully, my first full-length album. All of it begins with my next single with Def Jam India. Still in the works, we might release it in May. Let’s see how that turns out for all of us.

Photos: NeoFox Media and Def Jam India