Rap Recap: Prabh Deep, Xtacy, DG Immortals, Vasudev and More

Xtacy – Taaron Se EP

Mumbai beatsmith Xtacy aka Luv Saxena turns on the charm (and heat) as a performing artist and rapper-singer on his new EP Taaron Se. While there’s no doubt help from collaborators like Muhfaad, QK and Shez, Xtacy is front and center across a diverse set of tunes. “You Know It” is an autobiographical, guitar-inflected anthem, while the title track is much more melodic with an assist from Muhfaad. There’s a sensual addition with “Vibe Dila De” that doesn’t shy away from mainstream party arrangements, but Xtacy gets more introspective on buoyant tunes like “Hoja Azaad” and “After Party.”

DRV – “Coochie Wet”

New Delhi’s DRV aka Dhruv Rajpal has spent a few months promoting his album Nakshatra from 2022 while also getting the spotlight for “Fark Nahi Padta” from the soundtrack to web series Farzi and collabs with Boyblanck (“Desktop,” “Zameen Se.”) Now, DRV brings it back to his towering album with a swerving music video for “Coochie Wet,” shot in the U.S. by fellow Delhi-raised, Los Angeles-based artist ZZ aka Zefaan. It has all the graininess that takes him from the U.S. to high-energy gigs, complete with transitions that tap into the chaos of DRV’s bars.

Gubbi – “Nin Thale” ft Tracy De Sa

Bengaluru-based hip-hop artist Gubbi teams up with Indian-origin artist Tracy De Sa for a Kannada-English banger called “Nin Thale.” All kinds of confrontational and a takedown for all intents and purposes, the video for “Nin Thale” showcases both artists rattling off their bars amid a warehouse-like setting, feeding off each other’s energy.

DG Immortals – Systumm EP

New Delhi-raised Haryanvi hip-hop artist DG Immortals keeps things snarling and intense on his new EP Systumm, one that includes his most famous release to date, “Kaleshi Chori” ft Raga, Harjas Harjayi and more. Released via VYRL Haryanvi (run by Universal Music India), the six-track EP kicks off with the title track, plus bangers like “Bad Boys” and “50 Tola.” The EP also includes his 2022 cut “Bad Guy (DG)” and a lo-fi version of “Kaleshi Chori,” rounding off a rager of an EP.

Prabh Deep – “Thappad!”

With the song releasing in April, Prabh Deep makes his break away from Azadi Records with “Thappad!” Billed as his first independent single in six years, the music video for “Thappad!” lets Prabh Deep show off his drip and choreographed moves, with a crew – including a kid – backing him up to the fullest. With the beat produced by Fantom, the video and song marks a whole new direction of Prabh Deep and he’s clearly loving it, signing off on the video with the message “Spiral Upwards.”

Vasudev – Aqua Line Extended Play

Delhi NCR artist Vasudev – who first made waves with “Ghaziabad” in 2020 – continues his journeying, ambient hip-hop style with Aqua Line Extended Play. Rooted in geography and locales like a lot of his music, the seven-track EP follows his Red Line, Blue Line and Yellow Line EPs. There’s wavy, late-night bops like “Sector 51” and R&B cuts like “Pictures.” With fellow artist Mark Bhatia, there’s one of the most soulful songs from his repertoire with “Wanna Hear.”

Nanku x Natiq – Naharpur Prints

It’s not for nothing that New Delhi hip-hop artist Nanku starts his new tape Naharpur Prints with a conversation between friends. With an assist from producer Natiq, there are unshakeable bops that follow, including “Soja,” “Bahaaney” and the appropriately titled “BOP.” There’s a charm in Nanku’s work that continues even if he’s no longer called Udbhav, as heard on songs like “Zubaida.”