Listen: Mumbai Rapper A-List New Song, “Muck Fodi”

Mumbai-based rapper Ashwini Mishra aka A-List Photo: Avni Murty

The day the Bharaitya Janata Party’s political hoarding with the meme-friendly slogan “Ab Ki Baar, Modi Sarkaar” went up near Mumbai rapper A-List aka Ashwini Mishra’s house, he sat down to write his latest song, “Muck Fodi.”

Produced by Kashmiri hip hop artist The Preacher aka Shayan Nabi, Mishra throws down verses about prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi dodging TV interviews to the 2002 Gujarat communal riots to campaign gaffes. Says Mishra, “I had to actually shortlist the things I could put in the song, because there is so much material to take on this dude.”

This is the first time he’s recorded lyrics in Hindi since he started rapping in 2004. Says Mishra about rapping in Hindi, “The idea was to flip the BJP campaign slogans and also to make the message more accessible.”

“Muck Fodi” is the second song to target the current Gujarat Chief Minister, following Delhi ska/reggae band The Ska Vengers’s video for “Modi, A Message To You.” Says Mishra, “I think it’s great to see Indian reggae and hip hop stand up and say something when we are being constantly told we should keep quiet. And regardless of the election results, I think it is crucial that independent artists fight for their right to dissent through their art.”

Listen to “Muck Fodi” below