Rap Recap: New Releases from Seedhe Maut, Shah Rule, Tre Ess and More
We also tune in to a new hip-hop spotlight series featuring Hanumankind, Fotty Seven, Irfana and GD 47, plus the latest from Canada’s Keralanka, Ranchi’s RSHV, Qaab and Smoke’s new album and Sylheti rap by Arin Dez
(Clockwise from top left) Tre Ess in Lanka, KSHMR with Seedhe Maut and Shah Rule.
Tre Ess – “Lanka”
On his first release in about three years, Ranhi singer, rapper and producer Tre Ess comes back like he never left on “Lanka.” With a bit of English and Hindi that’s distinctly his style, there’s a snarl that matches up with everything coming out. In the fast-moving world of Indian hip-hop, Tre Ess proves – once again, after his 2020 album Sipping Off Troubled Waters – that he’s here for bigger things.
Seedhe Maut, KSHMR, Karan Kanchan – “Bhussi”
Indian-origin American producer KSHMR’s upcoming Indian hip-hop album Karam continues to go from strength to strength with the latest release “Bhussi” featuring New Delhi’s Seedhe Maut and a production assist from Mumbai-based Karan Kanchan. Together, the artists walk the line of fierce and flexing. With Seedhe Maut conquering home ground with a stadium show ahead of “Bhussi,” they’re already on to the next one with news of their own mixtape Lunch Break and the single “Joint In The Booth”
Qaab, Smoke – Baggage Claim
New Delhi pairing Qaab and Smoke sure know how to play to their strengths. Qaab aka Shoaib Ahmed and Smoke aka Rahul Jaluthria are at their scintillating best in some ways across 11 songs on Baggage Claims, traversing a bit of mumble rap with aptly stoner, hazy beats. Songs like “Even” and “Lean 2 – Smoke Break” and “Harami” sees the duo take turns on the mic and deliver resolute bars about where they’ve reached in the game so far. “No Nu Friends,” a more exceptional cut, is an apt bop that clears up perceptions and draws their fans in even closer.
Shah Rule – Call You Right Back, I’m In Therapy
Mumbai-based hip-hop artist Shah Rule keeps it as honest as ever as he gives listeners a peek into his mind on the journey-driven debut album Call You Right Back, I’m In Therapy. From the highs of success to the lows of reflecting on his choices, Shah Rule has help from the likes of Abhijay Sharma on the shimmering “2 Sides,” Shai on “Lonely” and New Delhi’s Raga on “Confident,” plus heavy hitters like Lisa Mishra on “The Cure” and Anik Khan on “Lights Camera Action.” Production assists come from a formidable lot – Stunnah Beatz, Zero Chill, Aakash and Katto. All in all, Call You Right Back… is a buoyant party that also allows for introspection, albeit on the dancefloor, for what it’s worth.
RSHV – Morabadi Drip
Teaming up with producer TrapGuru, there’s a real versatility on Ranchi hip-hop artist RSHV’s debut EP Morabadi Drip. Across four tracks, there’s a hard to pin down style or sound, but in a good way. “Halanki” is verbose, while the title track “Morabadi Drip” has a steely guitar riff running through it. TrapGuru and RSHV turn things upside down with their bass-heavy drill banger “Prem Ka Pyala,” which interpolates A.R. Rahman’s “Ramta Jogi” from the 1999 Bollywood movie Taal. It closes with a noisy Kendrick Lamar and DIVINE-inspired jam “440v,” which takes no prisoners.
Keralanka – Thali Tape
Canadian hip-hop duo Keralanka are about as Indian as they come, considering their new mixtape is called Thali Tape. “Y’all eating from me,” rapper Rohan Raj explains on “Will of Fortune,” the opening track that samples the Indipop hit “Made in India” by Alisha Chinai. It pretty much sets the tone for a shapeshifting 14 songs, from the reflective “Charizard” that references Pokémon as well as the Taj Mahal to decaying tunes like “Temperature (2015)” and a killer collab featuring Indian-origin artist Abhi The Nomad on “Sora,” among others.
Arin Dez – “Jaan Jaay Hariya”
Hip-hop artist Arin Dez has been part of plenty of diverse genre excursions over the last few years, including electro-pop and the like, with pop group The Dropletz. He adds a bit of Sylheti rap over the existing pop leanings that he’s got going on “Jaan Jaay Hariya.” It’s a love song through and through, but Dez doesn’t compromise his rap flow, keeping things heartfelt.
NBA Style’s All The Way Up ft Fotty Seven, Hanumankind, Irfana, GD 47
A new spotlight series from NBA Style (which, as the name suggests, is usually about fashion and culture centered around basketball in the U.S.) focuses on the stories and inspirations of four Indian hip-hop artists. All The Way Up has four videos that catches up with New Delhi’s Fotty Seven, Bengaluru-based Hanumankind (watch above), Kodaikanal-bred Irfana and Punjabi rapper GD 47. Amid slickly shot frames of artists in their element in the studio or outdoors playing hoops, All The Way Up has a few insights into what keeps each artist ticking.
