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Watch Hip-Hop, Baul Folk and Rock Shine On Ritaprabha Ray, Raju Das Baul and Cizzy Song ‘Rongo Koro Na’

Guitarist-composer Ray had previously teamed up with Baul for the folk-pop song “Bhoge Diye Baan”

Mar 17, 2022

(from left to right) Raju Das Baul, Ritaprabha Ray and Cizzy. Photo: Rahul Guha

Kolkata-bred guitarist and composer Ritaprabha Ray calls on folk singer Raju Das Baul and Bengali hip-hop artist Cizzy aka Rounok Chakraborty for a socially conscious new song “Rongo Koro Na,” that brings together modern and traditional takes on activism and socio-political issues such as corruption.

Ray continues his philosophizing streak with solo singles that flit between electronic, Bangla folk, pop and rock. On “Rongo Koro Na” (Bengali for “Don’t fool around”), he adds hip-hop to the mix, courtesy of Cizzy’s unfaltering flow. Ray, who has previously worked with Baul on “Bhoge Diye Baan,” and collaborated with seasoned Bangla rocker Mou Sultana on “Khoyeri Chokh” in 2021, says he wanted to “experiment with the convergence of Bangla folk with Bangla rap.” He adds, “I wanted the former to talk about the social issues from a grassroots point of view, while the urban portrayal of the same to come through the fiery Bangla rap verses.”

Created during the pandemic’s second wave in India, “Rongo Koro Na” – originally written by Ray Kedar – sharply criticizes those in power and puts the focus on the working class. The guitarist and producer adds, “I was based out of Mumbai and after the ideation of the project, got in touch with Raju at Bolpur, Shantiniketan and Cizzy in Kolkata.” An additional dimension came with the single artwork, created by Joyeeta Bose.

Cizzy says Ray contacted him online in 2020 but he missed connecting at the time. A year later, they were put in touch by a mutual friend and began discussing ideas, one of which was “Rongo Koro Na.” The rapper adds, “A linear idea could have been addressing socio-political issues directly, but I wanted to spin the table, roleplay as the character responsible for all the problems in the society and bring sarcasm into the plate.”

Often political in his rap, Cizzy brings nothing less than sardonic intent to his verse on the song. He turns the focus on the common man to indicate that’s where the root of the problem often lie. “That being said, this track is much more directed towards specific individuals who use religious, and economical weaponry to fulfill their own sinister agendas. But I pretended to be that authority myself and took a sarcastic approach towards describing it as a natural thing and to everyone who speaks against it,” Cizzy adds. Referencing everything from media spin to demonetization and the deaths of farmers and migrant laborers, there’s a playful yet caustic intent.

For his part, Ray says he’ll continue to experiment with more “alternative music styles” in his solo material, especially hip-hop. “Various collaborations are on the cards. My aim is primarily to create unique and newer soundscapes with strong narratives without being boxed under one particular music genre,” he adds.

Watch the video for “Rongo Koro Na” below. Stream on more platforms here.