How Shen B Turned Loss Into the Powerful Song ‘Rubina’

By his own admission, hip-hop artist Shen B was about to give up making music, until he got a call to be a part of rap talent series MTV Hustle 03 REPRESENT last year. He became a top 10 finalist on the show alongside the likes of rappers Uday Pandhi (who won the third season), Vijay Dada, Kayden Sharma, Gaush, Mrunal Shankar, 100 RBH and more.

He looks back at the journey and tells Rolling Stone India, “It was a surreal moment, a realization of a long-held dream. Hailing from the relatively unknown city of Jammu, I saw this opportunity as a platform to share my unique narrative and artistic expression.” Interestingly, it wasn’t even the first time Shen B wanted to be part of MTV Hustle, the show that’s catapulted the likes of KING, MC Square, Bella, Srushti Tawade and others to new heights in Indian mainstream music.

Shen B says, “I applied for HUSTLE 2.0 but unfortunately didn’t make it initially. Dreaming of showcasing my city, family, and the skills I’ve honed over my 14-year artistic journey, I harbored a hidden struggle with stage fear and anxiety. Despite never revealing it, I was determined to overcome these challenges, and I can confidently say that I have.”

The proof of that is most evident in his performance of “Rubina,” a gut-wrenching song that processes the loss of his mother. At over 300,000 views on YouTube, Shen B describes that the song marked a “full-circle moment” when he named his daughter after his mother. He adds, “My wife played a pivotal role in this journey, offering unwavering support. Initially, my song focused on darkness and loss, but her insight encouraged me to celebrate my mother’s life and legacy. Consequently, the song evolved into a narrative encompassing the stories of three influential women in my life: my mother, wife, and daughter.” The song gets a heightened treatment with a Kashmiri chorus that took from his maternal great-grandfather Abdullah Talib Khan Bhalessi’s poetry.

Watch Shen B’s performance of “Rubina” on ‘MTV Hustle 03 REPRESENT’ below.

The other major challenge that Hustle put in front of Shen B to conquer was being on camera. He admits that initially, the spotlight of being on national T.V. for his music made him a hesitant performer. “However, when I finally opened up, even Badshah [judge on Hustle] acknowledged my transformation into a formidable contender. It dawned on me that expressing genuine emotions is akin to a superpower not everyone possesses.” Through the course of the show, the artist says he learned to perform as though no one is watching. Amongst his fellow contestants, he says he became like an elder brother, his production skills also letting him work with fellow rappers on the show.

With the T.V. show stint over for now, Shen B has since taken a hiatus to “reconsider my approach to music with a rejuvenated perspective.” He adds, “During this break, I aim to experiment with various sounds and explore different styles within the realm of hip-hop, possibly even contemplating a complete genre shift for an upcoming project. One thing is for sure though, the people from HUSTLE 03 will be on my tracks, EPs and albums.”