2010s Indian Hip-Hop Essentials

Indian hip-hop came of age in the 2010s, shedding its novelty pop associations and growing out of its noughties niches to become a booming industry. Between the slums of Mumbai, the suburbs of Delhi and the streets of Chennai, Indian MCs found their voice—spitting out lyrics about their struggles and creating tracks that were authentic, inventive, relatable and undeniable. From gully rap to experimental works in regional languages, these sounds defined both a decade and a movement that cemented the place of one of India’s most dynamic independent genres in the mainstream.