gully gang Archives

Kya Bol Rele Gully Boy: How Hip-Hop Hacked India in 2019

Even as India registers a low rank for starting a business, and millions of micro-firms struggle to stay afloat, a new species of internet-enabled artist-entrepreneur is thriving. Unburdened by corporate or political bureaucracy, Indian hip-hop’s army of ardent creators have hooked our youth to a quality product.

Nair Da July 15, 2016

Pop Culture

“Gully Life” Introduces Us to Vivian Fernandes, the Man Behind Divine

At this point, Divine, who has fronted crackling music collaborations, founded a band, an independent hip-hop label, a hip-hop fest, and inspired a Bollywood film, has stopped being just a musician. Instead, he is now, a cultural commodity – a gully-bred Indian rap franchise. A new documentary unearths Vivian Fernandes, the man behind Divine.

Poulomi Das June 30, 2016

POV

Did Kendrick Lamar Just Pimp the Pulitzer?

There was a time when mainstream rap involved guys named “Lil” talking about sex and drugs. Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer prize is an indicator that mainstream rap can be meaningful. It could one day be considered classical music.

#VALUE! June 2, 2016