Baba Sehgal to Bohemia and Honey Singh: Tracing the Rise of Indian Rap Royalty

Time of India

18-06-2025

Before rap became a chart-topping fixture in Indian pop culture, it was the voice of rebellion echoing through the streets of the Bronx in the 1970s. Rooted in resistance, rhythm, and raw honesty, rap emerged as a storytelling tool for marginalized Black youth in America.
It was poetry laid over beats, a soundtrack to survival. At the heart of it was DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant whose iconic 'breakbeat' technique—looping instrumental segments—ignited the birth of hip-hop at New York block parties.
When The Sugarhill Gang dropped
Rapper's Delight
in 1979, rap went mainstream. As its influence spread, echoes reached Indian shores in the early 1990s.
Initially, Indian rap was more imitation than innovation.
But it didn't take long for local voices to reshape it in their own image.
03:35
Dil Dhadke: Baba Sehgal
India's First Verse: From Ashok Kumar to Baba Sehgal
Though often overlooked, Ashok Kumar's
Rail Gaadi
(1968) is seen by many as India's first flirtation with rap—a spoken-word rhythm piece recited more than sung. But it was Baba Sehgal who gave rap a desi identity. His 1992 hit "
Thanda Thanda Pani"
mixed Hinglish lyrics, comic timing, and a distinct Indian flavor that made rap relatable to the masses.
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His music videos weren't just catchy—they were unapologetically local, laying the groundwork for future artists.
While critics debated his 'authenticity,' Sehgal had cracked the mainstream. He didn't copy the West—he carved a niche. As he later said, 'I was doing something new. I wasn't trying to be anyone else.'
Bollywood Joins the Beat
By the late '90s and early 2000s, Bollywood began to toy with rap. Artists like Bali Brahmbhatt brought in hip-hop elements, but the big bang came with the arrival of Bohemia,
Yo Yo Honey Singh
,
Badshah
, and Raftaar.
Bohemia, often dubbed the pioneer of Punjabi rap, brought depth and realism, reflecting the migrant experience. His tracks were introspective and raw. Meanwhile,
Honey Singh
turned rap into a party phenomenon with high-octane anthems that dominated dance floors, car stereos, and weddings. Badshah and Raftaar added further polish, fusing rap seamlessly into Bollywood.
Yet the soul of the genre was often diluted. Baba Sehgal famously remarked:
'Bollywood has no rap.
I feel that singing a few lines in a film song and the makers promoting it doesn't make it a rap song. Rap means rhythm and poetry, and it has a definite beginning and end... I feel doing a song on alcohol, women, and many other things is not rap; this is just like a gimmick.'
Gully Boy: India's Hip-Hop Earthquake
Then came
Gully Boy
(2019), a cinematic explosion that changed everything. Directed by
Zoya Akhtar
and inspired by real-life Mumbai rappers Divine and Naezy, the film captured the soul of Indian street rap. With
Ranveer Singh
playing a Dharavi-born rapper, the movie painted a poignant portrait of dreams, defiance, and identity.
The film's anthem,
Apna Time Aayega,
became a generational slogan. It was more than a hit—it was a declaration. The film won critical acclaim and became India's official Oscar entry, legitimizing Indian rap like never before.
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The Rise of the Independent Rhymes
Post-
Gully Boy
, the indie rap scene exploded. Artists like Divine, Emiway Bantai, Seedhe Maut, Prabh Deep, and KR$NA now command huge fanbases without Bollywood backing.
Their music speaks of caste, capitalism, politics, poverty, and pride—delivered in languages like Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, and Bengali.
Streaming platforms and social media gave Indian rappers freedom. No labels, no gatekeepers—just beats, bars, and belief.
The Nana Patekar Surprise
In a quirky twist, Nana Patekar, in an exclusive conversation with ETimes, revealed that rapper Badshah told him he might've kickstarted Bollywood's rap trend. Recalling the
Love Rap
from the 1994 film
Krantiveer
, Nana said:
I met Badshah recently, and he said I started the rap trend with that song from 'Krantiveer.' It was a lovely song,
'Love Rap,'
featuring Bindu ji. We had so much fun shooting it. The choreographer eventually surrendered, saying, 'I can't teach Nana Patekar anything.' (Laughs) He told me,
'Jo karna hai karo; this is the frame.'
My steps were entirely improvised. Even Bindu ji was instructed to manage whatever I did, and she did it brilliantly.
From Rhymes to Revolution
Indian rap today is a mirror of the country itself: multilingual, passionate, rebellious, and full of hustle. What started in the Bronx has bloomed in the bylanes of Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and beyond. And as
Gully Boy
reminded us:
Apna time aayega?
No—
it's already here.