Rapper Manas Ghale
Kathmandu, December 12: Rap has a special place in Nepali music. It is said that rap dances, evokes a sense of rebellion and also represents the new generation. Folk songs and easy music are evergreen genres preferred in Nepal. However, the new generation is equally attracted to rap. Rap, which is part of the pop genre, is called ‘Express Your Self’. Rap is used to express one’s experiences and the views of society.
Recently, Nepali rap and rappers have been in the news not only nationally but also internationally. It is said that after foreign rappers started discussing Nepali rappers, the attraction towards them and their market are also increasing. Rapper Girish Khatiwada says that rap has reached its golden age recently. “Rap is like therapy for us artists, we have been able to express our feelings. Rap has conveyed the problems of the village to the city and the problems of the city to the village, because since I myself started living in the city, I have come to know the village through rap,” he said.
Khatiwada says that he has taken rap as a medium to express his feelings. He believes that rap is a medium that can be used to express emotions more easily than other mediums. Another rapper, Manas Ghale, said that the growing attraction towards rap among the new generation has enabled it to carve out a niche for itself in music. “We had tried to promote rap throughout Nepal, but the current generation has internationalized it. Even those who do not understand Nepali have become our listeners. Rap, which we started with passion, has now become a profession. Now, you can earn a living by singing rap,” he said.
He said that Kathmandu Metropolitan City has appointed rapper Balen as its mayor due to the changing social perception towards rappers. Recently, along with newcomers, the demand for old rappers has also been increasing in stage programs. Rappers are equally popular not only in Nepal but also abroad.
However, rapper Hakim said that there is no shortage of people who give rap more bad name than it needs. “Rap is about expressing emotions, so there are no restrictions on it, that is why we bring out the words that come to our mind without any filter, but we should not promote obscenity by saying this. And, those who make rap only with the help of obscene, indigestible words are rappers who have come for discussion. Because rap contains pain, suffering and understanding,” he says.
Singer Brijesh Shrestha believes that rappers often express their pain through rap due to financial difficulties and lack of social harmony in the beginning. He also runs a song recording studio and says he understands the pain of newcomers. “I have experienced the pain of newcomers firsthand because I have a studio. I have heard that society and family become obstacles to their aspirations, because rap is still called a hobby. That is why I have been giving free recordings to some talented people. The effect of this profession not being easily accepted can be seen in rap,” said singer Shrestha. He had left music and gone abroad some time ago, but he has returned to Nepal and become active in music again, keeping his ‘passion’ alive. Shrestha says that everyone should listen to and watch music.
Although it is a matter of joy that the current state of rap in Nepal is looking good, rapper Khatiwada believes that rappers express their feelings rather than looking at the environment and the future. “We rap, we express ourselves. We don’t think about what its future will be or what our scope is. Rap has given me happiness and satisfaction, that’s why I am still active,” he said.
Rapper Ghale says that it is easier for those looking for a future in rapping as various reality shows are currently being produced. “The various programs that are currently coming up have shown a path, but one must be hardworking because without hard work, one cannot get the rewards. Now, with the increase in ease, competition has also increased. Therefore, hard work is necessary to make this a profession,” he said.
Rapper Hakim said that rappers like ‘G-Bob’ came through ‘reality shows’. His team has also been doing various ‘shows’. He sees a good future in rap if it can be made a profession. “Now is the best time for rappers to participate in programs not only in Nepal but also abroad. The coming days look even better. Now, even the social perception of rap has changed. I am very happy,” said rapper Hakim.
His songs like ‘Rakshas’ and ‘Chori Deu Laun Malai’ are popular. He recalled that at the time of those songs, it was seen as ‘passion’. However, many are concerned about the increase in obscenity with the arrival of the new generation. “The current growing popularity does not allow those who come here without understanding rap to survive. To survive here and sing rap, you need passion, otherwise you will make a rap and disappear. However, the coming time looks good for Nepali rap,” said rapper Hakim. Rap duo Khatiwada and Ghale have similar advice. They see a bright future for newcomers in this field.
