<p>The rap scene in India has barely hit puberty but there are already some who have taken a gamble on it. A Bengaluru-based crew, ‘Hip Hop Hooligans’ is one of the brave few to enter a space that is for the most part, unexplored. And though they have faced some challenges, it’s mainly success that they have interacted with.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Hervin Alex who goes by the stage name ‘ALIEN’ is the one who conceptualised the idea for the crew. A proficient rapper, he and two of his colleagues from 24/7 Customer Pvt Ltd, along with a friend’s brother, started the group in January. Just a few months old, they have already performed 12 times. Despite what it looks like to most, Hervin says that the city has a healthy hip hop and rap scene and is more advanced than other parts of the country. <br /><br />“There have been times when we’d be performing and people have asked us to play Bollywood music. That isn’t us so we look for a crowd that appreciates our music. <br />And we have had many such opportunities in Bengaluru,” says Hervin. The crew also comprises Sourab Kumar aka ‘Ice Cold’, Basawa Chetan or ‘Dead Poet’ and Vinil or ‘B Fab’. <br />Basawa, a BCom student, is the youngest member of the team. He has been rapping for the last 3 years but took it seriously only a year back. When asked why he likes the genre, he says, “It’s a way to talk about struggles, your own or otherwise, and convey messages in a raw and real way.” <br /><br />The members practice for long hours to perfect their verses. Basawa raps everyday for 3 to 4 hours. “After finishing college work I practice at home everyday. On weekends, I get together with my friends and we rap together,” he says. <br /><br />Sourab, who has been in the scene for the last 4 years, also has a similar routine, where he comes back from work and plays with words and tunes. “I used to be in a crew called ‘Autopsy’ but that didn’t work out which is when I joined ‘Hip Hop Hooligans’,” says the passionate artiste. <br /><br />Hervin also comes with experience and uses this genre to talk about anything from social issues that are trending to intimate thoughts. <br /><br />For him, it’s a way to articulate feelings and emotions that many can’t. “Our songs are relatable to our listeners which makes them more appealing,” he says. With feeling and thought, and formatted in a different way, their songs are definitely something new. <br /> <br /><br /></p>
<p>The rap scene in India has barely hit puberty but there are already some who have taken a gamble on it. A Bengaluru-based crew, ‘Hip Hop Hooligans’ is one of the brave few to enter a space that is for the most part, unexplored. And though they have faced some challenges, it’s mainly success that they have interacted with.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Hervin Alex who goes by the stage name ‘ALIEN’ is the one who conceptualised the idea for the crew. A proficient rapper, he and two of his colleagues from 24/7 Customer Pvt Ltd, along with a friend’s brother, started the group in January. Just a few months old, they have already performed 12 times. Despite what it looks like to most, Hervin says that the city has a healthy hip hop and rap scene and is more advanced than other parts of the country. <br /><br />“There have been times when we’d be performing and people have asked us to play Bollywood music. That isn’t us so we look for a crowd that appreciates our music. <br />And we have had many such opportunities in Bengaluru,” says Hervin. The crew also comprises Sourab Kumar aka ‘Ice Cold’, Basawa Chetan or ‘Dead Poet’ and Vinil or ‘B Fab’. <br />Basawa, a BCom student, is the youngest member of the team. He has been rapping for the last 3 years but took it seriously only a year back. When asked why he likes the genre, he says, “It’s a way to talk about struggles, your own or otherwise, and convey messages in a raw and real way.” <br /><br />The members practice for long hours to perfect their verses. Basawa raps everyday for 3 to 4 hours. “After finishing college work I practice at home everyday. On weekends, I get together with my friends and we rap together,” he says. <br /><br />Sourab, who has been in the scene for the last 4 years, also has a similar routine, where he comes back from work and plays with words and tunes. “I used to be in a crew called ‘Autopsy’ but that didn’t work out which is when I joined ‘Hip Hop Hooligans’,” says the passionate artiste. <br /><br />Hervin also comes with experience and uses this genre to talk about anything from social issues that are trending to intimate thoughts. <br /><br />For him, it’s a way to articulate feelings and emotions that many can’t. “Our songs are relatable to our listeners which makes them more appealing,” he says. With feeling and thought, and formatted in a different way, their songs are definitely something new. <br /> <br /><br /></p>
