*Working with Ranveer Singh was an amazing experience. He blended very well with us at Shoot of Movie Gully Boy says, Deepa Unnikrishnan

MUMBAI :  How does it feel to associate with MTV Hustle 2.0?

It feels amazing to be on MTV Hustle 2.0. It feels like a great opportunity to get some authentic hip-hop to audiences across the country.

You have been known as a global artist – being internationally acclaimed, what is your take on the rap scene in India?

Rap in India is in its infancy, but growing very fast. I think it’s only in the past decade that artists are getting comfortable with experimenting with their craft and creating their own identities. All the artists are now making music that's authentic to them. We have started with a bang, but we still have a long way to go.

Tell us about your experience shooting for Gully Boy and working with Ranveer Singh?

It was an astonishing experience. It was like a hip-hop camp because, for approximately 10-12 days, it was a bunch of hip-hop artists working, creating music, and chilling together. All of us (the artists) had been on gigs that went on for 2-3 days. But having such a collection of talent from all over the country with me for such a long time was a humbling experience. Working with Ranveer was an amazing experience as well. He blended very well with us and was trying to be in character.

Any advice for the current contestants?

I’d advise them to try not to be scared and intimidated by everything around them. In the hip-hop scene or life in general, many people will always try to influence your opinion. So, when you enter this scene and this industry, just know where you’re coming from and try not to forget why you chose to get where you are.

If you get cast in an upcoming Bollywood Movie as a rapper, will you take that role and tell us about your views on the same?

Yes, of course. No two thoughts about it.

What qualities does a rapper need to have in order to captivate their audience?
For me, there’s a huge difference between a rapper and an MC. A rapper can do justice to the song in the studio with ease. However, unless they are able to translate the same energy and vibe they created in the studio onto the stage, they aren’t an MC. For me, an MC is sort of an all-rounder who can control the audience, keep track of the beats, be on point with their pronunciation and enunciation, and do all that without losing their breath. In this show, everyone is going to perform live, and it will boil down to whether they’re an MC or a rapper.

Tell us about your next project or goal
I have a music video coming out very soon, and a four-track EP ready called MMM (Money Made Maniac). I’m working on dance videos for them, which is going to be my first time. I got into hip-hop as a dancer, and now I am trying to get back to my roots. For some reason, when I started rapping, I totally stopped dancing, and I take This to be my opportunity to combine both.

Who is one Bollywood actor/actress for whom you want to lend your rapping voice?
The first name that pops in my head is Konkana Sen Sharma, I would like to lend my voice to a lot of offbeat actors as well. I can say this for sure though: it’s a long-time wish of mine to do some comedy rap with Pankaj Tripathi!