BBQ1: Bengaluru’s underground battle rap revival

Bengaluru

Karnataka's hip-hop scene has witnessed remarkable growth over the years, with artists such as Brodha V, Rahul Dit-O, MC Bijju and Siri playing a pivotal role in popularising vernacular rap in the state, which paved the way for a new generation of artists and built a dedicated fan base. While mainstream recognition has expanded, the underground rap scene continues to thrive with emerging talent. However, artists say there are still very limited dedicated platforms where rappers can come to gether to showcase their skills through cyphers and battle rap events. "Back in the day, we used to battle through text on Facebook and Orkut.

Now we finally have the opportunity to hold events face to-face”, said Loud Silence, a Bengaluru-based rapper who has been part of hip-hop for over a decade, speaking to News Trail. He said battle rap is of ten misunderstood by audiences, who see it merely as two rappers trading insults. "It's much more than that. Battle rap is about lyricism, wordplay and creativity. These days, people focus more on rhythm than on the lyrics”, he said. Seeking to revive Bengaluru's battle rap culture, city-based hip-hop collective ‘Wanandaf’ is set to host ‘BBQ1’ on July 4 at Kesari Memories Studio - the city's first battle rap event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event will feature battle rap clashes, cyphers and live show cases by underground artists. "In my point of view, battle rap is the purest form of poetry. You can't just mumble or say anything and get away with it. You have to be lyrically strong and resilient”, said CG, a battle rapper who has been active in the scene since 2020. She will face Navi Mumbai-based battle rapper Vantage in the event's headline contest. CG said Bengaluru's rap scene stands out for its diversity, with artists representing multiple languages and cultures rather than just Kannada. "People here understand English rap references better”, she said.

As one of the few women in the battle rap circuit, CG hopes her journey inspires more female artists to step into the space. "I hope I make a dif ference and encourage more women to enter the field”, she said. Drawing from her own experience, she noted that women in rap are often expected to prove their lyrical abilities more than others. "But I'm glad I've had many people around me who have uplifted me”, she added. Loud Silence said one of the biggest challenges facing battle rap events is securing sponsors and public venues.

According to him, organisers often struggle because venues demand higher ticket prices, while the unpredictable and un restricted nature of battle rap makes sponsors hesitant. "We hope events like these receive greater recognition and more plat forms where artists can come together and share their love for rap”, he said. Explaining the vision behind Wanandaf, co founder Agaahi said the collective was formed to channel Bengaluru's diverse hip-hop community in a meaningful direction. Pasha Bhai, veteran Dakhni rapper and co-founder of Wanandaf, said BBQ1 aims to connect Bengaluru's hiphop community with the larger battle rap ecosystem in India.

"With battle rappers like CG and Cryptik, we already have some heavy weights in the city, so why not push this culture further?", he said. Emphasising that battle rap is much more than its perceived shock value, "Battle rap speaks volumes about how much a society values freedom of speech. As an artist, that's something deeply personal to me. We hope to organise many more such events and bring hip hop enthusiasts together #4DaKulture", he said.