18-year-old REXION AKA RUDRA recently released his song STRUGGLE.
The rapper speaks with BHUPENDRA SINGH SONWAL about his journey, collaborations and the rap scene in the country.
How did you get interested in rap?
Right from school days, my friends and I would listen to rap whenever we met at each other’s place. To begin with, it was a combination of pop and rap – the Eminem era. I also joined dance classes and got introduced to hip-hop. My interest piqued in rap from there.
Tell us about yourself – your music journey?
I am still a student.I have practically been on stage my entire life, either acting or hosting events. To be on stage was my destiny. Back during school days, I used to write a lot of poetry and that transcended into rap now. My first rap verse was penned pre-Gully Boy days when few knew about this genre and I was still exploring it. The only rapper I had heard of in India were Honey singh. Since I was always on stage, when the film was being made, they wanted extras. That’s when I realised that there was huge rap scene in India excluding Bhopal. I put out my first track and entered a competition and did gigs after gigs.
How tough and competitive are open mics?
I honestly believe that if one wants to be part of the hip-hop scene competition is part and parcel of the genre. It is about being the best lyrics wise, it is about being the best delivery wise. If one wants to know where he stands in this huge pool of rappers, is when you go to these open micers. The entite culture is based on how good your writing is and how well you can deliver that. Psychologically, this is tough but physically not so much given that there are so many venues for new rappers to showcase their talent.
You’re planning to release a mixtape – what is it all about?
It all about how when one is mentally free, how it affects one’s work and how it affects relationships – when all the haze clears – one can see things is a clearer light. That is what “BETTER THAN BEST FRIENDS” is all about. I chose this theme because I wanted the lyrics to emote how I would feel and think in such a situation rather than just addressing the situation.
Is rap and songs the same?
There is a misconception that rap and music is different but this is not true. Take an example, if I write a verse, it means I am rapping but it doesn’t mean I am making rap music. It is the responsibility of every rapper to make it musical. Anybody can write a verse and rap it to a beat but a true rapper will make great music. This is what I am trying to do, take elements from other genres and do my thing.
Did your parents support you?
One thing that gets your parents going is when they see their child grow in the career he has chosen. I have tried to prove it to them. My parents are extremely supportive. But I am young and have a long way to go.