SMG – Let’s Create The Time EP
★★★½
Mumbai-based, Punjabi-origin hip-hop artists SMG have seen a meteoric rise with singles like “C.R.E.A.M. Posse” and “Bexley .Road”. They’re now quick to follow up their February EP Sidewalk to Stardom with a new set of six songs, on Let’s Create The Time EP via Mass Appeal. The trio, comprising Farmaan, Big Kay and Baggh-e, are clearly keen on keeping their form strong, and they do just that. SMG are verbose and self-assured in their Punjabi rap, and their Mumbai upbringing slips in just long enough to bring a distinct modern vibe that puts them a cut above the rest, at least language-wise. The rappers all take turns on the mic, hitting hardest on resolute songs like “LMK,” though their unique flow and cadence is equally evident on tracks like “It’s Hard.” Luxury meets rage-fueled bars on “Way Up” with its staccato, gun shot-like beats, while “Velvet Rage” shifts gears with a faster tempo, proving that they’re well on their way to becoming a formidable name in Punjabi hip-hop.
KR$NA – Yours Truly
★★★★
New Delhi hip-hop star KR$NA is called a veteran in the opening skit to his mixtape Yours Truly, and it’s a tag he wears with equal doses of unassuming humility and earned wisdom across 15 tracks. Mixtapes are always a flex of versatility, and few can carry that off like KR$NA, even though the rapper hasn’t given us a project of this scale in a while. Teaming up with everyone from producers Phenom, Karan Kanchan as well as rap kings Raftaar, Badshah, Seedhe Maut, Yashraj, Awich and Aitch, KR$NA goes from strength to strength. He draws from everything in his orbit, from addressing criticism around his irregular releases on the openhearted, gratitude-bearing “Nothing To Prove” to challenging performative political correctness in the raucous “Sensitive” with Seedhe Maut. KR$NA’s songs are well on their way to never having an expiration date, from the conversational Japanese-Hindi hook in “Hello” featuring Awich and Karan Kanchan, tothe buoyant, boom bap-styled “Talk My Shit/Guarantee.” He’s funny, he’s vulnerable and he’s indefatigable. That’s Yours Truly for you.
Seedhe Maut – DL91 FM
★★★★
Between KR$NA, Rawal and several more, it’s safe to say it’s mixtape season. With the launch of the new label DL91, Seedhe Maut and friends take things a notch higher with a massive 30-track mixtape. 2023’s Lunch Break also gave the desi hip-hop scene 30 tracks to lap up, so now you know what number Calm and Encore ABJ stop at. But this is quantity and quality in good measure. No one can say Seedhe Maut don’t give their fans enough, and with DL91 FM it’s even more diverse and collab-heavy.
Encore ABJ references their scathing 2019 “Scalp Dem” straight off in the opening track “Capital Rap,” which also features an understated, pulsing house beat from their protégé Hurricane. There’s the micro mosh pit-ready “Maar Kaat” with Lil Bhavi, melodic strains on “Pancake” and introspective storytelling on “Madira.” If you weren’t already familiar, the likes of OG Lucifer, Ab 17 and more tell you why they’re worth your time. Hurricane is the polished gem here, with his auto-tuned production style in “Akela” with Ghaatak taking Seedhe Maut into new sonic terrain. The video game, synth-fueled beats of “Aadat” is further proof that the more Seedhe Maut expand their sonic palette, the more they’re staying rooted.
The Anirudh Varma Collective – Sabr
★★★½
New Delhi composer, producer and pianist Anirudh Varma brings big band conductor energy when it comes to his projects on stage and in the studio. How else do you explain over 50 artists assembled to perform on the Anirudh Varma Collective’s third album Sabr? The riffs, trumpet and tabla amalgamation on “Sadde Naal” ignites the 12-track album into action. Vocalist Saptak Chatterjee lights up renditions like the flute-fed “Gavati” wonderfully. The ensemble’s prior single “Mausam” pairs Divyam Sodhi and Kavya Singh (who passed away before the release of Sabr) in a soothing reminder of transience. While chiefly concerned with Indian classical, the modern electronic flourishes on songs like “Raas Rachat” indicate that Varma is often about subtlety. But sometimes it helps to be loud and powerful, and maybe Varma could do with more touches like the built-up electric guitar solo on “Raas Rachat.” A Carnatic flavor (“Saraswati”), lush sarod (“Kuchh Doori”) and Kabir’s mystic poetry (Pavithra Chari on “Saadho”) put Varma among the most versatile Indian fusion artists right now.
Gauley Bhai – Sunbari
★★★½
Kalimpong-origin, Nepali folk-rock band Gauley Bhai‘s second album Sunbari translates into “a field where gold grows.” So it begs the question going into the nine tracks: have they struck gold again after their 2019 album Joro? We’re happy to report that they, in fact, have. Stories of home, rural life and more are fed over flittering grooves and guitar melodies that are seemingly Tinariwen-informed. The album floats by smoothly on songs like “Dara Pahara” and “Pakyo Hai,” while tracks like”Kaalo Saap” really bring that stomp and groove. But things get really wild on “Sadiyantra” with urgent drumming and impassioned vocals driving the energy full throttle. You’re really strapped in for the ride by the time vocalist-violinist Veecheet Dhakal’s steely violin work meets fuzzy riffs by Siddhant Mani Chettri on “Abhagi.” From dissonant jazz/blues (“Bhok”) to folk stories and psychedelia, Gauley Bhai dig deeper and emerge with a stronger sonic identity on Sunbari.
Alva Kuuto – Alva Kuuto
★★★½
Tulu singer-songwriter Praveen Alva has been owning stages in South India) with his storytelling chops. Now, with the band Alva Kuuto’s debut self-titled album, they seem to be tapping into a more diverse sonic and emotional depth. The eight-track album has a rollercoaster-like arc, from playful (“Ashana”) to wistful (“Ee”) to funky (“Gongey” to pumped up (“Pukkele”). Alva’s throaty shouts on songs like “Pukkele” and soaring guitar solos on “Pageyta Pugey” pull them into Rage Against The Machine territory, and producer Varun Murali’s fingerprints are all over this— drawing from being producer-guitarist for folk-rockers Swarathma, which just seems to fit. Best of all, Alva Kuuto paint a sonic picture that doesn’t necessarily need a translated lyrics sheet to get the vibe, and that’s a win.
Bebhumika – Uyir Ponaalum
★★★½
Tamil pop is going places and it has the likes of Bebhumika to thank. While big label-backed forces like Sai Abhyankkar are shining, the singer-songwriter is making her own moves with Uyir Ponaalum, placing futuristic pop over flowery Tamil lyrics. She vouches for taking up space like your favorite movie hero on “Thalapathi,” traverses a Tamil-Hindi jam with Samad Khan on “Megham” and has an acoustic ballad straight out of a Tamil film with “Uyire.” Pixlpxl does a lot of the production heavy lifting, while Flameboi is also part of the mix on “Thalapathi.” Artist Shiv Paul adds a distinct folk beat flavor to “Unnul Naan,” but Bebhumika’s sublime R&B vocal game is the real superstar, with a quick rap detour on the house-inspired title track. It’s not easy bridging worlds when trying to bring more national spotlight to Tamil music, but Bebhumika breathes incredible energy into this movement.