Just recently on DesiHits, I read an article on bringing hip hop to India, and whether or not it would work. He quoted the New York Times, in their article about Akshay Kumar collaborating with Snoop Dogg, which said that “While a few Western acts like Madonna and Coldplay also sell well in India, Hip-Hop has traditionally had limited appeal.” Now here’s the thing, India itself is not exactly the market for hip hop. For those of you that have been there, I’m sure you can see that. It’s not something that can be instantaneously sprung on a community that doesn’t have the context for that sort of music.

I’m going to stray a little bit and talk about the evolution of the genre of Desi Hip Hop. When I was growing up, the only Indian rapper I could name was Baba Sehgal, and while he gave us some enjoyable tunes (Dil Dhadke), he wasn’t exactly pushing any boundaries on the hip hop front. In recent years, Indian rappers seem to be dropping out of the woodwork. I could honestly write for an hour and probably not list every Indian rapper I know. A lot of it began in the U.K., when RDB and other “bhangarage” producers were popularizing MCs like GI Jatt, MC Rydem Ryda, Lightnin MC, E=MC, and of course MC Metz & Trix. Then they began emerging in the U.S. and Canada, and if you’re familiar with the urban Desi scene, you know names like Nivla, Kidd Skilly, Bohemia, Blitzkrieg, and GOP Virk.

The problem is that these days, any fool with a microphone and Audacity (excellent program, by the way…it’s what I use) can record music and post it on the internet. I wish I had a nickel for every time I came…

Born and raised just North of New York City, the international Hip-Hop capital of the world, Nivla grew up in the shadows of groundbreaking American music, causing him to start rapping and beat-boxing at an early age. He honed his skills as an MC studying pioneers of the game such as De La Soul, LL Cool J, and A Tribe Called Quest, but soon developed his own unique style.

When we last spoke to Nivla, he was headed to the tops with his track “Be Easy (Koi Na),” when he became a finalist in the Doritos-sponsored Crash The Superbowl contest. And as we all know, the track, featuring P. Oberoi, was later release by Interscope Records! Months later Nivla prevailed, landing the #1 spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics contest sponsored by Nike Basketball for writing “This Is Our Game: Anthem,” produced by Just Blaze.

After a short hiatus, Nivla resurfaced in the Hip-Hop scene on Asher Roth’s “I Love College” beat, a track that caters to his adult listeners.  Nonetheless, Nivla’s “I Love P—-” is a hot track that introduces a side of himself his listeners have not seen or heard before! Indeed he’s a very talented rapper and has proved that he is more versatile than ever as he takes his music by storm with a newly discovered skill in singing. Though he like many other artists applies auto-tuning technology, there is no doubt that he has the ability to sing!

RajStar (a/k/a Raj Makhija) is a freelance music producer, composer, sound engineer, songwriter and musician based out of New York and Mumbai. He has been called the “next big movement” from America, with a fresh sound described as Timbaland meets AR Rahman.

RajStar was always involved with music growing up in New Jersey around a musical family as his mother sang in a traditional Indian style and his father played Tabla, an Indian percussion instrument. In addition to this, playing bass guitar and guitar in and out of school bands (i.e. marching band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, out of school jazz programs, etc.) gave him a unique blend of musical sensibilities. He became interested in recording and composing music in the 7th grade when he bought himself a 4-track cassette recorder and began making songs.

Vimal Patel, aka DJ Desiplaya, aka The International Idol (aka can we stop with the names, ha), is the founder of Xplicit Desi Vibes – hold your breath – the #1 South Asian remix and production group in the United States. When they release a new mixtape, it becomes my latest playlist for the gym! Sorry, but I can’t help to turn up the volume to XDV while hanging out at my friends’ dorm at the University of Rochester!

“We all have a strong passion for music! Everyone in XDV has a passion for music and love what they do,” asserted DJ Desiplaya. Hailing from Oregon, this young and energetic producer has got the skills, determination, and talent needed to make it in this scene!

Having started DJing and mixing at the age of 16, he knew that music was something that he would spend ample time dedicated towards. Till date, his favorite XDV memory has been, “the chance to work with such astounding talent in the Desi scene.” I could sit here and list all the artists Vimal has worked with, but then what would you read in the article!

After many compliments and positive feedback from his latest mix, “My Kinda Girl” by Raghav and featuring Lil’ Wayne, I sat down with this producer on the rise to talk about his past, present, and future and how he can balance it all in between school, work, and of course…the ladies!

When we think of the word “sexy” obviously the first thing that comes to mind are good, good, good, and more good looks!

Turns out the Desi scene is filled with a lot of sexy men, both inside and out!

With endless hours of dedication to finding the sexiest men out there…
Today we present to you the SEXIEST MEN OF 2008!!

We thought long and hard of who deserves the title in 11 different categories and finally came out with the best of the best.

These men are both sexy with their talents and sexy with their brains…
…and now how to keep a woman’s attention!

So take a look and ladies…hold your breath!

But who am I kidding…I know almost all these boys so I think I should consider myself the lucky one

The date has been set:
Sunday – August 17, 2008The venues have been set:
Oxygen & The Madison

The artists have been booked:
Fabolous — Nivla & P. Oberoi
 …and many more!

Soul Tap Records has done it again! First you helped take NYC-based rapper NIVLA (Alvin A.) to the Superbowl and now he’s on the road to the 2008 Summer Olympics, but can only get there with your help!

Nivla (Alvin A.) has been picked as a finalist out of over 800 + emcees who entered the contest sponsored by Nike Basketball, called. “This Is Our Game: Anthem.” MCs from across the country were called upon to create an original rap over a “Just Blaze” produced beat, rhyming about themes such as: Team USA, Beijing, Teamwork, Winning, Gold Medal, and Dedication.

I walk up the stairs of a Manhattan apartment, looking for someone’s residence and then I hear the sounds of Hip-Hop infiltrating through the hallway and I find myself outside the apartment of Raj Makhija – a New York-based sound engineer and record producer. Along with his brother, Ravi, together they founded Soul Tap Records, the label responsible for discovering talents such as Nivla, P. Oberoi, Feroze and Karishma. Raj is also one half of production heavyweight, RVM Sounds. The tracks which Raj produces cover an array of sounds from raw underground Hip-Hop to slow melodic film scores to upbeat pop club bangers.

Bravura Artist a group who has strived to bring forth the hottest upcoming talent in today’s South Asian scene, whether it’s an R&B singer, rapper or producer. On March 7^th, Bravura Artist released their first mixtape, “Forces of Nature,” which is a compilation of original production and remix tracks, featuring the amazing lyrical styles of artists such as: Ajaxxx, Kina Grannis, Landon Austin, Nivla, P. Oberoi, and of course, Ananda Sen.

By: Tirusha Dave

It’s very rare that we come across artists from our community who are talented enough to land a deal with a mainstream American record label. Nonetheless, two artists – Nivla and Parag Oberoi – stood proud, and against the odds, showcasing their fusion of Hip-Hop and Punjabi lyrics – captivating not just the Desi listener, but even the American ears!

Many were surprised when they turned on the Fox 5 morning news one day in January and saw Soul Tap Records recording artist Nivla rapping, “My Gujaratis, Punjabis, and all my Sindhis turn it out right…fellow Malayalees reppin’ hard for the South side… parties, we rockin’ ‘em, me and Parag and ‘em, Soul Tap run sh-t ain’t no stoppin’ ‘em“, followed by P. Oberoi’s sultry Punjabi vocals, “Ho ni mein jhoot boleya, koi na, ni mein kuffer toleya, koi na kaadi vi dil todeya, koi na, bai koi na.”

Question: Who are Nivla and P. Oberoi and what’s the hype behind these two boys?