From RCFA Archives: Rapper Divine And His Journey Of Making His Indie Hit `Mere Gully Mein`
Updated on: 01 March, 2023 05:31 PM IST | Shweta Shah
You must be living under a rock if you haven`t heard of Divine. The man who revolutionized the independent hip-hop scene with the rap that narrates an engaging story. Divine is one of the few rappers who believes in uplifting other independent rappers instead of creating diss music. He gained fame after releasing his independent track `Yeh Mera Bombay` in 2013. Being awarded by the jury of Radio City Freedom Awards, in 2014, Divine has only seen his musical journey go upward and onwards.
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After he won bagged Radio City Freedom Awards (RCFA) Jury`s Choice for Best Hip-Hop category, Divine went ahead to be signed by Sony Music. That was how the idea of his other indie hit `Mere Gully Mein` with Naezy was born. It was in 2014 when Divine became a household name. And since then, there was no looking back for him.
As we reminisce about the past winners of the Radio City Freedom Awards, let`s see some of Divine`s path-breaking songs that shaped the hip-hop scene of India.
1. Yeh Mere Bombay
Mumbai is known as the `city of dreams` and Divine`s Yeh Mera Bombay elaborates the same. If there was a song that defined the good, bad, and every side of the city, it`d definitely be this one.
2. Mere Gully Mein
Vivian Fernandes aka Divine keeps it real, as heard in Mere Gully Mein, about growing up in the gullies of Mumbai. His stripped-back approach brings in the authenticity and relatability factor in this independent hip-hop track.
After sweeping the award in RCFA season 1, Sony Music signed the rapper and he collaborated with Naezy to craft, compose, and create this masterpiece. Mere Gully Mein gave Divine an overnight success.
3. Kohinoor
For a diamond to shine, it has to go through various brutal processes. And that`s exactly what the rapper conveys through his song Kohinoor. His struggle from being a normal slum kid to a global dominant artist, Kohinoor is all about the catchy hook and feet-tapping beats.
4. Mirchi
Another commercial hit by Divine was another song that became an internet sensation the minute it was released. Mirchi is still one of those songs by the rapper that stays on everyone`s playlist.
5. One Side
`Paisa nahi, rap mera shauk hai` made him shine among other Indian rappers and how. Making his struggles the hero of the song, One Side talks about Divine`s poverty and struggle of belonging to a slum area.
About RCFA
Radio City Freedom Awards is an initiative by Radio City to celebrate and encourage independent artists and musicianship. With some popular names like Divine, Prateek Kuhad, Brodha V, Natania Lalwani, and many more sweeping the Jury`s Choice and People`s Choice awards in various categories, RCFA only keeps on getting bigger, better, and bolder.
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With substantial brands like Nissan coming on board as one of the presenting partners, it makes India`s leading independent music award more credible and a shape-shifter in the industry.
RCFA is back with its seventh season and we are calling all independent artists to submit their entries now.
