Over the past 20 years, Indian hip-hop has developed into a phenomenon both inside and outside the country. On Spotify, the genre has seen rapid growth. In 2023, close to 30% of all top 50 tracks in India in 2023 were hip-hop.
Gen Z is a driving force behind the popularity of hip-hop in India, representing more than 70% of the genre's listeners on Spotify in the country. One of the key reasons why Gen Zers in India gravitate toward hip-hop is because of its relatability and authenticity. And, as the genre continues to evolve across India, various regions are developing their own styles of this music.
Many of these artists can be found on Spotify's flagship Indian hip-hop playlist, Rap 91, which has seen its follower count grow by 110% over the last two years. In that time, Rap 91 has also celebrated India's rich and diverse hip-hop tradition by hosting a live showcase featuring some of the culture's biggest and most promising artists.
This year is no different, and on November 10, the third edition of Rap 91 Live will take place at Mumbai's Mehboob Studios and feature Paal Dabba, Dhanda Nyoliwala, Kinari, BABY JEAN, and many more.
Keep reading to learn more about these artists, along with Indian hip-hop's other rising stars.
Paal Dabba
Born and raised in the vibrant streets of Chennai, Paal Dabba seamlessly blends traditional Tamil influences with modern hip-hop, creating a sonic identity that is truly his own. Beginning his career as a dancer, he mastered the art of movement before diving into the world of rap, evidenced by Paal's electric performances that fuse rhythmic Tamil verses and energetic dance moves.
With a commitment to storytelling, Paal Dabba uses his music to explore his personal experiences, bring awareness to social issues, and amplify the pulse of Tamil culture. His authentic voice resonates with fans, making him a powerful figure in the global rap scene.
Dhanda Nyoliwala
Dhanda Nyoliwala is a pillar of the Haryanvi rap scene, making a name for himself through his unapologetic lyrics. Originally from Nyoli Kalan, Haryana, India, this Australia-based artist exploded onto the scene in 2019 with his debut track Afgan, which would pioneer a game-changing sound: Haryanvi Drill.
Since then, his hit single Up To U smashed records, landing at number one on both Spotify India charts, while his genre-defining work has paved the way for a new wave of Haryanvi artists.
Kinari
A transgender rapper from Delhi, Kinari is renowned for her hard-hitting lyrics and cinematic production. This year saw the release of her debut album, Kattar Kinnar, which was met with commercial and critical acclaim. Influenced by artists like MC STAN, Vijay Dk, Pasha Bhai, JAKX, and Arivu, Kinari's music embodies a complex yet infectious artistry.
This past September, Kinari released Pinjre Ke Geet, her first self-produced project, which explores her nuanced relationship to Delhi.
Baby Jean
Just 23 years old, Baby Jean has already made a name for himself thanks to his unique flow, clever wordplay, and infectious beats. Hailing from Kerala, his music reflects his personal experiences growing up in Malappuram, tackling themes of death, loss, and self-discovery.
Baby Jean has been honing his craft since he was a teenager, developing a magnetic stage presence and steadily building a loyal fan base through his memorable live performances and social media presence.
Hanumankind
Influenced by Southern hip-hop legends like Three 6 Mafia and DJ Screw, Hanumankind has developed a unique style that merges his Indian heritage with contemporary hip-hop.
Hanumankind's breakthrough moment came in 2019 when released his debut EP, Kalari, featuring tracks like Daily Dose that quickly garnered attention in the Indian hip-hop scene and on Spotify. This year, he scored a major hit with Big Dawgs, which landed in the Top 10 of our Top 50 Global playlist, and has been streamed nearly 290 million times on Spotify to date. Between July and September following the song's release, the rapper grew his number of Spotify followers by more than 900%.
Discover more of India's hottest names in hip-hop on our flagship playlist Rap 91.
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
14/01/2026
Steiger Media's adoption of Calrec's compact Argo M console not only makes its innovative new hybrid truck faster, more efficient, and agile, but also e...
14/01/2026
Wednesday 14 January 2026
Sky News announces Cathy Newman to lead flagship new political programme
Sky News today announces that award-winning journalist and ...
14/01/2026
The first stamp of An Post's 2026 Stamp Programme, marking 100 Years of Broadcasting, was unveiled at by Patrick O'Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Com...
14/01/2026
It's official! Beverley Callard has landed in Carrigstown. The beloved actor, known for her unforgettable roles and iconic screen presence, is joining the c...
13/01/2026
Independent media in Brazil and Colombia is facing an urgent crisis of traditional business models alongside a deteriorating security environment, according to ...
13/01/2026
Luxembourg, December 17, 2025 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading spa...
13/01/2026
Written and executive produced by Steve Lightfoot and Angela LaManna, produced b...
13/01/2026
New updates to Hitmaker Expansion from Celemony and Softube Edit pitch-perfect vocals with Melodyne Essential and get radio-ready guitar tones from Softube...
13/01/2026
Live broadcasts from RT 2FM Breakfast with Carl, Roz & Aisling, RT Radio 1 Tod...
12/01/2026
Spotify's new co-CEOs, Alex Norstr m and Gustav S derstr m, start off the new year with a message of renewed leadership, creative responsibility, and what&#...
12/01/2026
At Spotify, we listen to a lot of music. And every year, our global editors and artist partnerships teams come together to spotlight the emerging voices we beli...
12/01/2026
Spotify's global editors and Songwriter & Publisher Partnerships team spend their days immersed in new music, tracking the writers behind the songs breaking...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan and increases its support for the J...
12/01/2026
X-Rite and Rhopoint Launch Rhopoint PANTORA Aesthetix to Streamline Creation of...
12/01/2026
12 Jan 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Launches 5G Pilot in Lviv Lviv, January 12, 2026 - VEON, a global digital operator (Nasdaq: VEON), today announces that Kyivsta...
12/01/2026
Monday 12 January 2026
The ultimate betrayal: Harry and Jamie Redknapp, Paul Me...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan to increase its support for the Jap...
12/01/2026
Welcome to the AVECO team: introducing new members of management
At AVECO, we are continuing to implement our #newAVECO strategy, which aims to build an even s...
12/01/2026
For the first time in the nine-year history of Dancing with the Stars, the first...
10/01/2026
This year, podcasts are making their Golden Globes debut with a new category honoring the medium's leading shows and creators. To mark the occasion, Spotify...
09/01/2026
RT Player has 157 million streams, up 10% year-on-year
An increase on 2024, RT...
09/01/2026
RT 2FM has today announced the highly anticipated list of 2FM Rising Artists for 2026, kicking off 2FM Rising week for the eighth year on The Tracy Clifford Sh...
09/01/2026
RT to Host the 2026 RTS Ireland Awards
Thursday, 16 April 2026 | Dublin Royal Convention Centre
The RTS Ireland Television Awards 2026 | Gradaim RTS 2026 | R...
08/01/2026
An evidence-based analysis on disinformation and information manipulation in Sudan's ongoing conflict is published today. (January 8th 2026).
Thomson Found...
08/01/2026
In 2025 we launched the Spotify Partner Program to give creators more ways to tu...
08/01/2026
On Wednesday in Los Angeles, Spotify welcomed creators and press to a brunch cel...
08/01/2026
TSA awards Rohde & Schwarz contract for advanced airport screening ahead of Socc...
08/01/2026
The review looks back at DPA's miniature microphone development over the years. It compares the evolving technologies from the original mics through CORE an...
08/01/2026
Comscore Launches Audio Targeting and Measurement Capabilities with The Trade De...
08/01/2026
Tonight, on RT Prime Time at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player
Tonight, Prime T...
08/01/2026
The Late Late Show celebrates the very best of traditional Irish music with its first-ever full special dedicated entirely to the tradition
Lisa Canny | Kevin...
08/01/2026
It will be murder on the dancefloor when Dancing with the Stars returns this S...
07/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
07/01/2026
We know people use Spotify not just to listen, but to share the songs, podcasts, and audiobooks they love with their friends and family. When we launched Messag...
07/01/2026
This week, all eyes are on the podcast industry as the Golden Globes recognizes ...
07/01/2026
Podcasts are stepping onto a new stage this week as the Golden Globes recognize the medium for the first time. To mark this milestone moment, we're hosting ...
06/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
06/01/2026
Lorde. A$AP Rocky. JENNIE. Baby Keem. KATSEYE. That's just a taste of who...
06/01/2026
Channel 4 and UKTV are giving viewers even more reasons to stream, with UKTV's U service set to feature thousands of hours of free, unmissable and bingeable...
06/01/2026
Tuesday 6 January 2026
An update on our Sky Mobile prices
Devesh Raj, Chief Operating Officer, Sky
Today, we've announced some changes to the prices of ...
06/01/2026
Comscore Launches Daily Program-Level Reporting with Deduplicated Insights on Sh...
06/01/2026
Comscore Completes Recapitalization Transaction with Preferred Stockholders Foll...
05/01/2026
Bad Bunny's DeB TiRAR M S FOToS defined the sound of 2025 for listeners eve...
05/01/2026
As the clock struck midnight and 2026 was born, so was an exciting range of new ...
05/01/2026
These Sacred Vows starring Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O'...
Over the past 20 years, Indian hip-hop has developed into a phenomenon both inside and outside the country. On Spotify, the genre has seen rapid growth. In 2023, close to 30% of all top 50 tracks in India in 2023 were hip-hop.
