How Cypher Shaped Indian Hip-Hop Culture
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Hip-hop is a genre distinguished by its collaborative nature. Unlike other musical genres where collaborations with multiple lead singers from different bands are a rarity, hip-hop thrives on such partnerships.
A perfect example of this is rap cyphers. The concept of the “cipher” finds its roots in the mid-1960s, introduced by the Five Percent Nation in Harlem.
Originally referring to a circle, the cypher evolved during hip-hop’s early days, as groups of rappers gathered in circles to exchange verses for competition, practice, or entertainment.
This raw and unstructured form of expression became a permanent fixture in hip-hop culture, giving rise to the phenomenon of Posse Cuts or Posse Tracks. These songs involve four or more rappers, capturing the raw essence of the cypher, with each artist adding their unique style.
Over a decade ago, online communities like Orkut and Facebook groups such as Insignia served as incubators for Indian hip-hop, organizing online cyphers and rap battles.
Today, Indian hip hop has evolved from its relative obscurity to achieving mainstream success - and rap cyphers have been a major force behind it.
Delhi’s rap scene, shaped by artists like the late Knuckle Dusta, Ghost Status, Panini, and Rawal, has built the cypher culture from the ground up. This movement was later expanded by collectives like Spitdope, known for organizing some of the most renowned rap battles in Indian hip-hop.
In Mumbai, groups like Mumbai’s Finest and The HipHop Movement laid the foundation for Indian Hip-Hop. They organized one of the earliest cyphers in Indian hip-hop history, featuring artists like Divine, Enkore, Kinga Rhymes, Kav-E, Poetik Justis, Adro, D’Evil, Gravity, EMF, and X-Centrik.
Nearly a decade ago, the Bangalore rap cypher, featuring MCs such as Brodha V, Smokey The Ghost, Big Deal, and Charles Dickenson, gained traction in the city’s underground hip-hop scene.
Even in popular culture, Gully Boy showcases an iconic cypher scene where Muraad, though hesitant at first, raps one of his most popular verses ‘Asli HipHop’ in a circle of rappers.
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A perfect example of this is rap cyphers. The concept of the “cipher” finds its roots in the mid-1960s, introduced by the Five Percent Nation in Harlem.
Originally referring to a circle, the cypher evolved during hip-hop’s early days, as groups of rappers gathered in circles to exchange verses for competition, practice, or entertainment.
This raw and unstructured form of expression became a permanent fixture in hip-hop culture, giving rise to the phenomenon of Posse Cuts or Posse Tracks. These songs involve four or more rappers, capturing the raw essence of the cypher, with each artist adding their unique style.
Over a decade ago, online communities like Orkut and Facebook groups such as Insignia served as incubators for Indian hip-hop, organizing online cyphers and rap battles.
Today, Indian hip hop has evolved from its relative obscurity to achieving mainstream success - and rap cyphers have been a major force behind it.
Delhi’s rap scene, shaped by artists like the late Knuckle Dusta, Ghost Status, Panini, and Rawal, has built the cypher culture from the ground up. This movement was later expanded by collectives like Spitdope, known for organizing some of the most renowned rap battles in Indian hip-hop.
In Mumbai, groups like Mumbai’s Finest and The HipHop Movement laid the foundation for Indian Hip-Hop. They organized one of the earliest cyphers in Indian hip-hop history, featuring artists like Divine, Enkore, Kinga Rhymes, Kav-E, Poetik Justis, Adro, D’Evil, Gravity, EMF, and X-Centrik.
Nearly a decade ago, the Bangalore rap cypher, featuring MCs such as Brodha V, Smokey The Ghost, Big Deal, and Charles Dickenson, gained traction in the city’s underground hip-hop scene.
Even in popular culture, Gully Boy showcases an iconic cypher scene where Muraad, though hesitant at first, raps one of his most popular verses ‘Asli HipHop’ in a circle of rappers.
Click Here To Read More
The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop
Kaminey: Music Chaos & Mumbai's Underworld
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