Try GOLD - Free
Gully Boys
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
|September 07, 2025
Underground rappers from Delhi's Jamnapaar tell their stories of the gullies while some break into celebritydom
In the heart of Delhi's congested Laxmi Nagar, where tangled power lines cut across narrow lanes and the city hums with restless energy, a new rhythm pulses from Safedavan Park. Sixty young rappers form a tight-knit circle around 23-year-old Sameer Khan, who cradles a boombox pumping slow, gritty instrumentals. As the tempo climbs, a rapper strides into the centre, firing sharp disses in rapid bursts. Another steps up, locking eyes and trading bars with precision. The styles switch effortlessly—freestyle, hardcore, old school, melodic—but each verse bleeds the raw, unfiltered spirit of the 'hood': Jamnapaar, the trans-Yamuna area of east and north-east Delhi.
In 2019, Raga (Ravi Mishra) shot to fame with the release of Jamnapaar, a song exploring the lives of young boys in the gullies of east Delhi. Much like underground rappers like Divine from Mumbai, who rose to fame by writing about life in chawls, Raga's lyrics aimed to represent trans-Yamuna localities of eastern Delhi, often excluded from the Capital's glossy narrative in popular culture. Ankit Singh, aka Ikka, learnt his craft in Jamnapaar, continuing the legacy in his songs even today. The fame and love these rappers have received prompted underground rappers here to sing their stories of the gullies.
This story is from the September 07, 2025 edition of The New Indian Express Coimbatore.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The New Indian Express Coimbatore
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
IIHL, Invesco Mutual Fund form JV
INDUSIND International Holdings Limited (IIHL), the promoter of IndusInd Bank, and Invesco Ltd. (Invesco) have completed formation of their asset management joint venture (JV) following ITHL’s acquisition of a60% ownership stake in Invesco Asset Management India (IAMD).
1 min
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
Two children among 6 dead in Russian blitz on Ukraine
RUSSIA fired a wave of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least six people including two children and cutting power to tens of thousands, officials said Sunday.
1 min
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
Shafali displays her worth on big day
A home World Cup final against South Africa. 40,000 fans making the Stadium seem like a circular wall of blue. You are taking guard for only the second time in the tournament after having come in as an injury replacement. What would you do?
2 mins
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
Groww initial public offer: Founders, early investors to gain up to 5,100%
THE promoters and the early investors of Billionbrains Garage Ventures, the parent of the country’s largest brokerage Groww, are going to make a killing from the %6,632 crore IPO that’s opening on Monday because their acquisition value is only a fraction of the post-issue valuation of the company that’s at $61,735 crore at the upper end of price band. Some of them will be making a windfall gains of up to5,100%, while the lowest return is 1,700%.
1 min
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
Srinivasaraj president of TNCA
TJ SRINIVASARAJ was elected unopposed as president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association at the general elections for the office bearers and Apex Council Members of the TNCA for the term 2025-2028 on Sunday. He was the treasurer of the TNCA in his previous term.
1 min
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
Ahead of talks, MHA asks Ladakh bodies to submit fresh draft of demands
AHEAD of the talks with Ladakh leaders, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a fresh detailed draft from Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on their charter of demands.
1 min
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
‘Our profitability is better than many bigger industry peers’
CANARA Bank reported a net profit of %4,774 crore in Q2 FY26, up 19% year-on-year, driven by improved asset quality and growth in advances. Yet the bank’s net interest income fell by 2% and net interest margin fell to 2.52%.
2 mins
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
48 J'khand migrants stuck in Tunisia set to return home as firm steps in
THE ordeal of 48 migrant workers from Jharkhand's Giridih, Bokaro and Hazaribagh districts, who have been stranded in Tunisia, North Africa, for the past several months is finally coming to an end, with their return scheduled for November 5 after intervention by Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
1 mins
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
77 foreigners among 1.1K run for J&K tourism
IN the first major event held in the Valley after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, the second edition of Kashmir Marathon 2025 was organised in Srinagar on Sunday to revive tourism and promote Kashmir as a global hub for sports and adventure.
1 min
November 03, 2025
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
14 fall sick after dinner at Kovai engg college
AS many as 14 students studying at the Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology at Thirumalaiyampalayam on the outskirts of Coimbatore fell ill allegedly after taking dinner at their college hostel on Saturday.
1 mins
November 03, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size