Now known as "the speed devil of the rapping scenario", the journey of the Rap sensation Raftaar was not a bed full of roses.
His father being a cleaner in the Indian Railways and mother working as a typist, Dilin Nair (his birth name) had his own highs and lows.
From being bullied by rich brats in school to teaching dance for just Rs. 150, the rapper tasted all the spices of life.
Talking about the turning point of his life he revealed, "When a friend gave me a CD of Eminem and Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) songs, my life changed."
"I was a wannabe who thought he could rhyme after listening to Eminem, Linkin Park, Lupe Fiasco and Nas. Not only their songs, I was also fascinated by the hip-hop culture of long tees and tilted snapbacks," stated the popular rapper who recently released his new single called Dab along with Sonu Kakkad and Muhfaad.
Condemning the discrimination and objectification of women by rappers, Raftaar has taken an oath to never structure songs that objectify anyone in the society.
However, he defended his tribe by arguing that they deliver what listeners desire. "Individual disapproving my tunes don't understand the hidden meaning in it as if it lands on deaf ears", he says.
What's interesting to note is, unlike other popular rappers, Raftaar is not very fond of tunes that just discuss cars, young ladies, alcohol, and party, but the ones disseminating social messages.
(Inputs by Kaushiki Priya Tiwary)