Rebel lights up Kolkata with high-octane hip-hop performance.
A gastropub in Sector V turned into a high-octane heaven for hip-hop lovers on Saturday night, thanks to Shillong’s breakout rapper, Dia Lamare, popularly known as Rebel. With bright lights, pounding bass and a crowd that refused to stand still – Rebel performed their hit songs run down town – Monica From stalwart And hey hey From Dhurandhar: Revenge. We caught up with the rapper after the show to find out what it’s like to perform in Kolkata, the story behind his stage name, and what inspires his sound and writing.‘The performance was thrilling for the city’s diverse crowd’For Rebel, performing in Kolkata felt like stepping into unfamiliar, but exciting territory. “It was definitely a different crowd than my usual experiences, very diverse,” he said. “And that’s what makes it special. You don’t always see so many people from different age groups and communities coming together like this.” Off the stage, his answer to Kolkata’s biggest attraction was sweet and simple – “The food,” he said as he moved to grab another rasgulla after the show.
It was great to see people from all walks of life coming together, losing themselves in the music and sharing the same vibe
Rebel
‘Everything I do comes from my own experiences’We asked Rebel the story behind her stage name. “It is a symbol of rebellion,” he said. Coming from Meghalaya, she says, she had to work hard to be visible in a place where voices from the Northeast don’t always get the spotlight. “I have had to work twice as hard. But I am confident that our people will step up. There is a lot of talent and the youth will change the game,” he said. She emphasizes that her music is extremely personal. “Everything I do comes from my own experiences. I take emotions and turn it into rap. This is what gives me energy even today. There’s no pretense, no borrowed voices, just truth lived out,” he explained.
We need more women in hip-hop to show the world that we are capable of so much more. There is room, and we need more voices to come forward
Rebel
‘My own music is who I am – everything else is part of the journey’Rebel’s unique rap and sound brought him fame with the soundtrack of Dhurandhar. Talking about this, she says, “My own music will always be my priority, my identity,” adding, “Commercial work feels like a side pursuit – I enjoy it, but I just love making music, no matter what form it takes.”Set list for the evening:
- new riot
- terror
- Monica (Run Down Town)
- Saraswati
- hey hey