If every gully of Mumbai could tell a story, we\u2019d have thousands of them. While Mumbai is the so-called \u2018financial capital\u2019 of India and \u2018entertainment capital \u2018of India, there in its dark belly, lies a reality harsher than the outer glamor. One such story witnessed and brought to the world, is by none other than a young lad Vivian Fernandes, who grew up in the slums of JB Nagar in Andheri East, Mumbai. He put Mumbai\u2019s underground rappers amongst international Hip Hop stars. This is the Divine Story of an Indian rapper.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vivian Fernandes, the Indian\u00a0rap artist and Mumbai rapper better known by his stage name\u00a0DIVINE, became the voice of many who face a difficult life in big cities. While growing up in the slums, he would see Mumbai on one hand, develop the international airport for the rich while the poor people in his neighborhood continued to live in abject poverty. His view about poverty and politics\u00a0expressed in rap characterized different and distinct sides of Mumbai – wealth, social evils, political gains, and poverty. The truth struck a chord with the\u00a0masses. Later his song with co rapper Naezy, titled ‘Mere Gully Mein’ served not only as an epitome of real life in the by lanes of Mumbai but also became a protest song.<\/span><\/p>\n

The beginning:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The name Divine came to mind when Vivian started to write gospel songs. He started writing music when his mother gifted him with a mic and a computer. He wrote three gospel rap songs but knew he wanted more. As he began putting down his thoughts and experiences from daily life, emerged the heart-wrenching lyrics for his every song.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a part of a rap group, Mumbai\u2019s Finest, Divine produced many songs in English for them. But soon realizing, this would never touch a nerve with the major Hindi speaking population, he left the group to begin writing in Hindi. Not knowing the very first word he wrote in Hindi \u2018Gully\u2019 would later be synonymous with his name being lovingly called \u2018Gully Boy\u2019. As a solo rapper, his first Hindi song, ‘Yeh Mera Bombay’ which simply mirrored life in the gully drew the attention that he hoped would when a language connects. (Gully in slang refers to people that come from the gutter or streets).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>The way forward:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n