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Special Features Updated Jul 20, 2026

Raftaar on Hip-Hop's Role as the Voice of the Streets in New Series Legacy

Rapper Raftaar asserts that hip-hop has always been the voice of people from the streets. He has created the reality series 'Legacy' with KR$NA and Ankit Khanna to spotlight emerging Indian rap talent. The show prioritizes lyricism, originality, and mentorship over popularity. KR$NA notes that while India has talent, it lacks platforms that truly understand hip-hop.

Raftaar says Hip-hop has been the voice of people

Mumbai, July 20

Rapper Raftaar, who is known for 'Morni', 'Dhakad', 'Ghana Kasoota', 'Bandook Meri Laila' and others, has said that Hip-hop has always been the voice to people from the streets.

The rapper has created the reality series 'Legacy' in association with KR$NA and Kalamkaar co-founder Ankit Khanna. The series brings India's emerging rap talent into the spotlight with a format that prioritises lyricism, originality and mentorship over popularity.

Talking about the show, Raftaar said, "Hip-hop has always been about giving a voice to people who have something real to say. With Legacy, we're creating a platform where talent isn't judged by numbers or popularity, but by skill, hunger and originality. We want people to witness the journey of becoming an artist, because that's where the real story lies".

Hip-hop emerged from marginalized communities as a powerful medium for storytelling, resistance and self-expression. The genre was born in the Bronx during the 1970s, and gave artistes a platform to address issues such as poverty, racial inequality, police brutality, political injustice and social exclusion.

Meanwhile, 'Legacy' is designed to discover and nurture India's next generation of lyricists, performers and storytellers. The series puts the spotlight on raw talent, lyrical ability and artistic growth through a combination of high-stakes challenges, performances and mentorship.

KR$NA said, "India has never lacked talent, it has lacked platforms that truly understand hip-hop. Legacy is about finding artists who respect the craft and are ready to push themselves. If this show inspires even a handful of artists to believe in their voice, we've achieved what we set out to do".

The series is rooted in the belief that while India has no shortage of hip-hop talent, artists need the right platform to grow. By placing authenticity, discipline and storytelling at its core, the series offers viewers an inside look at the journey of building a career in music while giving emerging artists an opportunity to showcase their craft.

Produced by SVF Entertainment, 'Legacy' is available to stream on Kalamkaar Music YouTube channel.

— IANS

Reader Comments

Priya M

Hip-hop has been giving voice to the streets since the 70s, and now it's our turn in India. Love that KR$NA mentioned the lack of proper platforms - that's the real struggle. But I hope they don't commercialize it too much, keep it authentic!

Rohit S

'Morni' was catchy but Raftaar can do so much more. This show sounds promising - real lyricism over popularity is exactly what the Indian rap scene needs. But let's see if it actually discovers underground talent or just another reality show drama.

Neha T

Hip-hop has been the voice of our streets too - from gully rap to local battles, it's all about expressing what's real. This initiative feels like a step in the right direction. Hope they feature diverse regional languages and not just Hindi/English.

Siddharth R

Respect to Raftaar and KR$NA for putting this together. Too many 'rappers' these days just want fame without the craft. Legacy seems like it will push artists to actually write meaningful lyrics and respect the culture. Can't wait to see the talent!

Vikram D

Hip-hop gave a voice to the marginalized in America, and in India it's giving voice to our own struggles - poverty, caste discrimination, unemployment. Shows like this can be powerful if they don't sanitize the message. Let's see how raw they keep it.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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