Changing the rhythm

The HaikuJAM cottage in Bandra/ All Pics Sameer Markande

When we first speak with Aamir Shaikh aka Shaikhspeare of the Nallasopara-based hip-hop collective Bombay Lokal, he says a mantra with no resounding similarity to his moniker. Contrary to the 16th century dramatist and poet, and his Shakespearean tragedies, Shaikhspeare is here to send "good vibes only". The 29-year-old, along with 11 other members who include emcees, beat-boxers, breakers, graffiti artists and a DJ, are aiming to change the way people perceive rap music in the city.

Dhrupad Karwa

"Rap is essentially a combination of rhythm and poetry but people still don't consider it an art form. We want to bridge that gap," he explains. In collaboration with social writing application HaikuJAM, the group will be part of Rap Khel, an event that involves performance, conversation and a freestyle hip-hop cypher. The first of its kind to happen in the city, the approach is non-instructional - it's chilled out, as best described by the two entities.

Adwait Bansode

With an aim to create music that is not just about the beat, Bombay Lokal strives to put socio-political issues into the forefront and Nallasopara on the map. Talking of their upcoming music, which they will also perform at the event, they say that the personal connect can never be absent. "Hailing from a lower middle-class family, my solo speaks of constant internal conflict. We realise that our audience is diverse. Yes, there is an activist who would love our music, but there is also that 10-year-old kid from Nallasopara who dreams of a better future. Our artistic approach is to keep it relatable," says 20-year-old Akshay Poojary aka Gravity.

Akshay Poojary

In today's age of censorship, Shaikh states that simply striking a conversation is the need of the hour, and the hip-hop genre has the power to do just that. Although, when viewed in the context of history, rap and haiku seem to be binaries, for Dhrupad Karwa, the 26-year-old CEO and co-founder of HaikuJAM, there isn't any harm in building a confluence. "We believe that people from different walks of life have a lot more in common than they may first imagine," he explains.

Parth Mistry

With social technology dominating our lives, Karwa believes that the future needs to be a lot more human. He adds, "They are not making us happier or helping us form healthy habits or connecting us on any real emotional level. We believe that the purpose of technology is to elevate human life and this is why we're designing a space that brings people together through thoughts and emotions - facilitating a sense of belonging."

Roshan Gamare

On: July 28, 7 pm to 9 pm
At: HaikuJAM (Mehdi) Cottage, 36 Waroda Road, Bandra West.
Log on to: bandra.haikujam.com
Entry: Rs 200

Aamir Shaikh

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