<p>A former gang member charged in the 1996 murder of hip-hop star&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Shakur pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Las Vegas court.</p>

<p>Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 60, who police said was long suspected in the murder and began implicating himself in a series of public statements in recent years, responded "not guilty" when asked by Clark County district judge Tierra Jones if he wanted to enter a plea.</p>

<p>Davis was indicted in September by a Clark County grand jury and arrested in Las Vegas for Shakur's drive-by shooting death, a long-unsolved crime that became a defining moment in the history of rap music.</p>

<p>Davis was charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon for his alleged role in leading a group of men to kill Shakur in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas strip.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tupac-shakur-receives-posthumous-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame-602012">Tupac Shakur receives posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame</a></strong></p>

<p>Shakur, widely regarded as one of rap music's greatest artists, was also one of its most commercially successful, selling more than 75 million records worldwide.</p>

<p>Authorities said Davis orchestrated a plot to avenge the beating of his nephew, Orlando Anderson, inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena by Shakur and members of his entourage on the night of Sept. 7, 1996, just hours before the shooting.</p>

<p>At a news conference after Davis' arrest, police showed hotel security footage of several men kicking and punching a person they identified as Anderson near a bank of elevators before security personnel broke up the altercation.</p>

<p>That incident, police said, led to the retaliatory shooting death of Shakur.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/arrest-in-tupac-shakur-killing-stemmed-from-biggie-smalls-death-investigation-641173">Arrest in Tupac Shakur killing stemmed from Biggie Smalls death investigation</a></strong></p>

<p>After obtaining a gun from an unnamed associate, Davis, along with Anderson and two other men, Terrence Brown and Deandre Smith, got into a white Cadillac and rode off to find the black BMW that was carrying Shakur, police said.</p>

<p>When Davis and the others caught up to Shakur's vehicle, shots were fired from the Cadillac into the passenger side of the BMW. Shakur, struck four times, died in hospital six days later at the age of 25.</p>

<p>Authorities have not said who actually fired the gun at Shakur. The three others in the Cadillac with Davis have all since died.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/former-gang-leader-charged-with-rapper-tupac-shakurs-1996-murder-641094">Former gang leader charged with rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder in Las Vegas</a></strong></p>

<p>Shakur was best known for raw lyrics laced with violence, sex and profanity describing life in the ghetto. He was no stranger to trouble, having spent much of the last two and a half years of his life in and out of court, jail or hospitals.</p>


A former gang member charged in the 1996 murder of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Las Vegas court. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 60, who police said was long suspected in the murder and began implicating himself in a series of public statements in recent years, responded "not guilty" when asked by Clark County district judge Tierra Jones if he wanted to enter a plea.

A former gang member charged in the 1996 murder of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Las Vegas court. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 60, who police said was long suspected in the murder and began implicating himself in a series of public statements in recent years, responded "not guilty" when asked by Clark County district judge Tierra Jones if he wanted to enter a plea. Davis was indicted in September by a Clark County grand jury and arrested in Las Vegas for Shakur's drive-by shooting death, a long-unsolved crime that became a defining moment in the history of rap music. Davis was charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon for his alleged role in leading a group of men to kill Shakur in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas strip. ALSO READ | Tupac Shakur receives posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Shakur, widely regarded as one of rap music's greatest artists, was also one of its most commercially successful, selling more than 75 million records worldwide. Authorities said Davis orchestrated a plot to avenge the beating of his nephew, Orlando Anderson, inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena by Shakur and members of his entourage on the night of Sept. 7, 1996, just hours before the shooting. At a news conference after Davis' arrest, police showed hotel security footage of several men kicking and punching a person they identified as Anderson near a bank of elevators before security personnel broke up the altercation. That incident, police said, led to the retaliatory shooting death of Shakur. ALSO READ | Arrest in Tupac Shakur killing stemmed from Biggie Smalls death investigation After obtaining a gun from an unnamed associate, Davis, along with Anderson and two other men, Terrence Brown and Deandre Smith, got into a white Cadillac and rode off to find the black BMW that was carrying Shakur, police said. When Davis and the others caught up to Shakur's vehicle, shots were fired from the Cadillac into the passenger side of the BMW. Shakur, struck four times, died in hospital six days later at the age of 25. Authorities have not said who actually fired the gun at Shakur. The three others in the Cadillac with Davis have all since died. ALSO READ | Former gang leader charged with rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder in Las Vegas Shakur was best known for raw lyrics laced with violence, sex and profanity describing life in the ghetto. He was no stranger to trouble, having spent much of the last two and a half years of his life in and out of court, jail or hospitals.

Suspect in rapper Tupac Shakur's killing pleads not guilty in Las Vegas court

<p>A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday.</p>

<p>The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25.</p>

<p>Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted by a grand jury in Nevada, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told a court.</p>

<p>"The presumption is great that he is responsible for the murder of&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Shakur, and he will be found guilty of murder with use of a deadly weapon," he said.</p>

<p>Shakur, the best-selling hip-hop artist behind hits such as "California Love," was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.</p>

<p>Shakur had a brief but stratospheric career, rapidly rising from backup dancer to self-styled gangsta rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, selling 75 million records.</p>

<p>He became a key figure in a vaunted rivalry, egged on by promoters, between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop.</p>

<p>Though born in New York, Shakur moved as a teenager with his family to California, becoming one of the most identifiable figures in the West Coast scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The circumstances of Shakur's death in September 1996 remain murky, and theories have long abounded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shakur's murder was followed six months later by the gunning down of his rival, East Coast rapper Christopher "The Notorious BIG" Wallace.</p>

<p>Many believe they were slain as part of a rivalry between their music labels, LA-based Death Row and New York's Bad Boy Entertainment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But some music historians say the coastal rift was exaggerated for commercial reasons.</p>

<p>Shakur -- whose mother Afeni was active in the Black Panther movement and named him after&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Amaru, a revolutionary Inca chief -- used his lyrics to highlight issues facing Black Americans, from police brutality to mass incarceration.</p>

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A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday. The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25.

A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday. The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25. Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted by a grand jury in Nevada, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told a court. "The presumption is great that he is responsible for the murder of Tupac Shakur, and he will be found guilty of murder with use of a deadly weapon," he said. Shakur, the best-selling hip-hop artist behind hits such as "California Love," was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. Shakur had a brief but stratospheric career, rapidly rising from backup dancer to self-styled gangsta rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, selling 75 million records. He became a key figure in a vaunted rivalry, egged on by promoters, between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop. Though born in New York, Shakur moved as a teenager with his family to California, becoming one of the most identifiable figures in the West Coast scene. The circumstances of Shakur's death in September 1996 remain murky, and theories have long abounded. Shakur's murder was followed six months later by the gunning down of his rival, East Coast rapper Christopher "The Notorious BIG" Wallace. Many believe they were slain as part of a rivalry between their music labels, LA-based Death Row and New York's Bad Boy Entertainment. But some music historians say the coastal rift was exaggerated for commercial reasons. Shakur -- whose mother Afeni was active in the Black Panther movement and named him after Tupac Amaru, a revolutionary Inca chief -- used his lyrics to highlight issues facing Black Americans, from police brutality to mass incarceration. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former gang leader charged with rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder in Las Vegas

<p>Canadian rapper Drake revealed Friday that he is the buyer of a crown-shaped ring that belonged to slain hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur, which sold at auction this week for a record $1 million.</p>

<p>Drake shared an Instagram story that showed him wearing the bauble, which sold Tuesday at Sotheby's for a total of $1.016 million, including commission and fees.</p>

<p>That was well above the pre-sale estimate of between $200,000 and $300,000, making it the most valuable hip-hop artefact ever sold, the auction house said.</p>

<p>Drake -- the best-selling artist behind hits such as "Hotline Bling" and "Nice For What" -- has spent lavishly in the past, including buying a Boeing 767 for personal use and paying $104 million for a Los Angeles home once owned by singer Robbie Williams.</p>

<p>The New York-born Shakur wore the ring during his final public appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996.</p>

<p>Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time with 75 million records sold, he was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Las Vegas just days later. He was 25.</p>

<p>Shakur, whose hits included "California Love," designed the ring over the course of a few months, Sotheby's said.</p>

<p>He did so through his godmother Yaasmyn Fula, who put the ring up for sale.</p>

<p>A gold circlet studded with a central cabochon ruby flanked by two pave-cut diamonds sits atop a diamond-encrusted gold band.</p>

<p>Shakur was influenced by 16th-century Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli's political manifesto "The Prince," which he read while in prison on sex abuse charges.</p>

<p>He modelled the design on the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe, Sotheby's added.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Canadian rapper Drake revealed Friday that he is the buyer of a crown-shaped ring that belonged to slain hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur, which sold at auction this week for a record $1 million.

Canadian rapper Drake revealed Friday that he is the buyer of a crown-shaped ring that belonged to slain hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur, which sold at auction this week for a record $1 million. Drake shared an Instagram story that showed him wearing the bauble, which sold Tuesday at Sotheby's for a total of $1.016 million, including commission and fees. That was well above the pre-sale estimate of between $200,000 and $300,000, making it the most valuable hip-hop artefact ever sold, the auction house said. Drake -- the best-selling artist behind hits such as "Hotline Bling" and "Nice For What" -- has spent lavishly in the past, including buying a Boeing 767 for personal use and paying $104 million for a Los Angeles home once owned by singer Robbie Williams. The New York-born Shakur wore the ring during his final public appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time with 75 million records sold, he was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Las Vegas just days later. He was 25. Shakur, whose hits included "California Love," designed the ring over the course of a few months, Sotheby's said. He did so through his godmother Yaasmyn Fula, who put the ring up for sale. A gold circlet studded with a central cabochon ruby flanked by two pave-cut diamonds sits atop a diamond-encrusted gold band. Shakur was influenced by 16th-century Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli's political manifesto "The Prince," which he read while in prison on sex abuse charges. He modelled the design on the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe, Sotheby's added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Top-of-the-line bling: Drake reveals he bought hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur's crown ring

A gold ruby and Diamond Crown ring worn by rap legend Tupac Shakur during his last public appearance sold for one million dollars at auction in New York.

Tupac Shakur's ring fetches more than the estimated price

Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas in September 1996. Cops stated that they have started to work on the cold case once more. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police recently searched the home in connection to the murder.

Tupac Shakur murder mystery: Las Vegas police search home linked to 1996 murder

<p>Late self-made millionaire and one of the most successful hip-hop legends, Tupac Shakur received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. The honour was given to the late rapper&nbsp;27 years after his death.</p>

<p>The rapper’s sister, Sekyiwa 'Set'&nbsp;Shakur, accepted the star on behalf of 2Pac and explained how it was always his dream to receive a star in Hollywood. “From the first time he stepped foot on this stage of the Apollo Theatre at 13 years old, before anyone recognized his name, he knew he had the dream to have a star here on the Walk of Fame,” she said.</p>

<p>“Now we gather here today to unveil Tupac’s star not only paying tribute to his contributions to the music industry, but also speaks volumes to the lasting impact he’s had on this world. Today, we’re not just honouring a star in the ground. But we’re honouring the work and the passion that he’s put into making his dreams comes true,” she added.</p>

<p>The 2,758th star receiver, Tupac was selected to receive an award in 2013 but The Walk of Fame waited for his family to select a date.</p>

<p>According to sources, he'll soon have a stretch of an Oakland street renamed after him as well.</p>

<h2>History of 2Pac</h2>

<p>2Pac (Tupac), often considered a symbol of rebellion, died in 1996 at the age of just 25 leaving his five-year art legacy behind. &nbsp;His career as a singer came to an end because of gunshot wounds related to gang violence. His short-lived music career didn’t stop him from selling more than 75 million records globally. These included the diamond-certified album <em>All Eyez on Me,&nbsp;</em>which is booming again now on social media along with other hits including <em>California Love</em> (Remix), <em>I Ain’t Mad at Cha</em>&nbsp;and <em>How Do U Want It.&nbsp;</em>He was also a part of the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.</p>

<p>Also known as Makaveli, Tupac was born in East Harlem, New York. The late American artist was born under the name Lesane Parish Crooks. His mother Afeni Shakur decided to change his name when he was only one year old. He was named Tupac Shakur Amaru in honour of the Inca warrior and Peruvian rebel who led an indigenous revolution in colonial times.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>A huge influence on artists</h2>

<p>Allen Hughes, who directed the FX documentary <em>Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur&nbsp;</em>said,"Tupac Amaru Shakur has become a global symbol of rebellion – a symbol as visible and important as Malcolm X and Che Guevara and an inspiration to other activists today."<br />
<br />
<em>Dear Mama&nbsp;</em>talks about the story of the rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur, as a female leader in the Black Panther Party.</p>

<p>“The world feels Tupac’s message,” Hughes said about Shakur, “Not so bad for a little Black boy from Harlem, right?"&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Today, 2Pac has more than 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify. In 2010, Shakur’s estate earned $3.5 million; a chunk of the money has come from licenses in a list of films, TV shows and video games.</p>

<p>His Facebook page has over 20 million likes, and there were over 220,000 mentions of Tupac on Twitter within the past 24 hours alone. &nbsp;Before his career as a singer-rapper took off, Shakur served as a&nbsp;backup dancer&nbsp;in the hip-hop group, Digital Underground.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 1992, he branched out as an actor. He was the star of the film <em>Juice, </em>which made around $20 million in the box office. He then starred alongside Janet Jackson in 1993 in the romantic drama <em>Poetic Justice</em>, which made over $27 million.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Late self-made millionaire and one of the most successful hip-hop legends, Tupac Shakur received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Los Angeles.

Late self-made millionaire and one of the most successful hip-hop legends, Tupac Shakur received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. The honour was given to the late rapper 27 years after his death. The rapper’s sister, Sekyiwa 'Set' Shakur, accepted the star on behalf of 2Pac and explained how it was always his dream to receive a star in Hollywood. “From the first time he stepped foot on this stage of the Apollo Theatre at 13 years old, before anyone recognized his name, he knew he had the dream to have a star here on the Walk of Fame,” she said. “Now we gather here today to unveil Tupac’s star not only paying tribute to his contributions to the music industry, but also speaks volumes to the lasting impact he’s had on this world. Today, we’re not just honouring a star in the ground. But we’re honouring the work and the passion that he’s put into making his dreams comes true,” she added. The 2,758th star receiver, Tupac was selected to receive an award in 2013 but The Walk of Fame waited for his family to select a date. According to sources, he'll soon have a stretch of an Oakland street renamed after him as well. History of 2Pac 2Pac (Tupac), often considered a symbol of rebellion, died in 1996 at the age of just 25 leaving his five-year art legacy behind. His career as a singer came to an end because of gunshot wounds related to gang violence. His short-lived music career didn’t stop him from selling more than 75 million records globally. These included the diamond-certified album All Eyez on Me, which is booming again now on social media along with other hits including California Love (Remix), I Ain’t Mad at Cha and How Do U Want It. He was also a part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Also known as Makaveli, Tupac was born in East Harlem, New York. The late American artist was born under the name Lesane Parish Crooks. His mother Afeni Shakur decided to change his name when he was only one year old. He was named Tupac Shakur Amaru in honour of the Inca warrior and Peruvian rebel who led an indigenous revolution in colonial times. A huge influence on artists Allen Hughes, who directed the FX documentary Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur said,"Tupac Amaru Shakur has become a global symbol of rebellion – a symbol as visible and important as Malcolm X and Che Guevara and an inspiration to other activists today." Dear Mama talks about the story of the rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur, as a female leader in the Black Panther Party. “The world feels Tupac’s message,” Hughes said about Shakur, “Not so bad for a little Black boy from Harlem, right?" Today, 2Pac has more than 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify. In 2010, Shakur’s estate earned $3.5 million; a chunk of the money has come from licenses in a list of films, TV shows and video games. His Facebook page has over 20 million likes, and there were over 220,000 mentions of Tupac on Twitter within the past 24 hours alone. Before his career as a singer-rapper took off, Shakur served as a backup dancer in the hip-hop group, Digital Underground. In 1992, he branched out as an actor. He was the star of the film Juice, which made around $20 million in the box office. He then starred alongside Janet Jackson in 1993 in the romantic drama Poetic Justice, which made over $27 million. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tupac Shakur receives posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

<p>American rapper and songwriter Snoop Dogg has stated that he was not expecting to see the legendary Tupac Shakur in such terrible shape when the latter was hospitalised following his 1996 Las Vegas shooting.</p>

<p>According to Deadline, while recently talking on Logan Paul`s `Impaulsive` podcast, the rapper recounted what was witnessed by him in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.</p>

<p>“When we drive to Vegas to see Pac, we got to Suge (Knight`s) house first, so we haven`t even seen Pac," Former Death Row head Knight was driving the vehicle when Tupac was shot in the passenger`s seat, the outlet reported. Snoop added, "We just talking to Suge, and he got the head wrapped up and he telling us what happened and [saying] `Pac gonna be alright, he going to pull through he got shot nine times before, he going to be alright.`”</p>

<p>But, this soon turned out not to be true. "We feeling like it`s gonna be alright until we go to the hospital and see that it ain`t alright. He got tubes in him. When I walked in, I could just feel like he wasn`t even there and I fainted," Snoop said.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/whats-mirroring-why-lovebirds-like-travis-kourtney-love-to-twin-in-similar-ensembles-483021">What’s mirroring &amp; why lovebirds like Travis-Kourtney love to twin in similar ensembles?</a></p>

<p>As per Deadline, Shakur`s mother Afeni Shakur, however, was there and she told him to get it together and talk to her son. She said to put aside any resentment between the two. Six days later Tupac died.</p>


American rapper and songwriter Snoop Dogg has stated that he was not expecting to see the legendary Tupac Shakur in such terrible shape when the latter was hospitalised following his 1996 Las Vegas shooting.

American rapper and songwriter Snoop Dogg has stated that he was not expecting to see the legendary Tupac Shakur in such terrible shape when the latter was hospitalised following his 1996 Las Vegas shooting. According to Deadline, while recently talking on Logan Paul`s `Impaulsive` podcast, the rapper recounted what was witnessed by him in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. “When we drive to Vegas to see Pac, we got to Suge (Knight`s) house first, so we haven`t even seen Pac," Former Death Row head Knight was driving the vehicle when Tupac was shot in the passenger`s seat, the outlet reported. Snoop added, "We just talking to Suge, and he got the head wrapped up and he telling us what happened and [saying] `Pac gonna be alright, he going to pull through he got shot nine times before, he going to be alright.`” But, this soon turned out not to be true. "We feeling like it`s gonna be alright until we go to the hospital and see that it ain`t alright. He got tubes in him. When I walked in, I could just feel like he wasn`t even there and I fainted," Snoop said. Also read: What’s mirroring & why lovebirds like Travis-Kourtney love to twin in similar ensembles? As per Deadline, Shakur`s mother Afeni Shakur, however, was there and she told him to get it together and talk to her son. She said to put aside any resentment between the two. Six days later Tupac died.

Snoop Dogg recounts fainting after seeing Tupac Shakur following his fatal Las Vegas shooting

Gaza-based, 11-year-old rapper, Abdel-Rahman Al-Shantti, hopes to become the Palestinian 'Eminem', rising from the impoverished streets of the sealed-off enclave to global stardom.

Eleven-year-old rapper wants to be Gaza's Eminem

<p>Hip-hop music is not new to India but it has surely become mainstream after the release of the widely successful film ‘Gully Boy’ starring Ranveer Singh as a street rapper from Mumbai who makes it big because of his passion for music or as Sky, Kalki Koechlin’s character in the film tells him to follow his “<em>junoon</em> and money will follow”.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
While Zoya Akhtar’s film explored Mumbai’s rap culture inspired by the life story of two popular street rappers, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gully-boy-ranveer-singh-gets-together-with-divine-naezy-for-mere-gully-mein-191979">Divine and Naezy,</a> through their struggles of&nbsp;poverty, crime, family drama and love -- Delhi’s rapper Raftaar wants to shed&nbsp;light on a different narrative. Massively popular for Hindi songs like <em>‘Baby Marvake Maanegi’</em> and <em>‘Gall Goriye’</em>, Raftaar is happy about rap finally getting recognised in India by way of its cinema.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On ‘Gully Boy’ he said, “These guys (Zoya) definitely got inspired from that fact that rappers made a mark for themselves. We are not counted as singers like everybody, we are in a different league, and we are known for different stuff. This movie is for the Bombay hip-hop scene. I come from the Delhi hip-hop scene. The stories, their slangs, they are all different. If a normal guy from Bombay comes to Delhi and starts singing ‘B<em>antai B</em><em>achi</em><em>&nbsp;B</em><em>amai</em><em>’</em>, it’s a Bombay slang, they won't get it. They won't understand what he’s trying to say. So it’s that..the connectivity.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>He continued, “If the entire population would have spoken Hindi then this would have been huge. Problem is, we don't understand the Tamil people up north and they don't understand the Punjabis there. Probably, rappers and singers from both the regions are trying to say something that is necessary for everyone to hear but it’s not happening because of the difference in language and culture in such a small area.”</p>

<p><em><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indian-american-rapper-raja-kumari-to-wion-one-day-i-will-bring-a-grammy-home-189854">Also </a></em><em><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indian-american-rapper-raja-kumari-to-wion-one-day-i-will-bring-a-grammy-home-189854">read:</a></em><em><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indian-american-rapper-raja-kumari-to-wion-one-day-i-will-bring-a-grammy-home-189854">&nbsp;Indian-American rapper Raja Kumari to WION: One day I will bring a Grammy home</a></em><br />
&nbsp;<br />
As the music genre grows popular amongst the youth of the country, Raftaar explains that the one in India is distinctive from the one we have heard from international stars like Eminem and Tupac. He commented, “It's definitely going to be different. Their roots were different like their struggles and ours was different. We initially started off looking at the Western guys and trying to copy them. Most of us kids back then, I am an 88’ born guy, so from my generation&nbsp;everybody either wanted to be a Tupac, Biggie or Eminem.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
He added, “Now the situation has changed. With all these years, all of us doing Hindi, Punjabi and regional, a movie on rap etc-- the idols have changed. Now people have started doing stories that are based out of India. Hip-hop has now become Indian in a way.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Raftaar does not identify himself with lyrics that only has ‘girls, parties and drugs’, something Bollywood party hip-hop songs are infamous for. Even though he has collaborated previously with artists that made music on similar themes, the rapper of late believes he has diversified. &nbsp;</p>

<p>With songs of ‘Manto’ and ‘Andhadhun’ in his kitty, Raftaar said, “I am a 100 per cent, a socially-conscious singer. I am a very balanced person. I believe in the property of yin and yang. You have to receive the balance in the centre when you are a musician and an entrepreneur, somebody who is in the business of it. I am not doing this just for the art of it.”</p>

<p>Listen to 'Mantoiyat' here:</p>

<p><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="446" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7gUAGZ30F9o" width="793"></iframe>&nbsp;</p>

<p>He explained, “Then I would have opted for stage and theatre. I am doing because a part of it has to sell, just to deal with my responsibilities and my family. You must have seen that I don't release a lot of songs because I say no to a lot of stuff that comes my way.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Meanwhile, with ‘Gully Boy’ continuing to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gully-boy-is-ranveer-singhs-second-biggest-opening-film-at-the-box-office-earns-rs-1940-crores-on-its-first-day-197616">mint money at the box office </a>as the film plot gets lauds from the critics and audiences alike, was any rapper’s story also influenced by his in the film? Raftaar gave an affirmative “no”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He did, however, confirm on being approached and said, “We spoke about it, there was something supposed to happen but then I got busy with stuff and our dates couldn’t match.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Raftaar is currently busy with TV show MTV Roadies. Featuring in the show as a judge along with Neha Dhupia, Rannvijay, Prince Narula, Nikhil Chinappa and real-life hero Sandeep Singh; the rapper has his hands full at the moment. When asked why he opted for an action-oriented show instead of one related to his area of work,&nbsp;he said, “I have never put myself in a box. I started off as an athlete then I went into music. I did ‘Dance India Dance’, ‘Jhalak Dikhlaja’, and now this. I have never wanted to put myself in a frame. These days I am directing small videos for my team. So I would like to try everything that comes my way and is creative.”</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu_UG_VABZd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Yahan apni gang bacha ke chalna padta hai. 🤣🤣 @mtvroadies @mtvindia @nikhilchinapa @princenarula @sandeep_rebirth @rannvijaysingha . 📸 @rjdeigg #raa #raftaar @akprojekts #positive #blessed #peace #thankful</a></p>

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<p>He continued, “Apart from Roadies, I am dropping an album which is completely hip-hop.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Raftaar also has an NGO of his own. Called '4Dogsakeindia', it is a&nbsp;Delhi based charity for stray animals. He is also associated with&nbsp;STOP Global movement that works to stop human trafficking of children. Commenting on his scope of work at the not-for-profit, he said, “I try to do some stuff. They call me the goodwill ambassador but I don't know how that works. At STOP, we save the kids and teach them a lot of skills.”</p>


Hip-hop music is not new to India but it has surely become mainstream after the release of the widely successful film ‘Gully Boy’ starring Ranveer Singh as a street rapper from Mumbai who makes it big because of his passion for music or as Sky, Kalki Koechlin’s character in the film tells him to follow his “junoon and money will follow”.

Hip-hop music is not new to India but it has surely become mainstream after the release of the widely successful film ‘Gully Boy’ starring Ranveer Singh as a street rapper from Mumbai who makes it big because of his passion for music or as Sky, Kalki Koechlin’s character in the film tells him to follow his “junoon and money will follow”. While Zoya Akhtar’s film explored Mumbai’s rap culture inspired by the life story of two popular street rappers, Divine and Naezy, through their struggles of poverty, crime, family drama and love -- Delhi’s rapper Raftaar wants to shed light on a different narrative. Massively popular for Hindi songs like ‘Baby Marvake Maanegi’ and ‘Gall Goriye’, Raftaar is happy about rap finally getting recognised in India by way of its cinema. On ‘Gully Boy’ he said, “These guys (Zoya) definitely got inspired from that fact that rappers made a mark for themselves. We are not counted as singers like everybody, we are in a different league, and we are known for different stuff. This movie is for the Bombay hip-hop scene. I come from the Delhi hip-hop scene. The stories, their slangs, they are all different. If a normal guy from Bombay comes to Delhi and starts singing ‘Bantai Bachi Bamai’, it’s a Bombay slang, they won't get it. They won't understand what he’s trying to say. So it’s that..the connectivity.” He continued, “If the entire population would have spoken Hindi then this would have been huge. Problem is, we don't understand the Tamil people up north and they don't understand the Punjabis there. Probably, rappers and singers from both the regions are trying to say something that is necessary for everyone to hear but it’s not happening because of the difference in language and culture in such a small area.” Also read: Indian-American rapper Raja Kumari to WION: One day I will bring a Grammy home As the music genre grows popular amongst the youth of the country, Raftaar explains that the one in India is distinctive from the one we have heard from international stars like Eminem and Tupac. He commented, “It's definitely going to be different. Their roots were different like their struggles and ours was different. We initially started off looking at the Western guys and trying to copy them. Most of us kids back then, I am an 88’ born guy, so from my generation everybody either wanted to be a Tupac, Biggie or Eminem.” He added, “Now the situation has changed. With all these years, all of us doing Hindi, Punjabi and regional, a movie on rap etc-- the idols have changed. Now people have started doing stories that are based out of India. Hip-hop has now become Indian in a way.” Raftaar does not identify himself with lyrics that only has ‘girls, parties and drugs’, something Bollywood party hip-hop songs are infamous for. Even though he has collaborated previously with artists that made music on similar themes, the rapper of late believes he has diversified. With songs of ‘Manto’ and ‘Andhadhun’ in his kitty, Raftaar said, “I am a 100 per cent, a socially-conscious singer. I am a very balanced person. I believe in the property of yin and yang. You have to receive the balance in the centre when you are a musician and an entrepreneur, somebody who is in the business of it. I am not doing this just for the art of it.” Listen to 'Mantoiyat' here: He explained, “Then I would have opted for stage and theatre. I am doing because a part of it has to sell, just to deal with my responsibilities and my family. You must have seen that I don't release a lot of songs because I say no to a lot of stuff that comes my way.” Meanwhile, with ‘Gully Boy’ continuing to mint money at the box office as the film plot gets lauds from the critics and audiences alike, was any rapper’s story also influenced by his in the film? Raftaar gave an affirmative “no”. He did, however, confirm on being approached and said, “We spoke about it, there was something supposed to happen but then I got busy with stuff and our dates couldn’t match.” Raftaar is currently busy with TV show MTV Roadies. Featuring in the show as a judge along with Neha Dhupia, Rannvijay, Prince Narula, Nikhil Chinappa and real-life hero Sandeep Singh; the rapper has his hands full at the moment. When asked why he opted for an action-oriented show instead of one related to his area of work, he said, “I have never put myself in a box. I started off as an athlete then I went into music. I did ‘Dance India Dance’, ‘Jhalak Dikhlaja’, and now this. I have never wanted to put myself in a frame. These days I am directing small videos for my team. So I would like to try everything that comes my way and is creative.” View this post on Instagram Yahan apni gang bacha ke chalna padta hai. 🤣🤣 @mtvroadies @mtvindia @nikhilchinapa @princenarula @sandeep_rebirth @rannvijaysingha . 📸 @rjdeigg #raa #raftaar @akprojekts #positive #blessed #peace #thankful A post shared by RAFTAAR (@raftaarmusic) on Mar 14, 2019 at 5:48am PDT × He continued, “Apart from Roadies, I am dropping an album which is completely hip-hop.” Raftaar also has an NGO of his own. Called '4Dogsakeindia', it is a Delhi based charity for stray animals. He is also associated with STOP Global movement that works to stop human trafficking of children. Commenting on his scope of work at the not-for-profit, he said, “I try to do some stuff. They call me the goodwill ambassador but I don't know how that works. At STOP, we save the kids and teach them a lot of skills.”

Raftaar to WION: From my generation everybody either wanted to be Tupac, Biggie or Eminem

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