UNB taking rap music from Sikkim to newer horizons

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK, : Sikkimese hip-hop artiste Ugen Namgyal Bhutia, who goes by the moniker ‘UNB’, won hearts of millions with his performance at MTV Hustle 2.0, India’s first ever rap-hip-hop reality show. Although, UNB was voted out and couldn’t stay in the show for long, his songs ‘Hum Bhi Kya Kam Hai’ and ‘She Likes My Momo’ gave voice to the entire Northeast region. The second season of MTV Hustle has Baadshah as judge and Dino James, Dee, MC King and EPR as squad bosses.
After his return to his hometown Gangtok, UNB set the stage on fire with his performance at Thuendel Food & Spirits, near District Court here on Saturday, at an event organized by Gangtok-based event management company KStars Entertainment and Thuendel.
Twenty-eight-year-old UNB was passionate about music since his school days. When he was done with school, he wanted to pursue music as his further studies but pursued architecture from NIT Bhopal. After a year, he dropped out of NIT and set forward to study music (sound engineering) at Pune. Since then, he has been a full-time musician for the past nine years.
UNB is known for voicing out for the Northeast through his music and he has received acclaim from publications like Rolling Stones India, GQ India and other major publications. He founded his independent record label KAUSO Records in 2017 and has releases in different genres. Earlier this year, Bhutia introduced his alter-ego ‘MC Panda’ via his debut album ‘Kabutar Jaa’. “MC Panda is the cocky version of UNB”, says the rapper.
Here is an exclusive interview with UNB…
MTV Hustle 2.0
UNB: A few months ago, I received a call from MTV where they asked me to audition for the reality show. After a couple of auditions, I was called to Mumbai for another audition, after which I was shortlisted as one of the contestants in MTV Hustle 2.0. Before the show started, a grooming session for about 2-3 weeks was conducted where we were trained on the basics of the show. They asked us to write songs and by the end of August, the shoot began.
Hum Bhi Kya Kam Hai
UNB: I have always been vocal about the Northeast representation and the identity crisis we face in mainland India, through my music, even before MTV Hustle. MTV Hustle is a national platform and I thought I should talk about the problems, we, as the Northeast face in India. Showing my skills was always there but I wanted to represent my people, community and region and ‘Hum Bhi Kya Kam Hai’ was the perfect and appropriate song to send an impactful message. ‘Hum Bhi Kya Kam Hai’ was an already-released track from my recent EP ‘Made in India’. The EP has six songs, and all the songs are about ‘us being from the Northeast, and we are not less than anyone’.
The song was highly appreciated by the judges and the audience at large, which was kind of unexpected. The judges were happy to see someone from the Northeast perform in Hindi. It was a big thing for me, but more than the judges, I am extremely happy with the response I got from the public actually. The love I got from the public is what satisfied me, as an artist.
She Likes My Momo
UNB: ‘She Likes My Momo’ is a commercial track. The organisers of the show had given each contestant a topic for the next task. They asked me to compose a song themed ‘momo’ because that is how mainland India sees and discriminates us. Since I had already performed ‘Hum Bhi Kya Kam Hai’ in the previous episode and since that song was also about discrimination, identity crisis and racism against the Northeast, I wanted to come out with something extra and the phrase ‘She Likes My Momo’ clicked. Gradually, I started writing the lyrics and it turned into a commercial track. The song was completed in two days.
Elimination
UNB: I think I deserved to stay longer in the show but I feel ‘She Likes My Momo’ was not appropriate for the battle round. Maybe, the judges were expecting a full-on hip-hop song and didn’t like it, and they did not select me for the next round. I wish I could have stayed for longer because I had so many songs prepared for the show and there were other messages I wanted to deliver. That is the only regret I have and I kind of feel dissatisfied. Other than that, I am overwhelmed with the love and support I have received from people all over the country.
Creative process
UNB: There is no specific process when I create music. Generally, I try to find the kind of track I want to put out and accordingly, I write. Sometimes, it is the other way round.
Genre
UNB: I consider myself as a hip-hop artist and so calling me a rapper would not be standard. I make music, compose melody and also mix and master. At times I do videography too.
Favourite among your songs
UNB: There is no one particular favourite songs because each song is a child I have create and each song has its own vibe. But, right now ‘Moonlight’ is close to my heart. The song motivates because it is about the insecurities I feel as an artist. I think everyone in general can relate to ‘Moonlight’ because life is hard sometimes.
Music scene in the hills
UNB: Music scene here still needs a lot of polishing, grooming and care, because there are so many talented artists here. It is just that we need grooming not by the artists but by the general public. If the audience appreciate the kind of music and the work our artists are bringing out, I think all the artists will blow up and have a good life, because for some of us music is the bread-earner. Taking music as a career is still a stigma here and I think we have to change that and show people that we can pay our bills through music and have a good life as a musician.
Musical influences
UNB: My musical influences have changed over the years. When I started, I used to listen to hip-hop music including Eminem and TUPAC. Now I feel J Cole, Kendrick Lamar and so many other mainstream artists who inspire me. In India too, there is Divine who is doing so well in life. I should mention Nepsydaz too, because I used to get a lot of inspiration from them.
Who would you like to collaborate with?
UNB: There are many artists in mind I want to collaborate with, and I have collaborated with some of them in the past too. Recently I have collaborated with Roshan and SR, who are dope artists. From the Nepalese music industry, I would love to work with VEK and Yabesh Thapa. They are making good music. From India, I would love to collaborate with Divine and EKKA.
KAUSO Records
UNB: KAUSO Records was established in 2017 with the sole aim of promoting my work. Before that too I used to promote myself through KAUSO Entertainment but then, nobody knew it was UNB using the account. Later, people came to know. Right now, KAUSO Records have more than 4.6 lakh subscribers in YouTube. Right now, I am also trying to support artists by collaborating with them and bring them on Kauso. Right now, I have Goli. He is a rapper from Nepal and we have worked together on a couple of tracks and EPs. There is a track ‘Timi Pani Ho Mero’ which has about 10 million views. My main concept of establishing KAUSO was to promote myself and other artists too.
MC Panda
UNB: MC Panda is an alter-ego of UNB, which was introduced recently. UNB is someone who is conscious, whereas MC Panda is someone who is cocky. If you hear anything that is cocky and hardcore from UNB, then it is definitely MC Panda.
Kabutar Jaa
UNB: I released my debut album ‘Kabutar Jaa’ in June. The album has 12 songs (six Nepali and six Hindi) featuring both UNB and MC Panda. Kabutar Jaa was inspired by the Bollywood hit song, which goes by the same name ‘Kabutar Jaa’, which basically means to send a message. The concept was to send the pigeon to everyone with the message ‘UNB is coming’ and to also announce ‘something big is coming’.
What next
UNB: I am working on a couple of tracks which will be released soon. I also have a couple of tours in Nepal, Dubai, Bangalore etc. There are some projects too and I will probably come up with some collaboration too.