Why Smokey is on fire

Smokey the Ghost’s music involves socially conscious lyrics

Sumukh Mysore aka Smokey the Ghost is a veteran in the Indian hip-hop circuit and his influence on the underground rap scene is significant. His upcoming album, The Human Nation, launches on November 26. The playful, socially aware and politically involved lyrical style that we find in most of his work comes through in this release as well. "The social media phenomenon surely has a lot of positives, but the bad outweighs the good at this point in time," he says, explaining his penchant for socially conscious lyrics.

The album speaks about unnecessary censorship, the history of rap in India, and the hassles of daily life. "The idea of the moniker Smokey the Ghost allows me to be an observer of the many travails of people and my music thus heavily relies on observational commentary," the artiste shares. The influence of old-school rapping styles, coupled with elements of modern hip-hop, makes for a refreshing experience. The record is also flush with various collaborations, featuring big names in the music industry as well artistes from the underground hip-hop circuit. These collaborators include Raftaar, Vishal Dadlani, Dee MC and EPR Iyer. "The idea was to bring forth as many eclectic sounds and flows into the mix. Some of these names have been involved in the rap scene for years, and while some have found mainstream success, there are many who have stayed true to the underground ethos," Smokey says.

The record also brings in Kannada rappers S.I.D. and Raathee, who critique the imposition of Hindi as part of the national identity while throwing light on exceptional local talents from all over the country. Surprising interludes with international names like MC Supernatural and Lupe Fiasco are the cherry on the top of this release.

Smokey shares, "I am always trying to not be defined by a single track, album or mixtape. I am a bedroom rapper; I focus on the art of rapping and talking about life as I know it. This album is, in many ways, an homage to that understanding of mankind, the ‘human nation' if you will," he shares.

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