This rap outfit from Mumbai wants their music to make a difference

South Dandies Swaraj rappers TamizhacircAcircu00c2u0080Acircu00c2u0088left and SeanacircAcircu00c2u0080Acircu00c2u0088YKV centre who are working on their debut album recently performed with KadhalacircAcircu00c2u0080Acircu00c2u0088Jack extreme right of Kacheri Movement in the city PicSayyed Sameer AbedildquoI say what I want to say and do what I want to do Therersquos no in between People will either love you for it or hate you for itrdquo Eminem the global Rap icon had elucidated the fundamentals of the genre cogently whose origins are in Africa and Jamaica Owing to the free flow it entered India on a blissful noteLegendary actor Ashok Kumar offered its first glimpse with the song Rail Gaadi Aashirwad in 1968 Within two decades the genre found allies in AR Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja South Dandies Swaraj mdash a Rap duo comprising Suresh Agailan Bose Sean YKV and Rahul Prasad Tamizh are taking forward the legacy albeit in the independent space The Mumbaibased group raps in four languages but their highlight is TamilMessage in musicSean the lead rapper wants to bring about a change through an album thatrsquos in the making ldquoMy motto is Rap for change and HipHop for life I try to convey a message through every song I am looking for a producerrdquo says Sean The name of the band is suggestive of their South Indian roots Earlier the group had more members ldquoWe were a HipHop Collective with nine people including a miniature artiste and a graffiti artiste We had to bid goodbye to some membersrdquo he sharesThe 28yearold from Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu resides in Mahim and believes that rapping in different languages will help him reach out to more people ldquoIt helps me connect to more listeners who understand these languages We want to take our regional languages abroadrdquo he adds Sean also performed alongside Apache Indian and Shankar Mahadevan in his initial days ldquoI didnrsquot get any break after those shows But kids would take my autograph while senior citizens would kiss my hand They thought my Tamil was retrordquo he saysSociety mattersldquoOur music talks about recycling rape terrorism social media and other social issuesrdquo says Sean who can also rap in Marathi His colleague Tamizh sticks to TamilOne of the singles from the Dandiesrsquo kitty is Idli Vada the traditional breakfast in South Indian households ldquoI observed Idli and Vada vendors and wrote a song around their daily struggle and how they see the society through customersrdquo explains Sean The track Social KadhalPyaar dwells on the overuse of social networking sites ldquoThe world has become dynamic with Facebook and Twitter This song is about the youngsters who spend hours on itrdquo The group also has a track dedicated to the feminists called Nari Meri NariThe Dandies also developed a brother culture being close to Kacheri Movement a Rap outfit from Dharavi They are often seen playing gigs togetherSean is hopeful about his musicrsquos reach ldquoI am not a party person I am interested in the social issues We know how African Americans changed the face of HipHop when they used music as a vehicle for their struggle I will try to do the samerdquo he signs off