They call me Arunachal ka Divine,” rapper Karma Longthen’s curt introduction over our call quashes the idea that Northeast India is all rockers and metalheads. We should’ve known; his newest music video Chota Sa Gaon is a spitting image of Andheri -based rap veteran Vivian Fernandes aka Divine’s music videos — hoodie-clad crewmates, bright bandanas, bikes doing burnouts — all that, just set far away in the picture-perfect hills of Arunachal Pradesh’s Nafra village in the Lower Dzang. This Thursday, the 25-year-old will look down at the hills from his first flight to Mumbai for a performance.

Longthen, aka Reemboo will be one of the five hip-hop and pop talent from the Northeast to arrive in the city for The Biggest Northeast Night organised by Assam-based collective, Hanghatik (Assamese: grand, gigantic). “I remember we organised one of the first showcases for our Northeastern brothers and sisters in Gorai in 2016. It drew in some 60-odd people. It was a big number for us,” recalls co-founder Raktim Roy, a media professional and longtime Mumbai resident.

AJ Maisnam. PIC COURTESY/JN SAPAMCHA, Rjay Mangkhom. PIC COURTESY/@rajikant, Jelo and Kimkima Ralte. PIC COURTESY/@kimkimaralte_S
Raktim Roy