Street Academics
Street Academics at The Humming Tree, Bangalore 2017
Background information
OriginKerala, India
GenresAlternative hip-hop
Instrument(s)Vocals, Sampler, Drum machine, Synthesizer, Turntables.
Years active2009–present

Street Academics is an Indian alternative hip-hop group from Kerala, known for their songs blending Malayalam, English and Tamil lyrics. The collective of rappers based out of various districts from their home state are noted for emphasizing on contemporary and philosophical themes ranging from social realism to dystopian fantasy.[1][2][3][4] They collaborate with projects like Mappila Lahala and Palakkadan Dystopia, to release songs that focus on having cultural discussions set in avant-garde backdrops.[5][6][7][8]

History

Street Academics was an idea brought forward by Rjv Ernesto in 1999, as a small group for spoken word poetry and making pause tapes.[9] Later he was introduced to Haris Saleem through hip-hop communities in Myspace and Orkut. After recording various demo tracks, they brought in Amjad Nadeem, Abhimanyu Raman and Pranav to move forward as a hip-hop collective in 2009. Keyboardist & music producer Ruthin Thej worked with the group to produce a couple of singles, before leaving to pursue his career as keyboardist for Thaikkudam Bridge. Later Vivek Radhakrishnan joined the group as the DJ/producer providing a bass-oriented sound. They started collaborating with the cultural music collective Mappila Lahala, led by filmmaker Muhsin Parari, to release politically oriented singles which featured veteran actor Mamukkoya and national award-winning composer Bijibal.[10][11][12][13][14] The group has also formed avant garde hip-hop project Palakkadan Dystopia to release singles and went on to collaborate with experimental theatre acts, performing shows which combined spoken word, theatre, hip-hop music & graffiti.[5][15] After working on singles and compilations over the years, the group released a complete multilingual album titled "Loop" loosely based on seven deadly sins.[16][17][18]

On July 13, 2019, a live performance of Street Academics along with Bandish Projekt and Swadesi, was interrupted by a group of people who demanded the venue officials to play Kannada songs, instead of the group's original Malayalam tracks, as they were in Bengaluru. The group's set was cut short and forced off stage. After the performance, rapper/vocalist Amjad and few of his friends were taken away by the police, allegedly for causing public nuisance. Venue management later released a public statement, apologizing to Street Academics regarding the incident.[19][20][21][22][23][24] The group released a protest song titled "Hara Hara" along with a music video, and performed it live during Citizenship Amendment Act protests at Kozhikode.[25][26][27][28][29]

Themes and influences

Members state that they started off through slam poetry before getting introduced to hip-hop music.[30] Rjv Ernesto cites spoken word poetry and sports/pro-wrestling commentary as his influence in rap music. Developing an interest towards drum solos, he recalls creating beats by cutting out bits of tape from cassettes using a razor blade and glueing them back before inserting the tape into the cartridge.[11][31] The group's multilingual lyricism usually brings up questions of expression & identity, affirming the place of vernacular rap in India, being one of the first acts to do so.[4][32][33][34][35] Street Academics is considered to be one of the oldest independent hip-hop outfits in India.[36][37][38] They are noted for pioneering Malayalam rap with serious content & multisyllabic rhyme patterns, against the comical parody image that rap/hip-hop music has had in their region. Even though the production relies on minimal boom bap oriented sampling as the backbone, the collective effort exhibits influences of musique concrète, lo-fi, glitch, folk, ambient, R&B, jazz poetry, grime and funk.[39][40][41][42] Most of the themes are set in an alternate reality or a post-apocalyptic world, often presented from the narrative mode of various alter egos. It is noted that majority of those plots are inter-connected & follow a particular nonlinear storyline throughout the body of their work.[5][43][44][7][45][46] The "Dead Crow" symbolism goes hand in hand with their journey and has pretty much established itself as a mascot for Street Academics over time.[47] The group's singles Vandi Puncture and Native Bapa, both released in 2012, are often held responsible for taking Malayalam hip-hop music to mainstream.[9]

Members

  • Rjv Ernesto (Pakarcha Vyadhi) - Rapper, MC, lyricist, music producer, graffiti writer.
  • Dr. Haris Saleem (Maapla) - Rapper, lyricist.
  • Amjad Nadeem (Azuran) - Rapper, MC, lyricist, vocalist, music producer.
  • Vivek Radhakrishnan (V3K) - Music producer, DJ, vocalist, rapper, record producer.
  • Arjjun (Imbachi) - Rapper, MC, lyricist, vocalist, b-boy.
  • Sai Giridhar - Filmmaker, editor, cinematographer.

Former Members:-

  • Ruthin Thej - Music producer.
  • Abhimanyu Raman (Earthgrime) - Rapper, lyricist, music producer.
  • Pranav CH - Rapper, lyricist.
  • Sandeep Thulasidas (Yestey) - Music producer, DJ, record producer.

Discography

Albums:-

  • 1. Aathmasphere EP (2013)
  • 2. Chatha Kaakka EP (2016)
  • 3. Loop (2019)

Remix Albums:-

  • 1. Loop Flip (2020)
  • 2. Kaliyug Remix (2020)

Film Soundtracks:-

Singles:-

  • 1. Rest In Peace (2011)
  • 2. Vandi Puncture (2012)[48]
  • 3. Native Bapa ft. Mappila Lahala (2012)[49]
  • 4. Trapped In Rhymes (2013)[50]
  • 5. Aathmasphere (2013)
  • 6. Angot Onnai (2013)
  • 7. 16 Adiyanthiram (2015)[51]
  • 8. Funeral of a Native Son ft. Mappila Lahala (2016)[52]
  • 9. Chatha Kaakka (2016)
  • 10. Space Station ft. Space Behind The Yellow Room (2017)[53][54][55][56]
  • 11. Kalapila (2017)[57][58]
  • 12. Aara? (2019)
  • 13. Kolilakkam (2019)
  • 14. Hara Hara (2019)
  • 15. Pambaram (2020)[59]
  • 16. Pambaram - V3K Remix (2020)
  • 17. Kalapila - V3K Remix (2020)
  • 18. Kaliyug ft. Hrishi (2020)
  • 19. Walayar (2021)
  • 20. Pathiye (2021)
  • 21. Someday (2021)

Collaboration Albums:-

  • 1. Palakkadan Dystopia - Narakasabha (2017)
  • 2. Palakkadan Dystopia - Seri Appo (2020)
  • 3. Palakkadan Dystopia & Dead Author - Kaav (2020)
  • 4. Palakkadan Dystopia & Dead Author - Marupiravi (2022)

Mixtapes/Solo Albums:-

  • 1. Rjv Ernesto - Industrial Area (2003, 2006, 2008)
  • 2. Maapla - Biohazard (2010)
  • 3. Rjv Ernesto - Country Fellow EP: The Clairvoyant Of Alter Egos (2012)
  • 4. Asylum Of Philosophy - A Bottle of Paranoia EP (2012)[60]
  • 5. Earthgrime & Sez - Standalone Complex Vol 1: Paradox EP (2012)
  • 6. Earthgrime & Sez - Geostatis EP (2012)
  • 7. V3K - Psycle Edukk (2012)
  • 8. Earthgrime - Street Lights In The Sun LP (2013)
  • 9. V3K - The Gateway EP (2013)
  • 10. Street Academics - Rest In Peace (2014)
  • 11. Spank The Queen: The Death of Rjv Ernesto (2015)
  • 12. Molten Wax: The Revenge of Rjv Ernesto (2016)
  • 13. Shrapnels: The Autopsy of Rjv Ernesto (2016)
  • 14. V3K - 240P: Third World Bass EP (2016)
  • 15. Digging In The Wasteland: The Filth of Rjv Ernesto (2017)
  • 16. V3K - 1010B & The Broken Laptop (2018)
  • 17. Sex And Time Altering Nibs: The Hand of Rjv Ernesto (2018)
  • 18. 25th Hour: The Miscarriages of Rjv Ernesto (2018)
  • 19. V3K - Mojo (2019)
  • 20. V3K - Minni (2020)
  • 21. Blind Old Ape: The Tree of Rjv Ernesto (2022)
  • 22. Mass Grave: The Womb of Rjv Ernesto (2022)

References

  1. ↑ Mathew, Mathew Joy (2016-10-16). "This gang of five will 'rap-spire' you". New Indian Express. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  2. ↑ Chandy, Susanna (2014-07-11). "Hip Hop goes 'South' with our rappers". New Indian Express Indulge. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  3. ↑ "Radio City's Indie Revolution Enthralls Bangalore with 'Radio City Freedom Awards 5.0'". The Retail Times. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  4. 1 2 Jovial, Nirmal (2020-09-06). "Up Beat". The Week. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  5. 1 2 3 Abhishek, Abhishek (2018-05-18). "Decoding desi Hip-Hop: Street Academics". MusicPlus. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  6. ↑ Gujubhai, IQ (2013-01-16). "Hip Hop in Kerala! "Native Bapa" by Mappila Lahala". DesiHiphop. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  7. 1 2 K, Anjana (2017-11-21). "Street art goes on to a whole new level with Kalapila from Street Academics". WtzupCity. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  8. ↑ Magan, Srishti (2019-01-09). "21 Fire Indian Rappers You Should Know About Beyond Gully Boy". ScoopWhoop. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  9. 1 2 Karunakaran, Binu (2020-06-25). "How Malayalam rap broke out of the margins". Times of India. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  10. ↑ MG, Gokul (2019-04-03). "Rapper's delight". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  11. 1 2 Suhasini, Lalitha (2019-08-09). "Sounds from Malabar". Pune Mirror India Times. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  12. ↑ "Know Your Band - Street Academics". Radio City. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  13. ↑ Menon, Bindu (2014-07-06). "Modern Media & Kerala's Rap Music". Navamalayali. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  14. ↑ Basith, Abdul (2013-01-07). "Native Bapa: A hip-hop song from Kerala challenges narrative on terrorism". TwoCircles. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  15. ↑ T, Sreejith (2014-10-25). "An Insolence Combining Graffiti, Hip-hop & DJ". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  16. ↑ "Kerala-based band 'Street Academics' raps on seven deadly sins". New Indian Express. 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  17. ↑ Joy, Jose (2019-07-12). "Street Academics: tracing the evolution of Malayalam hip-hop music". New Indian Express Indulge. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  18. ↑ Dings, Dhinoj (2020-01-05). "Street Academics' 'Loop' is a Malayalam hip hop album worthy of adoration". Medium. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  19. ↑ "Stopped for singing in Malayalam? Hip-hop band protests shoddy treatment in B'luru pub". The News Minute. 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  20. ↑ Praveen, S.R. (2019-07-15). "Bengaluru organisers pull the plug on Kerala band". The Hindu. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  21. ↑ "Bengaluru: Music Performance Cut Short Over Language Row". Times of India. 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  22. ↑ Tagat, Anurag (2019-07-15). "Kerala Hip-Hop Group Street Academics Forced Off Stage at Bengaluru Venue". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  23. ↑ S, Joy (2019-07-15). "Malayalam hip-hop act Street Academics is forced off stage". New indian Express Indulge. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  24. ↑ Murthi, Rajrishi (2019-07-15). "Kerala-Based Hip-Hop Crew Street Academics Forced Off Stage In Bengaluru For Singing In Malayalam". Bangin Beats. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  25. ↑ Praveen, S.R. (2019-12-30). "Hard-hitting music adds fuel to anti-citizenship Act protests". The Hindu. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  26. ↑ "Kerala music bands bring out songs to protest against CAA and NRC". The News Minute. 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  27. ↑ K.M., Rakesh (2020-01-03). "Music of protest rises in Kerala". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  28. ↑ Kaav, Sweety (2020-01-06). "The two music bands of Kerala protest against CAA: Street Academics, The Down Troddence". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  29. ↑ Satvika Kundu, Amaan Khan (2020-01-10). "Voice Of The People: Protest Music In India". Wild City. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  30. ↑ Chandy, Susanna (2014-07-11). "Hip Hop goes 'South' with our rappers". New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  31. ↑ Varier, Soumya (2020-12-23). "Hip Hop And The Kerala Connect: How A New Breed Of Rappers Is Using The Genre To Speak Of Our Reality". Film Companion. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  32. ↑ "Straight Outta Mumbai". BBC (Podcast). BBC. 28 March 2018. Event occurs at 08:20. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  33. ↑ Kapur, Uday (2019-03-03). "The power of language in Indian hip-hop". Sole DXB. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  34. ↑ Menon, Bindu (2014-02-19). "The Blazon Call Of HipHop - Lyrical Storms In Kerala's Music Culture". Sage Publications. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  35. ↑ "Street Academics: Haris Saleem". Deccan Chronicle. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  36. ↑ "Know Your Band - Street Academics". Radio City. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  37. ↑ Balram, Dhruva (2018-11-12). "The Commodification Of Hip-Hop In India: A Discussion". Border Movement. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  38. ↑ Joy, Jose (2019-04-26). "Street Academics releases song video for Sky with a collaboration". New Indian Express. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  39. ↑ Joy, Jose (2019-07-12). "Street Academics: tracing the evolution of Malayalam hip-hop music". New Indian Express Indulge. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  40. ↑ Balram, Dhruva (2020-02-22). "10 Indian Rappers You Need to Know". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  41. ↑ Balram, Dhruva (2020-04-29). "Indian Artists are Fighting Theocracy With Music". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  42. ↑ "'മലയാളത്തിലെ റാപ് ബാലികേറാമലയെന്ന് കരുതിയ കാലമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു; കപ്പയുടെ സംരംഭം പ്രശംസനീയം'". Mathrubhumi. 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  43. ↑ "Know Your Band - Street Academics". Radio City. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  44. ↑ Datta, Sravasti (2018-12-07). "Electrifying beats". The Hindu. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  45. ↑ Justis, Poetik (2017-12-02). "An Ode To The Producers In Indian Hip-Hop". DesiHipHop. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  46. ↑ Justis, Poetik (2019-02-20). "Voices Beyond Gully Boy - The South". DesiHipHop. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  47. ↑ Unnikrishnan, Navaneethakrishnan (2022-05-07). "Uncovering The Genius Of Street Academics". Pink Lungi. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  48. ↑ News Song "Vandi Puncture" by Street Academics. Asianet News. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  49. ↑ Chakrabarti, Ajachi (2013-10-16). "What Rhymes with Self-Respect?". Tehelka. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  50. ↑ Gujubhai, IQ (2013-01-31). "Street Academics – "Trapped In Rhymes"". DesiHiphop. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  51. ↑ Bobkat, Enkore (2015-06-15). "Street Academics Return with a Fire Single". Voice Of Tha People. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  52. ↑ Sebastian Edmond, Deepu (2016-06-30). "Distilling Dissent". The Hindu. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  53. ↑ Fernandes, Denver (2017-09-19). "Exclusive: Watch videos from The Clash EP - Edition One". RedBull. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  54. ↑ Fernandes, Denver (2017-11-09). "Exclusive: Stream The Clash EP -Edition One". RedBull. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  55. ↑ Britto, David (2017-11-27). "Hear India's Rap, Rock and Metal Worlds Collide on 'The Clash' Compilation". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  56. ↑ Unnikrishnan, Deepa (2017-12-05). "The Clash - One Of A Kind EP Where Hip Hop Meets Other Genres". DesiHipHop. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  57. ↑ Justis, Poetik (2017-11-09). "Exclusive Interview - Street Academics' "Kalapila" Just Changed The Game". DesiHipHop. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  58. ↑ Srinivasan, Karthik (2017-12-08). "Milliblog Annual Music round-up 2017". Milliblog. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  59. ↑ Kadiyala, Swetha (2020-03-10). "Spinning a sensation". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  60. ↑ Bobkat, Enkore (2015-05-18). "Episode 12 – The VOTP Show (Podcast)". Voice Of Tha People. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
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