Biography

Swadesi is a group of socially conscious rappers, writers, music producers and performers, whose art serves as a mirror to society. The multi-lingual crew believes in ‘music with a cause’ and go by a sound that is traditional yet global. With their unsparing lyrical content intertwined with folk and bass music, Swadesi has created a unique sound and brand of its own in the Indian music landscape. The group broke into the mainstream with their debut track India 91 in collaboration with other Indian rappers in the cult film ‘Gully Boy’. MC Mawali of the group also featured as a rapper on Rajnikanth’s ‘Kaala’ film soundtracks. Swadesi’s most acclaimed body of work yet is ‘The Warli Revolt’ which garnered much attention while taking rounds on the internet as an anthem against the destruction of the Aarey Forest in Mumbai. Taking inspiration from the poems of social reformers like Tukaram, Swadesi is regarded as Indian hip-hop’s only socio-political group that continually aims to bring about change through art and music.