Top 10 Indian Rappers in 2023

In recent years, the Indian hip-hop industry has exploded, with artists such as GullyBoy, Raftaar, and Emiway igniting a nationwide interest in the genre. People all over the country are now attempting to decipher the complex lyrics of their favourite artists, thanks to reality shows like MTV Hustle and films like GullyBoy contributing to the revolution of Indian rap.

Here is the list of the top 10 Indian Rappers in 2023.

1. Yo Yo Honey Singh

Yo-Yo Honey Singh has triumphantly returned to the Indian music industry and remains one of the most well-known and expensive music directors. While not an underground hip-hop rapper, Honey Singh has revolutionized the pop-rap genre in India by fusing pop and hip-hop to create a distinctive sound that appeals to dancing audiences. He is widely regarded as a pivotal figure in Indian music, and his contributions have been instrumental in popularising the genre.

2. Raftaar

Raftaar's name is well-known in both mainstream and underground music scenes. Dilin Nair, the artist's real name, is from Kerala and began his career with the Punjabi band RDB before venturing out on his own. Raftaar's discography includes songs ranging from commercial dance numbers to socially conscious rap to adult-themed tracks.

His talent has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best Urban Song of the Year at the Brit Asia Awards for his hit "Swag Mera Desi" in 2016. Raftaar has also made a name for himself in Bollywood, collaborating on several popular songs and becoming a favourite of top Indian music producers.

3. Dino James

Dino James is a well-known name in the world of rap music, especially on the internet. He has received praise for his honest depiction of relationships and emotions, which he effortlessly captures in his songs. His song "Girlfriend," which featured lighthearted lyrics about various aspects of a relationship, went viral on the internet.

 Dino James is one of the most promising rappers to watch out for in the coming years, with multiple viral hits such as "Loser" and "Impossible" to his name.

4. Badshah

Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, known professionally as Badshah, is an Indian rapper, singer, film producer, and businessman. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group Mafia Mundeer with Yo Yo Honey Singh in 2006 but went solo in 2012 with the Haryanvi song "Kar Gayi Chull," which later became part of the soundtrack of the Bollywood film Kapoor & Sons. Other Bollywood films that have featured Badshah's music include Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Khoobsurat.

5. Kr$na

kr$na, also known as Krishna Kaul, is a New Delhi-based rapper who has long been making waves in the Indian rap scene. kr$na began rapping in English in the early 2000s and even signed with a label. However, he rose to prominence after the release of his song "Kaisa Mera Desh" in 2010, which demonstrated his ability to rap in both Hindi and English. His music video "Vijay" for a children's NGO also helped him gain recognition. Raftaar later recognized Kr$na's talent, and he is now a member of Raftaar's record label, Kalamkaar.

6. Emiway Bantai

Bilal Sheikh, also known as Emiway Bantai, is a well-known name in the underground Hip-Hop Rap scene and one of the top Indian rappers of the year 2023. He made his debut with the song 'Glint Lock' in 2013 and rose to prominence with 'Aur Bantai' in 2014. He is currently India's most prominent independent artist, with his official YouTube channel surpassing the ten million subscriber mark. Emiway rose to prominence after releasing the diss track 'Samjh me aya kya,' which was directed at renowned rapper Raftaar.

7. MC Stan

Altaf Tadavi, aka MC Stan, has been making waves in the Indian rap scene for quite some time. He began as a Qawwali singer at the age of 12 but later switched to hip-hop and has written and produced a large amount of rap music. His abilities were recognized when he won Bigg Boss 16 and became the most-voted contestant in the show's history. He has also received messages of support from popular rappers such as Badshah and Seedhe Maut. With his exceptional talent and dedication, MC Stan is undoubtedly one of the top Indian rappers to watch in 2023. He also performed in front of a large crowd during his India tour this year.

8. Divine

Vivian Fernandes, better known by his stage name Divine, is a Mumbai-based rapper. He began his career as an underground rapper in 2011, rapping in English at first and then switching to Hindi. Divine was a member of the "Mumbai's Finest" hip-hop crew, and his song "Yeh Mera Bombay" won the Rolling Stone India Best Music Video of the Year award in 2014.

 Following his signing with Sony Music India, his debut single "Jungli Sher" became a chart-topper and was even featured on the BBC Asian network's Breakfast Show.

9. IKKA

Ikka, real name Ankit Singh Patyal, is a well-known Delhi-based artist in the Indian music industry. His music career began with his debut song "Gadbad-Gadbad" in 2014, on which he collaborated with Lil Golu and Raftaar. They all met Honey Singh, who was impressed with their work, and formed the group "Mafia Mundeer." However, Ikka left the group after some disagreements, and Honey Singh and Raftaar rose to prominence.

10. King

Arpan Kumar Chandel, better known as King Rocco, is an Indian rapper, hip-hop artist, and singer who began his musical career at a young age. He is one of India's most popular and successful rappers despite being only 24 years old. King rose to prominence after appearing as one of the top five finalists on MTV's reality show "MTV Hustle" in 2019. He quickly gained a following and is well-liked and respected in India. In 2021, King, also known as Badnaam Raja and King Hustle, competed in MTV Hustle 2.0, cementing his status as an emerging star in the Indian music scene.