Even as we thought that the rivalry within the ‘gully rappers’ of India has peaked, it has now reached the Punjabi rapping scene as well. Raftaar who was heavily dissed by Emiway in his song Samajh Mein Aya Kya, has now put out a music video containing his derisive reply. Called Sheikh Chilli, the song is a play of words on Emiway’s real name, Shahrukh Sheikh.
In the title of the video on YouTube, you can also spot the line “Yeh diss gaana nahi hai” which is something Emiway had mockingly said at the end of Samajh Mein Aya Kya. In this latter track, the Mumbai-based gully rapper had also heavily mocked the likes of Divine and MC Stan.
Emiway was irked by an interview given by Raftaar in which he suggested that rappers like Emiway aren’t able to make money through their music. Emiway took umbrage upon this statement, and replied with lines like “Raftaar ka interview dekha mai. Usme usne bola Emiway kamaya kya? Mere video pe jo bhi paisa maine lagaya. Vo saara paisa bantai tune lagaya kya? Maine kamaya kya? Maine gawaaya kya? Maangne ko paisa mai ghar tere aaya kya?”
With Sheikh Chilli, Raftaar argues that he was speaking for the entire rapping scene, and that he had nothing against Emiway when he uttered those words. He does so with the lines, “Sachai yehi hai ki opportunity nahi. Sachai yehi hai logon mein nahi unity. Ego hai pahaad pe. Yeh khud chane ke jhaad pe. Yeh khud ki mudke chatein. Bolein duniya mujhko poojti.”
Raftaar further goes on to reveal how he had mentored Emiway by arranging a studio recording for him and even hosting him at his place for a meal. Throughout all this, there is plenty of mocking of Emiway’s work as well. His famous song Kadak Ban is teased with the lines, “Kadak ban, mat ban tu dhokla. Aakalmand nahi chhote tu to nikla dogla. Ladakpan mein bhi nikla not hard. Sadak band, aage band naaka tere road ka.”
Raftaar has really upped the ante with his new song, and it remains to be seen how Emiway replies to this.
