The hip-hop scene in the Northeast has been tremendous over the past decade, and it is set to get even better with the release of a new single by two powerhouse artists from the region—Manipur’s Yelhomie and Nagaland’s Moko Koza: “2 Sons of the East.” The song is produced by Yugi Beats and engineered by Naava Records artist SKar Beats. “2 Sons of the East” will be available on all digital streaming platforms on 20 October 2024, with the music video premiering on Yelhomie’s YouTube channel.
In an exclusive preview shared with MT, the duo is seen rapping on the streets of Shillong, delivering impactful lyrics that address social issues and personal struggles. Lines such as “Loopholes in the system, who gon fill the voids? Nah, not you in your white collar, boy, you make me sick,” and “A bomb just detonated in my yard, it ain’t even alarming. I ain’t proud when I say it, but how you gon’ glorify it?” indicate the song’s powerful message and authenticity regarding the violence in Manipur.
The lyrics further suggest a challenge to the current hip-hop landscape in Northeast India, with lines like “Cause lately the rap scene in Northeast been quiet, see I’m tired of sight-seeing, so many copies. No originality, so me and Yelhomie, A Naava & Naga, we got this.”
Kishan of India’s Finest Hip Hop (IFHH) stated in a press release, “2 Sons of the East emphasizes pride in cultural roots and authenticity, bringing together Yelhomie and Moko Koza—two different artists from the East side, one from Manipur and the other from Nagaland—Naga & Naava, conveying their contributions to the rap scene. Asserting strength and resilience and drawing on personal and cultural references, Yelhomie also talks about how the state of Manipur is still going through turmoil and how the system has shattered the lifestyles of many youths. The lyrics reflect confidence, hunger for success, and a refusal to conform to mediocrity while highlighting unique identity and originality.”
Discussing the creative process behind “2 Sons of the East,” the statement continued, “Yelhomie and Moko, we’ve been good friends for quite some time now, off-screen and on-screen, and the bond that we have is strong and mutual. In February 2024, I met Moko in Arunachal Pradesh, where we performed at the same gig, and that’s when we decided to hop on a track together. Most artists in the Northeast share the same vision of uplifting the music scene in the East, especially rap music, and every rendezvous, the conversation usually starts with, ‘What should we do for the scene?’
“Fast forward four months, I met Yugi in Bangalore, and he played for me this raw, rugged, desi-sampled boom bap type beat that got me hooked from the first listen. As soon as I got back to my hometown, I started writing on it, keeping in mind that Northeast representation is a priority higher than everything else. Every kid has a soil that they played on and fell on—a soil that has groomed them to become adults, ready to face any predicament they are thrown into. The hills, the valleys, the Northeast being our soil, we represent that with pride.”
Shedding light on the music video, the statement further continued, “The music video for this song was shot in Shillong, where we met for a listening session of an album by a Shillong-based rapper. In the video, I carry a shawl-like fabric called Ryndia Silk, a traditional cloth in the Khasi culture. Handloom weaving, with its unique and traditional techniques, has been an inherited and age-old process among the Khasis. Ryndia is a significant cultural symbol of the Khasis and truly reflects the community.
The motive behind representing the Khasi tradition in the video is to bring the diversities under a unified portrait. Off the record, my brothers in Shillong, especially U Lyngskor and Adoni, with whom I have built a strong bond, helped me out with the shoot, and I’m indebted to them.”
About the artists
Yelhomie, originally known as Thiyam James, derived his moniker from the word Yelhoumee, meaning “indigenous people.” Known for his conscious rap, Yelhomie represents the east side of India in his music and acts as an outlet for the voiceless. He has released many singles and EPs in which he touches on various topics, from discrimination to government errors, some of which are sensitive to the general public.
His recent release, Is India My Home? speaks about the proxy war that’s been ongoing in Manipur for the past 15 months and the negligence of both the government and the public eye. Don’t be mistaken: it’s not only conscious rap that he excels in; Yelhomie also creates serious party tracks that you wouldn’t want to miss bopping your head to. What’s next for Yelhomie is the elevation of English rap in India.
Meanwhile, Nagaland’s Moko Koza is considered one of the first rappers to introduce multilingual and folk-fusion rap in Nagaland. He is a two-time winner of the Best Hip-Hop/Rap award at the Nagaland Music Awards. He won the Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist award at the Radio City Freedom Awards 2023 and is also a recipient of the TaFMa Excellency Award for his achievements in music on national platforms.