One of the stories that inspired Zoya Akhtar’s new release Gully Boy is rapper Divine. Born as Vivian Fernandes, Divine began his career as an underground rapper and then shot to fame with his single ‘Yeh Mera Bombay’. But it was his collaboration with rapper Naezy, in ‘Mere Gully Mein’ that cemented his position as a rapper to look out for. The lyrics of most of his songs are inspired by his own life, and that’s what makes him stand out.
We list six of his most popular songs:
1. Farak
Farak is a great entry point into Divine’s discography, as it hits themes he revisits throughout his work. The rapper pays specific tribute to his mother, his hood and everything he grew up with. But most of all, Farak is Divine establishing himself as distinct from the wannabes.
2. One Side
One Side is Divine getting in touch with his dark side. The 2018 single has the rapper both boasting and lamenting his fame, while acknowledging the fleeting nature of it all. “Paisa nahi, Rap mera shauk hai.”
3. Jungli Sher
Jungli Sher is one of Divine’s earliest hits and an ode to the urban jungle of Mumbai. The rapper brings attention to the dreams and aspirations of the streets while throwing shade on existing class hierarchies.
4. Kaam 25
Kaam 25 is a promotional single did for the blockbuster Netflix series Sacred Games but it’s an out and out Divine track. Keeping with the plot of the show, Divine raps about the seedy underbelly of everything from the police to politicians and criminals.
5. Junoon
Junoon is Divine’s confessional song, a deep dive into his life on the streets through verse. The track sees him bare his soul about his parents’ death, growing up in poverty, losing friends and his beginnings as a rapper.
6. Mere Gully Mein
This is the OG, the breakthrough song, the track that introduced Divine and Naezy to the world. Mere Gully Mein was an overnight viral sensation and it made not just their gully but the Gully Gang a household name.
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