Rapstar Ghalib is a name gaining popularity in the music and rapping arena of Kashmir.
Ghalib is a hip-hop rapper and singer from South Kashmir. He makes rapid but soft rap songs, and with his original accent, his approach to the artwork stands out.
His latest song, named ‘Dastaan’, got an overwhelming response from the digital audience over various platforms for its emotional and motivational theme about love.
Born as Shahry Binyamin Ahmad Ganai, Ghalib grew up in the far-flung Budroo village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, in a middle-class family. His love for poetry and different challenging experiences inspired him to start writing and performing rap at the age of 12.
Having gone through many incidents of bad and abusive behaviour from people in childhood, his approach became more focussed and intense as he grew up. And these attributes can be felt in the tone and the lyrics of his music.
This is reflected in his songs and his voice. His choice of words also demonstrates his passion and sensitivity as an artist.
Ghalib, 19, says his parents especially his father Muhammad Altaf supported him and stood like a wall against all the odds.
“It’s due to the family support that I have come a long way since my school days when I first started writing the raps and recording them on my father’s cellphone,” he says.
He has so far written over 50 raps and released 12 of his video songs on various platforms like Spotify, Jio Saavn, Itunes, Youtube, Amazon music, etc. Most of his songs have received positive response and feedback from a wide audience in a few days of their release. According to Ghalib, his passion for music is a way to express and present reality in an interesting and subtle way. Ghalib has a unique prowess of writing and presenting it through an emotional and motivational theme. His songs have warm and indigenous warmth which can connect listeners easily.
“I admire many artists like Bohemia, Honey Singh, Raftaar, Divine , young stunners and Badshah but my real inspiration comes from famous Indian rapper Emiway Bantai and two Pakistani artists Talha Anjum and Talha Yunus,” he said. His prominent works include ‘Shuruwat’, ‘Headshot’, ‘Sahi Hu Mai’. These days he is working on a new music album and tracks. For this Ghalib is planning to collaborate with top producers and music companies. He has got a few other upcoming projects like ‘Khab’, which he is producing from his own pocket.A sober artist Ghalib says his dream is to represent Kashmir globally in the music arena and make his parents proud.