Albela is unlike an average rapper. He raps as radically as Eminem in his prime. His music is defined by an extremely honest approach to storytelling without any attempts at glories of ego.
“I mostly write about what I see.” He wishes to capture the history and actuality of his life through music. The lines are aphorisms learnt on the streets. He isn’t trying to rap like anybody but himself. There’s a certain slang in the songs that Delhi’s non-elites understand particularly well.
The lyrics are brutal in a theatrical manner. Most of his storytelling stems from his life in Nangloi, Delhi.
Main Manoranjan Hoon gives some serious messages in satirical ways. That is his style. It’s aggressive, authentic and emotional while never losing the ability to make you gag. Albela is a storyteller laughing hard at the hypocrisies of others.
‘I like being alone.’ Albela reveals that since he started seeing things for how they actually are he has become disillusioned with everything.
This disillusionment has become an important part of his music. There is a lot of it in the lyrics of Entertainment Chahiye?
Kho diya har apna
Lost everyone that was mine
Jo bohot zaruri tha
All that was essential
Saare dukhon ko aapas mein baitha ke
Gathered all my sorrows together
Unki dosti kara di
Made them friends with each other
Entertainment Chahiye? carries a grave disillusionment. In an age where hip-hop has become confused and insincere, Albela takes it back to roots of consciousness.
Maine mann ko bola
Ke mann ko kahin bhi
Lagana nahi hai
Dikhana nahi hai
Jo chalta hai andar
Wo andar hi rakhna
Batana nahi hai
Begins one of the best verses in recent DHH history and yet Entertainment Chahiye? is only the second song on the EP.
The project is conscious hip-hop rooted in telling the story of a society. Albela personifies himself as someone willing to say what others won’t. Nanga Sach is satire at its peak. It’s about living honestly in a dishonest universe. The observations stem not from ego but from sincerity.
Jab gareeb chori karta hai to wo chori hoti hai
Aur jab ameer chori karta hai to wo business hota hai
He tells a story of poverty from Nangloi. There happens to be an area where families are living amidst sewage water. ‘I am inspired by this.’
Kaagaz is a song that reveals what money does to us…
Udaas Ladke is a song from the perspective of a guy. His idea was to make a song from the perspective of male loneliness. Albela reveals that two of his friends have died due to it. ‘Three…’ He corrects himself.
The song has humour while retaining the power as an anthem for all the sad boys. Albela’s strength lies in his ability as a storyteller to intersperse a funny bit right after telling a sad bit. The music never fails to make its listener smile and ultimately suggests to just take it easy on yourself.
The album is about the imbalance of power in the universe. The production by Dronark throughout the project complements Albela perfectly.
“Most of my music is a way to vent my frustrations out.” Says the poet from Nangloi. He is 26 and believes that there is nobody in the hip-hop scene who is doing what need to be done. Albela is as eccentric as his name suggests!
