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DIVINE: The Gully Rap Pioneer Who Put Indian Hip-Hop on the Map

Vivian Wilson Fernandes, born 2 October 1990 in Andheri, Mumbai, known professionally as DIVINE, is an Indian rapper and songwriter credited as one of the pioneers of the Indian hip-hop scene. His lyrics reflect his experiences growing up in the chawls of Mumbai, focusing on street life, struggles, and aspirations. From underground cyphers to the Grammy Awards, his journey brought gully rap from the streets of Mumbai to mainstream attention.

From the Streets of Andheri

DIVINE grew up in JB Nagar in Andheri East, Mumbai. He began his career as an underground rapper, drawing inspiration from artists like 50 Cent, Nas, Tupac, Eminem, and Rakim. He started gaining popularity after the release of his single "Yeh Mera Bombay" in 2013. His breakthrough came with "Mere Gully Mein" in 2015, featuring fellow Mumbai-based rapper Naezy, followed by solo tracks like "Jungli Sher."

Gully Boy and Mainstream Breakthrough

DIVINE's story, along with Naezy's, inspired Zoya Akhtar's film Gully Boy (2019). DIVINE worked on five songs for the film, including singing on "Mere Gully Mein" and writing "Apna Time Aayega" and "Doori," the latter co-written with legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar. He had already made his Bollywood singing debut with "Paintra" for Mukkabaaz (2017), and contributed to projects including the Netflix series Sacred Games.

Albums and Global Milestones

On 12 December 2020, DIVINE became the first Indian rapper to be featured on the Spotify Times Square billboard in New York City for his album Punya Paap (2020), which claimed the top spot on Apple Music India. He made his debut at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022, becoming the first Indian hip-hop artist to attend the Grammys. His third studio album, Gunehgar, followed in 2022, preceded by the single "Baazigar" featuring American rapper Armani White. He later released the collaborative album Street Dreams with Punjabi singer Karan Aujla.

Legacy

DIVINE also founded Gully Gang Entertainment, a venture spanning a record label, talent management, and live music properties, to nurture new hip-hop talent. He has also collaborated with producer Nucleya on tracks such as "Scene Kya Hai" and "Jungle Raja." In 2018, he was named Musician of the Year at the Outlook Social Media Awards. His career proved that honest stories from Indian streets, told in Indian languages, could command a national and global stage.

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