Catching up with Jalali Shafayat
Shafayat Hossain, better known by his stage name Jalali Shafayat, is one of the most well known rappers in the country. Whether it be with his crew, Jalali Set or as a solo act, he has proven from time to time that he spits the most versatile verses in the industry. We catch up with the young artiste on his current projects, ambitions and more.
Thank you for your time! What are you busy with at the moment?
I am planning to release an official solo track soon! It was supposed to drop on Pohela Boishakh (April 14), but since Ramadan will start on that date, it was postponed. Meanwhile, I have been busy with many commercial work, notably the OST for web series "Mainkar Chipay" with Rafa bhai. I am quite proud of it.
How did you get into rap music?
I have been rapping from 2008. I drew inspiration from artistes like Linkin Park, from which Mike Shinoda was my absolute favourite. Before that, I had no idea about rap music. Once I got into it, I realised that these artistes were able to convey their soul with just words, and I wanted to do the same.
Hip Hop in Bangladesh has gone from strength to strength over the years, thanks to artistes like you – especially considering the fact that it was not taken as seriously before. Where do you see its future?
Thank you, I am humbled. To be honest, the essence of any music should be to portray our own culture, rather than just copy what you see on television – this is what I have always felt in my heart. This was arguably missing from our earlier rap music, but the artistes who are active now are phenomenal.
Speaking of which, would you like to give a shoutout to any new, younger artistes?
Definitely. Lazy Panda, Saif Khan, Fiha Noor, Wrong Side all deserve a mention for the stellar work that they are doing right now.
If you were to mention three of your tracks that you are most proud of, what would they be?
The first would definitely be "Sura Target". Even if I wasn't a part of Jalali Set, it would still be my favourite song. "Local Bus" brought me into the mainstream, and it was an honour to work with the folk queen, Momotaz apa. I also love working with Rafa bhai on "Mainkar Chipay".
Would you like to say anything to the readers of this article?
To artistes – give time to your craft. To listeners, support your friends who are trying to do something in the industry. I am grateful to my friends, who continuously push me to do something. I would not be where I am without them!
Comments