It was the early 90s. The streets of Bombay carried starry-eyed dreams of the promise that Bollywood held. The government had just announced sweeping liberalisation reforms and the Indian markets had been thrown open to anyone with even an iota of ambition. The air mirrored the general euphoria in effect, thanks to this new wave of financial and personal freedom. Bombay, assuaged by financial scams and riots, finally had something to look forward to – living up to its tag of being the financial capital of the country.
It was in this new India, when the country was being ushered into a future where dreams didn’t have a price, that Vivian Fernandes, was raised. Does the name not ring a bell? You might know him better as the award-winning rapper, DIVINE. The artist’s interest in rap and hip-hop stemmed from a most unassuming source – a T-shirt. A friend of his wore one with 50 Cent’s album Get Rich or Die Tryin' emblazoned on it, to school. This was his introduction to the genre, almost an initiation into the hardcore world of rap. The same friend also gave him his first MP3 CD with hip-hop music on it, which inspired him to start rapping. He drew inspiration from his own experiences and went on to become the first Indian rapper tobe featured on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York City for his album, Punya Paap.
MEMORY MAPS
“My earliest childhood memory of any kind of music was Bollywood,” the 31-year-old rapper, born in the Andheri area of Mumbai, says. “There was nothing else around at that time. All of us would spend hours jamming to the latest Bollywood hits then.”
Eventually, when DIVINE started going to school, the magic of CDs enamoured him. The same multi-chrome CDs, used to make everything from decor to toys, became the first vessel for the makings of a globally popular musical star.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2021-Ausgabe von Grazia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2021-Ausgabe von Grazia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN
We go beyond the sun, sand and tan at this tropical paradise
A Hard Pill To Swallow
This travelogue captures the 2023 Cricket World Cup that took place around India, including the Final that devastated us all
BAKING MEMORIES
From heirloom recipes to the scent of spiced fruits, Mumbai's bakers are preserving the art of Christmas cakes with heart and history
NO REST FOR THE WICKED
Costume designer Paul Tazewell's work in Wicked is a testament to how thoughtful design can enrich storytelling
HEARD OF THE 'PRETTY PERSON PROBLEM'?
Beauty experts are saying it's what happens when the genetically blessed go full-throttle on the tweakments...
HAPPY FEET
With Aquazzura's first boutique in India, creative director Edgardo Osorio discusses the brand's global appeal, its resonance with Indian clients, and the inspirations he finds in the country
STRAIGHT-TALKING
Fashion has always been a romance between the past and present for designer Kresha Bajaj
Dump, Discount, Or DESTROY?
As the beauty industry goes all out during the festive season, we unpack the fate of unsold holiday-themed products and the growing concerns of overconsumption
2024 TRENDS WRAPPED
Six beauty content creators showcase their interpretations of the most-talked-about trends that defined this year
RETURN TO ROOTS
The pioneer of outerwear gives you a distinct taste of British heritage and style