India's First All-Female Hip-Hop Collective

Dec 7, 2024

The Story of India's First All-Female Hip-Hop Collective, Wild Wild Women

Introduction

  • Wild Wild Women is India's first all-female hip-hop collective.
  • The group includes five rappers, two break-dancers, a graffiti artist, and a skateboarder.
  • They focus on themes such as women's rights and mental health.

Formation and Members

  • Formed in 2021, based in Mumbai.
  • Rappers:
    • Krantinaari (Ashwini Hiremath)
    • HashtagPreeti (Preeti N Sutar)
    • MC Mahila (Shruti Raut)
    • JQueen (Jacquilin Lucas)
    • Pratika (Pratika E. Prabhune)
  • Breakdancers:
    • FlowRaw (Deepa Singh)
    • MGK (Mugdha Mangaonkar)
  • Graffiti Artist: Gauri Dabholkar
  • Skateboarder: Shruti Bhosle

Music and Performances

  • They have produced five singles and have collaborated on three tracks.
  • Performances include all original songs, often accompanied by dance and art.
  • They performed over 75 gigs in 2023 and will perform at the International Independent Music Festival 2024.

Origin Story

  • The idea emerged from a conversation between Krantinaari and HashtagPreeti at the Ladies First festival in Mumbai.
  • Initially intended to make one video, their success led to forming the collective.

Challenges and Impact

  • Faced challenges such as societal prejudices and gender biases in the hip-hop industry.
  • Some members had to lead a double life before gaining family acceptance.
  • Created a safe space for women at their gigs, encouraging more women to participate.
  • Perform in saris to connect with women of all ages.

Members' Backgrounds

  • Krantinaari: Former design student, Microsoft employee, performed at Roskilde music festival.
  • HashtagPreeti: Entrepreneur, began exploring music during personal isolation.
  • MC Mahila: Youngest member, channeled isolation into music creation.
  • Pratika: Musician since ninth grade, came from a musical background.

Future Goals

  • Aims to be a mainstay in the male-dominated hip-hop space.
  • Continues to inspire women through their performances and attire choices.

Upcoming Events

  • Performing at the International Independent Music Festival 2024 in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram.
  • Tickets available on insider.in.

Conclusion

Wild Wild Women not only break gender norms in India's music scene but also create an empowering message by performing in saris, aiming to connect with women across generations.