Dhanji Releases His Earnestly Awaited Debut Album 'Ruab'

Among avid listeners of Indian hip-hop, Dhanji's 'RUAB' has been as awaited as any work by the long-standing heavyweights of the genre – a feat that's especially impressive for an artist releasing his debut album and one not emerging from the recognised hip-hop hubs like Mumbai or New Delhi. With 7 mixtapes to his name, the Ahmedabad artist and his team have created such levels of anticipation through a series of listening sessions, shows with live bands, 1 single release and enthusiastic word of mouth. The credit for the latter goes to the mix of genres in Dhanji's work that feels starkly refreshing in the often oversaturated world of desi hip-hop.

As much as taking a cue from hip-hop's obvious icons like Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, Dhanji channels his love for the likes of James Brown while he and his cohort of collaborators jump between Gujarati, Hindi and English without missing a breath. Jazz and R&B-influenced dry intimate drums and bass guitars give a laidback foundation to Dhanji's energetic delivery while horn lines eccentrically jam around him. From there, 'RUAB' traverses all the way to the heavy boom of trap drums and 808s, covering the intensities in between.

The songs themselves remain progressive in structure with the longest number '1 KHABRI / 2 NUMBARI' travelling that full distance in itself. The title track prepares one for all of it as Dhanji's shouts of the title echo casting a dizzying spell while the lead single 'THALTEJ BLUES' closes the album on a pop-funk note. The album's most dynamic moment comes as the epic build-up of 'WHAT WOULD THE CREDIT DEPARTMENT DO?' falls into the mellow thump of 'PUT THAT ON WAX'.

Dhanji's own performances add another layer of freshness as he performs with the candidness of freestyling while experimenting with both lyricism and delivery till both aspects allow the other to reach higher levels of intricacy. In the process, the rapper touches upon everything from desires, class differences, vulnerability, mental peace, creating art in a capitalist world, and, most notably, paying homage to his roots in Ahmedabad or, as he prefers to call it, Amdavad.

Listen to 'RUAB' below and follow Dhanji for more information.