Rapper Neff feels the city's hiphop scene is lacking

For rapper Rohan Ramesh aka Neff who was raised in New Jersey, USA, the fascination to hiphop music was inspired by personal experiences and love for music. The belief that rap stands out among other genres of music in terms of being more real also triggered his passion for it. In a chat with Tini Sara Anien, he talks about his musical journey so far.

What triggered your love for rap music?

I was raised in the hub of hiphop music, New Jersey and I grew up listening to the genre more. I was listening to the music as a teenager. Though I am a fan of every kind of music, I connected better to hiphop.

Are you deeply inspired by any rap artiste?

Just like any other rap lover, I am inspired by Tupac. He is probably the best in the rap scene that ever existed and ever will be. His reach to people was impressive, the amount of people affected by his lyrics was phenomenal, despite him passing away 20 years ago. Others would include Eminem.

Do you have a set beat per minute?

The beats to a song don't matter to me. I realise that one can rap any song, any lyrics any way ones wants it.

Are lyrics as important as the beats in a song?

I feel that lyrics are a million times more important than everything else. Even if you are a rapper, you are not responsible for a beat but you can affect people with your lyrics. I will never use a single line that is not written by me. That is how important lyrics are to me.

What are your newest music collaborations?

I will be associating with a few artistes at Wall Street 52, Koramangala, every Wednesday. I will let singers and rappers come and sing and perform there which will help them get exposed.

Some of your tracks are...

I put out my track, 'Tony Montana', in December 2017. The track is inspired from the film Scarface. I am going to release a 'Neff-ilosphy' mixtape soon which will have popular numbers like 'Shape Of You' etc. I am also working on two other singles, 'Show Me How You Move', 'One Night' and 'Survival of The Sickest', which will be followed by an EP.

What do you think about the hiphop scene in the city?

I feel that the scene is really lacking in Bengaluru. This is exactly where I hope to step in and fill in the gap.