In Conversation with Arun Ydv: The Story Behind Bhojpuri Hip Hop’s Rising Voice
With every release, Arun Ydv continues to push the boundaries of Bhojpuri hip hop — blending cultures, sounds, and stories into something uniquely his own.
From his multilingual experiments with Beastcoast Cyber to the carefully crafted sound of Khaati Dehati, Arun is carving out a space for Bhojpuri identity in modern hip hop.
We caught up with him to talk about his journey, creative process, and the future he envisions for Bhojpuri rap.
Q: Your first song “Mere Dost” with Rahul Sagr compared to your latest “Parivaar” shows how much you’ve evolved. How do you see your growth as an artist? And for those who may not know your full story, can you take us back to your journey before “Mere Dost”?
Arun: Interestingly, Parivaar was actually created before Mere Dost. Both I and those around me really connected with it because it blended hip hop, West Coast bounce, and Bhojpuri folk.
But since the track had a strong visual element, I wanted to release it with a proper music video — one that required a decent budget. So we kept waiting, and I finally released it in 2025.
As for my growth, I believe that an artist’s graph should always move upward. Before Mere Dost, I had already dropped several songs — you can still find them on YouTube.
For example, Chamatkar (June 22, 2019), followed the next day by Beastcoast Cyber where I rapped in four languages: Hindi, Nepali, Bhojpuri, and Bengali alongside EPR.
Then came Howrah Se Raniganj (April 25, 2021), and Nuskha with Swadhin Dol — blending Hindi, Bhojpuri, and Bengali again. Every release has been part of that continuous evolution.
Q: Khaati Dehati stands out as one of the finest Bhojpuri albums — rich in sound, storytelling, and authenticity. What was the core vision behind it? And how did you shape the project from early ideas to final execution?
Arun: The core vision behind my first album was creativity, self-respect, courage, and patience.
It wasn’t just about an idea — it was more like a deep intuition about what needed to be made. But if I must define it, I’d say the relationship between an artist and their producer is crucial. If your producer sees you as a client, you’ll never be able to build something soulful.
It was hard for me because I was in Kolkata while my producer, Sampliyaha, was between Patna and other places. It took two years — I started in 2023 and finished in 2025.
Over time, he became more than just a producer; he became a friend. I showed him my lifestyle, how I talk, what I like to eat, my fears, dreams, and everything — and that transparency made the creative process joyful, not difficult.
After making six tracks, I took a year just to study sounds more deeply and figure out how to express my thoughts better.
Expression is always hard — turning a feeling into sound and words — so I gave myself that time. Then I came back and made the remaining four tracks. When it clicks, you just know it’s ready.
Q: Bhojpuri hip hop is still in its early stages. How would you introduce it to new listeners? And which artists are you most excited about?
Arun: You’re right — Bhojpuri hip hop is young but very powerful. Honestly, I’d let the music speak for itself.
Some of the artists pushing the scene forward include:
Shikriwal,my brother — pure emotion and raw storytelling.
Lit Trust,my dear friend — representing Hindi with Magahi and Bhojpuri slang.
Kat Jr., Manas, Samay — from Maithili hip hop, which I count as Bhojpuri’s sibling language.
Q: How do you see Indian or Desi hip hop right now? What’s its biggest strength, and its biggest challenge?
Arun: Right now, Indian hip hop is in a beautiful phase — it’s in love.
The biggest strength is unity.
The biggest challenge is ego and insecurity — something we all need to navigate carefully as the scene grows.
Q: Bhojpuri is often stereotyped or overlooked in mainstream music. Do you feel responsible for how it’s represented through hip hop?
Arun: This goes beyond just language — it’s about culture. When you represent a culture, responsibility comes by default.
With Bhojpuri, I’ve heard and seen the stereotypes, but I haven’t faced them directly. And honestly, no one should.
A language reflects how its people eat, speak, dress, and live. If Bhojpuri carries a distorted image today, part of that comes from how it’s been handled by some of its own people as well.
Q: Your music blends real experiences with social and cultural storytelling. Where do you draw your stories from? And how important is reflecting real life in your art?
Arun: My stories come from everywhere I’ve been — my family, my friends, and places like Azamgarh, Banaras, Howrah, Kolkata, Delhi, Jharkhand, Mumbai, Punjab — everywhere my feet have touched. I observe, listen, and absorb.
Right now, I feel like I’m still sketching with a pencil — the full portrait is yet to be painted.
It’s not about being “important” — it’s about authenticity. When your sound reflects who you really are, people from that culture feel an instant connection.
Q: Khaati Dehati has a raw but polished sonic feel — blending traditional and modern sounds. What’s your production process like?
Arun: Like I said earlier — your producer needs to know you almost as well as you know yourself. That’s how they understand your bounce, your rhythm, your style — and create something that fits you like a glove.
That’s always been my approach.
Q: Where do you want to take Bhojpuri hip hop in the coming years? Do you see yourself contributing beyond music?
Arun: Yes — my hope and effort is that in the coming years, this sound reaches cinema, web series, and visual narratives too. I believe in it.
And if the question is about contributing to culture, community, and representation — that’s a default setting for me. I’m preparing myself to serve all three, beyond just music.
Sukriya aapka.
Through this conversation, one thing becomes clear — Bhojpuri hip hop isn’t just about music; it’s about identity, responsibility, and honest storytelling.
In a scene where rapid success often overshadows cultural nuance, voices like Arun Ydv are making sure the foundation remains both authentic and expansive.
As Bhojpuri hip hop continues to evolve, these early chapters are quietly building the movement’s long-term legacy. At Desi Renaissance, we’ll be watching closely — because sometimes the most important chapters are still being written.
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