Kritagya on Sadhna, New Delhi Cartel & Building Without Shortcuts
Kritagya has been a consistent presence in Delhi’s underground hip-hop circles: from the raw energy of early Spit Dope sessions to co-founding New Delhi Cartel and Gali Hip Hop.
With NDC’s debut album Sadhna finally out after five years, we spoke to him about the evolution of the scene, the mindset behind the record, and why independence, persistence, and self-built platforms still matter in Indian hip-hop.
Q) You’ve been part of the Delhi hip-hop scene since its early days—from intimate Spit Dope sessions in small rooms to now seeing crews like Seedhe Maut sell out shows in the UK. Having witnessed this journey up close, what’s one key lesson or challenge from your experience that you’d want to pass on to younger artists so they don’t repeat the same mistakes?
Kritagya: It’s been a minute, lol. But even before we started in 2016, I was lucky to have greats who paved the way for Indian hip-hop to shine the way it was meant to. Back then, it was the Orkut era. Then came Facebook, and suddenly there was a growing online community around Indian hip-hop.
But it was all digital—until people started doing rooftop cyphers in CP. That’s when I first saw emcees like Youngsta Ash, MC Kode, Quixotic, and Abj. It felt like home. I’d go back feeling super motivated to train harder.
The Facebook Desi Hip-Hop community literally stepped into the streets. More wordsmiths kept joining in.
Before we knew it, Gali Hip Hop was organizing DHHM17—Delhi Hip-Hop Meet in 2017. Around 300 heads came through. It wasn’t in a club but in a skateboard basement, and it happened because of pure hunger.
I was stubborn, and DJ Karma mentored me through it. People told me I couldn’t bring rappers, DJs, breakers, and graffiti artists together. So we did exactly that. Everyone embraced the culture, and Raftaar even posted the flyer. My phone number was on every poster, and it rang nonstop.
Seeing Indian hip-hop grow like this feels personal. It’s a win. It feels great when hard work gets recognized.
To the younger artists: take initiative. Build stages with your friends. Stop waiting for people to see your dopeness or hand you flowers. The scene is more than just studio sessions and park cyphers. It’s the people who make it happen.
If you love this, support your favorites, go to their shows, play their songs in the car with your homies.
Q) You started New Delhi Cartel (NDC) back in 2019. What was the original vision behind forming the crew, and how has that vision evolved over time?
Kritagya: Me, Novacane, Insanoid, and [?] just wanted to bring Delhi’s energy into sound. We wanted a soundtrack for the city.
The vision was unexpected and dramatic, just like Delhi’s unpredictable weather. We were chasing that feeling of being from here.
Over the years, it’s evolved into this akhaada—where the illest spitters come to sharpen their pen game and rap skills. It’s a shark tank. Everyone’s trying to murder every verse.
Personally, I’d love to see more perspectives—like a student who isn’t from Delhi but lives here, telling their stories. I know some hungry mfs who could wipe the floor with the rosters that some labels put out. We’re still coming for everything.
Q) NDC’s debut album, Sadhna, just dropped after five years in the making. It brings that raw, old-school energy you’ve always championed. For us, the standouts were Wildin’, Sadhna, and I Feel Like. Now that the project is out, what are some of your personal favorites? What was the core concept behind Sadhna, and what made the journey take so long?
Kritagya: Thank you, Rahul. It took time to come together, but our individual lives and projects added depth and clarity. The puzzle pieces just started falling into place. We gained momentum as we matured in the craft.
We probably had 50–60 beats, maybe more. Producers from all over the world sent us stuff. When we had the final cut, we just knew—it was the one.
The name Sadhna didn’t come until 2024. We were just calling it the NDC tape or project. We were making tracks, but we knew they all belonged to the same world. It was all meant to be one body of work.
About a hundred nights ago, I wrote a verse that started with:
“F*ck hustle culture, laundey ye hai Sadhna.” That line summed up everything for me. I don’t even like the word “grind.” This is devotion to your thing.
It’s about losing yourself in your purpose. Any artist or craftsman knows what it feels like to give everything to their work. Days, nights, years spent creating—or thinking about creating.
It’s worrying about every little detail, embracing imperfections, being proud of what you made, and watching yourself grow. It’s slow, but it’s worth it. It’s about discipline and showing up because you care. Being inconsistently consistent. Writing what you feel and making others feel what you write.
That’s Sadhna to me. This little album took five years to come to life.
Q) Across your journey—from solo work to building Gali Hip Hop—what’s something that has kept you grounded through all the highs and lows? Whether it’s a belief, a habit, or a person, what has helped you stay true to your path?
Kritagya: Just staying on it. Persistence. Knowing I’ve always been the star I believed I was.
Q) Beyond your own music and NDC, you’ve also been building platforms like Gali Hip Hop and your clothing brand OnItStreetwear. How do you manage to balance all of it? And do you think it’s important for independent artists today to create their own IPs and diversify beyond just making music?
Kritagya: I’ve always had this childlike excitement. Some people might see it as ego or not wanting to ask for help. But I just feel like I can do it all.
As I grow—and the brands grow—I’m learning to be more comfortable sharing my vision. Learning to let people contribute. Learning to delegate to those who are great at what they do, and to learn from them too.
And yes, absolutely. Build your own bread. Stop relying on streaming money. Financial freedom leads to artistic freedom. Learned that from the DIY king himself—Novacane.
Q) Now that Sadhna is out, what comes next? Where do you see the crew and your own journey heading in the years to come? What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind in Indian hip hop?
Kritagya: Sadhna. Track three. Timestamp 1:08.
Whether or not you resonate with NDC’s sound, there’s no denying the years of intent and groundwork that went into Sadhna: both as a project and a process.
For Kritagya, the journey has always been about discipline over hype, and showing up even when it’s inconvenient.
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