Lehar Chandigarh Mixtape Review
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by Rahul
Mass Appeal India and Lehar Movement have come together for the Lehar Chandigarh Mixtape, a project that carries more than hype, it carries history.
Lehar was founded in 2017 by rapper Srganah, then a student with nothing but love for hip hop.
What began as raw street cyphers and open-mics in Chandigarh soon grew into a nationwide movement, offering underground rappers a platform beyond the mainstream. That journey — from sidewalks to studio — now finds its expression in this collaboration with Mass Appeal India, proving how far Srganah’s vision has travelled.
Credit also goes to Navjosh and the Mass Appeal team for curating Chandigarh’s finest and bringing this project to life.
This is one of those rare tapes made for the culture first, industry second.
And if you’ve been following Lehar’s impact, you’ll know this isn’t the first project born out of it: Sangram’s Rapperoid 15SM carried the torch earlier, and is still worth revisiting.
Coming back to this mixtape: it features 10 tracks and 19 rappers, with the production helmed by Dev Ocean, alongside additional contributions from Poetic on track 2 and Kru172 and Navjosh on track 3.
The scale alone makes this one of the most ambitious regional rap projects in recent memory. But beyond numbers, what stands out is how the mixtape tries to capture the raw diversity of Chandigarh’s scene — the street-honed grit, the hunger of emerging MCs, and the collaborative energy that’s been at the core of Lehar since day one.
The Sound of Lehar
I’ve been to Lehar cyphers in Chandigarh a couple of times, and the sound this tape delivers truly captures that same raw, unfiltered energy.
Listening to it feels like stepping back into that circle — hungry rappers, gritty beats, and a vibe that’s equal parts chaos and community.
As a mixtape, the goal is clear: showcase different styles and flavors of the region. It plays out almost like a buffet, a spread where each artist gets their moment to shine, and for the label, a chance to see whose sound clicks most with the audience.
Dev Ocean deserves major credit here. His production ties the whole thing together, balancing diversity with cohesion. The beats remain intentionally raw, giving the project that street-edge texture you’d expect from a movement born in cyphers. His selections across tracks are sharp, and in many ways, he feels like the real star of the project.
If there’s one critique, it’s the sequencing. While the listening experience is decent, a different order could’ve elevated the narrative flow.
To prove the point, we’ve created a DR Edition of the mixtape — a re-sequenced version you can check out on Spotify at the end of this review. It’s a reminder of how much sequencing alone can reshape the listening experience.
Also, the closing track with Jyoti doesn’t quite land. She’s an incredible artist — writing since the age of 13, while also navigating scoliosis and a genetic locomotive disability, a testament to her resilience and passion for hip hop. But here, the beat, style, and delivery don’t fully click, at least for us personally.
Beyond that, there are no real complaints about the overall sound or the verses. The mixtape stays true to its roots while giving space for artistry to breathe.
DR Top 3 Picks
1) Shinobiz Ft. conVith & Da Mirror (Prod. Dev Ocean)
By far the most experimental cut on the tape, and one that shows why Lehar exists in the first place.
conVith and Da Mirror bring two of the most distinctive voices we’ve heard while attending the cypher.
The first time we saw conVith, his energy felt reminiscent of Prabh Deep — but digging deeper into his work, it’s clear he’s carving out a sound that’s entirely his own.
Da Mirror, meanwhile, shines as both a sharp writer and a dynamic performer. His use of Haryanvi not only adds grit but also connects him to the rapidly growing Haryanvi hip hop audience.
And kudos to Dev Ocean: the beat here is layered, unpredictable, and the perfect playground for these flows. Together, the two MCs ride it with precision and intensity, making this track one of the tape’s undeniable high points.
2) Loot Ft. Rajat Birla & Double A (Prod. Dev Ocean)
Released as the first single from the tape, Loot stands out for its writing — arguably the strongest across the entire project.
The last verse from Double A, delivered after the beat switch, is especially powerful and cements his status as one of Chandigarh’s sharpest voices.
Rajat Birla also raises the bar here. From everything we’ve heard so far, this might be his best written track yet, proof that he’s quickly stepping into his own as both a rapper and storyteller.
The song captures the lived realities of the environments many of these artists come from, and Dev Ocean’s production gives it the weight and grit it deserves. As a first single, this was a perfect choice — it introduces the mixtape with authenticity, sharp lyricism, and a sense of purpose.
3) Bawe Puch Ft. BadFlow (Prod. Dev Ocean & Poetic)
Easily the most vibey track on the tape — and the one with the best hook. The melodic beat, driven by smooth guitar layers, gives the track an infectious groove that’s impossible to ignore.
Rana Ji and J Punk deliver with effortless charm, their laid-back yet confident delivery elevating the track and making it one of the most replayable moments of the mixtape. From start to finish, Bawe Puch keeps you hooked — it’s the kind of track that belongs on every driving playlist.
Dev Ocean and Poetic’s production here is crisp and catchy, striking the perfect balance between melody and bounce. Without a doubt, one of the tape’s brightest highlights.
Standout Artists
Before highlighting the standouts, it’s worth congratulating everyone involved — the entire lineup brought their A-game. Still, as with any cypher-rooted project, a few voices rose above the rest.
Back in May, we dropped an article on 4 Emerging Rappers from Chandigarh You Need to Hear Right Now — and it’s no coincidence that three of those names feature on this tape. That’s the kind of consistency you want to see from a scene in motion.
- Double A and Rajat Birla frontlined the first single released on September 10. Double A has been on our radar for a while — one of Chandigarh’s sharpest voices, his 2024 project Cold Outside is proof of his range. Rajat, meanwhile, is just beginning his journey but already shows serious promise. Beyond the mic, he’s a skilled video director, began as a b-boy, and even pulls off uncanny Ikka impersonations: a true multi-hyphenate creative to watch.
- Poetic continues to deliver quality with every drop. On Star alongside Meaow, he balances hunger with polish. Beyond his verses, he’s also a solid producer — making him one of the more versatile young acts, a kind of Chandigarh-bred “Young Raja.”
- At just 19, Dragxa (of 90Kmph) is already carving out a lane of his own. His energy on the tape feels iconic in the making — spin his EP Emergency Minutes and you’ll know exactly why we say that.
- JBmostwanted, also featured in our “4 Emerging Rappers” piece, makes his mark on Gallan Marde. His recent project Zilla Mohali is another worth digging into if you want to hear the raw pulse of the region.
- Badflow — the crew of J Punk and Rana Ji — deliver one of the tape’s most vibey cuts. Rana Ji, in particular, carries an infectious, almost radiant energy; if you’ve caught him live, you already know the charisma he brings.
- And finally, the tape’s most experimental and high-energy moment comes from ConVith and Da Mirror. Their unpredictable flows, charged delivery, and striking vocals create one of the project’s most memorable tracks. Both consistently pack their songs with energy, and if you’re new to their sound, Sidha Shamri Te from Sangram’s project is the perfect introduction to their dynamism.
The Lehar Chandigarh Mixtape isn’t just a regional showcase, it’s a cultural milestone. It captures the cypher-born chaos of Chandigarh, amplifies 19 unique voices, and proves that grassroots movements can grow into label-backed projects without losing their edge.
Does it live up to the hype? Absolutely. More importantly, it shows that Lehar’s wave isn’t slowing down anytime soon — it’s only getting louder.
Lehar Chandigarh Mixtape (DR Edition)
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