MUMBAI:  The face of Indian hip-hop and its most in-demand star, DIVINE has added entrepreneur to his resume with the launch of his latest venture, Gully Gang Entertainment.

 “I’m surrounding myself with the right people I’ve met along the way and moving forward to the next phase of life with them,” DIVINE aka Vivian Fernandes says.

“This has been a dream I’d never seen, though now I feel it’s expected of me and it’s a great time in music in India to start Gully Gang Entertainment. We need all the support from the industry and are looking forward to scaling up the business by way of the right partnerships, and by keeping the artist and the music at the core of it. I’m nervous to be honest! Though, the excitement of the things to come, and getting in the studio with all the young producers and rappers is a rush!” he adds.

DIVINE will now be managed by Gully Gang Entertainment. The gully has been central to DIVINE’s music, his story and his rise – and at Gully Gang Entertainment, it’s the bonds he made during those days that continue to guide him. Like his mother, his close friends are also involved in the running of the newly-launched company.

Gully Gang Entertainment that features DIVINE aka Vivian Fernandes and his mother on the board of directors amongst others will function

• as a record label, Gully Gang Records and manage emerging and exciting talent in desi hip-hop, including rappers, producers and DJs

• create and run live events IPs like Gully Fest – which was launched and showcased in Mumbai last year and will travel to three other cities in India in 2019

• create and sell Gully Gang merchandise
• produce content that offers a 360-degree package to artists and brands through strategic and relevant partnerships

The first release on Gully Gang Records will be the much-awaited DIVINE’s debut album, expected to drop sometime in March 2019.

With hip-hop’s popularity and awareness at an all-time high, partly due to the upcoming Bollywood film, Gully Boy, live music events that showcase street culture in India is a priority for GG Entertainment.

Its’ flagship event Gully Fest, launched in September 2018, will feature the biggest and upcoming stars of desi hip-hop, professional MCs and DJs, Beat boxers, B-boys alongside producers and beat makers that have helped give Indian hip-hop its own sound. After the amazing response it received in Mumbai last year, Gully Fest will soon travel to other Indian cities.