MUMBAI: It’s no hidden secret that the hip hop community was enthusiastically awaiting a brand-new full-length album from its’ mainstay for over a year. Riding on the success of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Kohinoor,’ multi-platinum rapper DIVINE fiercely returns in prime form for his next- a revolutionary, prescient album bearing a fresh vulnerability and showcasing his proficiency at crafting radio-ready anthems. ‘Punya Paap’ is the complete package, his sophomore album that his purist fanbase have always loved the leading rap millennial star of the A-list territory for. The album is a typical DIVINE fare - walking along the tightrope of emotive lyrical rap that he is known to maneuver so fluently, it is commanding and honest, unafraid and vulnerable.

Stream Here: http://mai.lnk.to/punyapaap

Artist Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u50m4at946qoak7/AAAwDuhUDTYcLSxtx1U5bl2Qa?dl=0

The captivating and mature work offers a heady auditory experience supercharged-up with authentic insights reflecting the gritty street life, crispy songwriting, blazing bars and ornate harmonies with the leading light of Indian hip hop inflicting his high energy flows, proffering a variety of emotions and synthy futuristic soundscapes for listeners to immerse in. He powers through the familiar hi-hats and hues of contemporary hip hop with muscle and confidence, placing his success in conversation with his struggles, each track’s culmination offering an interlude-like build into the next record. From top to bottom, the richly detailed album bears an entire draped-up and dripped-out vibe and it’s hard not to fall deep into DIVINE’s world and want to stay there for the album’s entirety! 

The album title with its’ stick-to-your-ribs soul samples and top-tier lyricism draws inspiration from the popular bar from the hip hop superstar’s 2019 single ‘Kohinoor’ – ‘saathvi se saath dost ab bhi mere saath hai / Abhi bhi karte punya, abhi bhi karte paap hai’.

With the inclusion of an impressive slew of bubbly collaborations such as hip hop veteran Nas, Grammy winning Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Cocoa Sarai, British rapper Dutchavelli, Grammy winning producer iLL Wayno, London-based dancehall artiste Stylo G and Indian American singer-songwriter Lisa Mishra who blend into the narrative seamlessly, the heavy-duty polished album reinvigorates interest in DIVINE’s unique take on hip-hop mixed with disco-themed, dancefloor friendly blend of rap, reggaeton, dancehall, R&B and other subcultures’ aesthetics.

DIVINE states, “Punya Paap was an idea that was born right after I released Kohinoor. 2020 has been such a roller coaster rider, right from the first recordings in January, subsequently diving into uncharted territories of a lethal pandemic that wreaked worldwide socio-economic chaos and now finally being able to present my second body of work, it’s been quite taxing and emotional! I took all the negativity surrounding me and channeled my energy into my music. The producers really challenged me to do better and I’m extremely glad to be working with such a talented troupe right from Phenom, Stunnah, iLL Wayno, Karan Kanchan, NDS and Kanch! Big shoutout to Nas, Lisa Mishra, Dutchavelli, MC Altaf, D’Evil, Shah Rule for helping me complete my album and contributing to it! Also major props to my entire team at Gully Gang, our partners Mass Appeal India and the team at Reservoir for their support throughout! It’s out in the world now and I invite my fans, my riders, my soldiers and day ones to join me on the ride as I share my triumphs, trials and tribulations through this album.”

Devraj Sanyal, MD & CEO, UMG, India & South Asia, states, “We, at Mass Appeal India, have been part of DIVINE’s process for many months now and I’ve never seen this level of commitment in an artist to get an album right. Days, nights, sometimes days into nights into days; that’s the essence of this unrivalled & matchless piece of work.

DIVINE’s Punya Paap, one of the most awaited hip-hop albums of all time, has one of the fiercest track lists I’ve seen till date. Every song is a gem and every lyric is genius. Every song is a piece of DIVINE’s soul and that makes Punya Paap special beyond words.”

Peter Bittenbender, CEO, Mass Appeal, said, “It’s so rare you find artists with the talent and determination of DIVINE. From the minute I heard Punya Paap I knew it would change the landscape of Hip Hop in India. Everyone at Mass Appeal India is so honored to be part of this iconic project”

The 11-track seamless, no-skip album is a quintessential exhibition of why audiences love DIVINE, with earworm melodies over vibrant, often-quaking thumping production. “Doosri album nahi doosri hai kitab” - we can’t seem to agree more!

Punya Paap is out now in partnership with Mass Appeal India and Gully Gang Entertainment across all major streaming platforms and will hopefully set a new high-water mark in the rapper’s career graph. 

TRACKLIST

1.    3:59 AM – DIVINE - In his trademark style DIVINE draws the curtains up on his album, tugging on heartstrings as he ushers in nostalgia and captures his hip hop evolution, interlacing the iconic choir sample from the French film Les Choristes (The Chorus) with exemplary stripped-back production from Stunnah on the adrenaline-inducing track

2.    Mera Bhai – DIVINE - Acknowledging the importance of loyalty and belief in oneself in a world adorned by egotism, the track serves as an autobiographical rendition of DIVINE’s journey over the last 2 decades. 

3.    Walking Miracle - DIVINE ft. Nas & Cocoa Sarai - Produced by Grammy winning writer iLL Wayno, this track would make it to the top of the list if a James Bond film were to ever feature a hip-hop soundtrack. DIVINE and Nas’s emotive verses punctuated with Sarai’s gut-wrenching chorus and iLL Wayno’s multi-layered composition on the track are hard to miss as they cinematically touch upon every bar with poise and panache

4.    Satya – DIVINE - Stirring up a 90’s-esque vibe, the track pays a thunderous ode to the city of Mumbai and the bygone era of Bollywood films. Sampling the classic track Goli Maar Bheje Mein from the Ram Gopal Varma directed film, the OG wrecking crew comprising of DIVINE and Karan Kanchan unite to wreak havoc

5.    Mirchi – DIVINE ft. Stylo G, MC Altaf & Phenom - The saucy single that topped the charts on major audio streaming platforms upon release, weaves around the earnest philosophy of seeking out the person of ones’ admiration and the extent a man would travel to win the heart of his woman

6.    Disco Rap - DIVINE ft. D'Evil, MC Altaf - Produced by Delhi based NDS and Karan Kanchan, it is a jazzy upbeat anthem that narrates idiosyncratic experiences of an average night out in Mumbai with trademark word play, pop culture references and colloquialisms tinged with hues and phrases synonymous with the city.

7.    Shenai – DIVINE - Produced by Stunnah, the track takes on a biographical stance as it navigates through DIVINE’s personal trials, tribulations and success owing to his loyalist fan army

8.    Rider – DIVINE ft. Lisa Mishra - Produced by Stunnah in conjunction with budding talent Kanch, the absolute ear-worm throws in shades of sounds from the 2000’s golden era of R&B as the artists explore themes of love and friendship.

9.    Top 5 D.O.A. – DIVINE - The track serves as a sublime interlude for the listener and isolating itself from the hefty bangers featured on the album

10.  Drill Karte - DIVINE ft. Dutchavelli - Hot on the heels of their recent collaboration on the viral smash and UK’s defining rap cuts, ‘Bando Diaries’, this icy track sees them join forces once again for another banger, bridging Indian hip-hop and UK drill as it offers perceptive vignettes of stories from the streets of London and the gullies of Mumbai

11.  Punya Paap – DIVINE - A fiery rendition about wins, losses and rebirth, the track transforms as a universal call for collective transformation - an embrace of solidarity and unification at a time of enormous worldwide exploitation and polarization

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

About DIVINE

The advent of hip-hop in India runs parallel to the rise of India’s premier hip-hop star, Vivian Fernandes who goes by the stage name, DIVINE. Consistently cited as one of the most prevalent hip-hop acts in the country, the hip-hop giant has played an empowering role in the rise of the ‘gully rap’ movement and has landed him cultural legacy matched by very few. Lauded for his lyrical complexity and relatable storytelling, his autobiographical rap often touches upon the trials and tribulations implicit in inner city life. His success has offered a blueprint for innumerable young artists who wish to break into the genre while his music has found an authentic appetite amongst listeners. With his heart-rending life story, DIVINE influenced Bollywood director Zoya Akhtar, to create the award-winning blockbuster Bollywood hit ‘Gully Boy’, which featured DIVINE on five tracks of the soundtrack, including the popular ‘Apna Time Ayega’. Following several successful singles including ‘Yeh Mera Bombay’, ‘Kohinoor’, ‘Jungli Sher’ and ‘Kaam 25’ and his breakthrough track ‘Meri Gully Mein’, he released his definitive debut album, Kohinoor in partnership with hip-hop legend Nas’ Mass Appeal aside of launching his own enterprise ‘Gully Gang Entertainment’. The album has received widespread acclaim, with nearly all tracks becoming a mainstay on audio streaming charts in India. As the follow-up to 2019's Kohinoor album and inspired by the unprecedented pandemic, he released an collaborative compilation album titled ‘SHUTDOWN’ in 2020 throught Gully Gang and Mass Appeal India. With a vision to expand the sound and scope of the Indian music landscape, he has cemented his repertoire as one of the most bankable stars of the Indian hip hop community

About Mass Appeal India

Based in Mumbai, Mass Appeal India is the first global extension of the Mass Appeal brand, a multi-media entertainment platform dedicated to amplifying India’s burgeoning hip-hop culture on a global scale. In partnership with Universal Music Group, Mass Appeal India signs and collaborates with the brightest stars from India’s fastest growing music scene and works with brands and content creators to connect India’s unique culture with a worldwide audience.

Hip hop artists and rappers can send across their unreleased original song demos for consideration to massappealindia@gmail.com

Mass Appeal India Youtube Channel Link: www.youtube.com/massappealindia

About Gully Gang Entertainment

Initiated in 2019, Gully Gang Entertainment is an independent all-encompassing entity that was founded by hip hop artist DIVINE in conjunction with his manager, Chaitanya Kataria. This launch marked the maiden innings of the premium hip hop star in the entrepreneurial terrain. An establishment that was demonstrative of the rapid advent of the hip-hop genre in India, it serves principally as an urban record label ‘Gully Gang Records’, that emphases on discovering and honing emerging homegrown hip-hop talent. Furthermore, the venture outspreads its’ repertoire to embrace curation and organization of live IPs similar to Gully Fest and conception of strategic 360-degree content for brands and artists alike as well as production of unique Gully Gang merchandise. Within few months of the launch, DIVINE forged a strategic partnership in his personal capacity with Nas' Mass Appeal India in an attempt to further leverage Gully Gang Entertainment's mission and vision of building a thriving eco system for urban music and culture in the Indian sub-continent

DIVINE & Gully Gang Press Contact – Dream N Hustle Media

·  Jashoda Madhavji +919892217007 / jashoda.madhavji@gmail.com

·  Namrata Joseph +919890268118 / namrata.joseph17@gmail.com