Meet the man who ignited Indian hip-hop’s political conscience. Naved Shaikh was raised in the chawls of Mumbai. He began crafting bars in Hindi and Marathi, rhyming with friends at Khalsa College before filming his first DIY freestyle on an iPad in 2014. A collab with DIVINE in the form of “Mere Gully Mein” followed before both emcees shot to stardom with 2019 rap-to-riches movie Gully Boy. Marked by the dark humour of “Tragedy Mein Comedy” as well as punchline-stacked salvo “302”, Naezy’s urgent social commentary and lyrical finesse define his inimitable duality.