Mumbai hip-hop artist Kidshot. Photo: Courtesy of Molfa Music
Mumbai hip-hop artist Kidshot’s “Mainland” sees him pair a cinematic sound with braggadocious bars and a violent music video to boot.
The release marks his first of the year, following 2023 songs like “DND” and his collab-friendly EP The Come Up. Kidshot keeps the flow on “Mainland” as unpredictable as they come, teaming up with producer Basshole for a punchy, intense sonic dive.
Released via Molfa Music, “Mainland” comes with a music video directed by filmmaker Yuvrajaago that’s set in the unforgiving underworld-like narrative in Mumbai. Kidshot gets ruthlessly pummeled and threatened but soon, he turns the tables and swoops in to exact vengeance on those who betrayed him, having no second thoughts of pulling the trigger.
Kidshot says in a statement about the song, “This is a special release because I’m bringing and introducing a new sound to the scene, cinematic hip-hop. This has never been done before here and I’m sure this is the future of hip-hop.”
The rapper, who first rose to fame due to his distinctive and rapid chopper flow in Indian hip-hop, says that he’s bringing something “that’s lacking” in the movement so far with “Mainland.” In a press release, Kidshot explains that “Mainland” was created and finalized in about an hour at Island City Studios. The ease is chalked down to Kidshot’s “easy-going and productive relationship with his producer, Basshole and mixing engineer, Hersh Desai,” the press release states. The rapper adds, “Every time we meet we create magic.”
“My sound has always stood out and always will, because I try and experiment with new things. ‘Mainland’ is something like that, a sound everyone will love,” he adds.
The release adds more diversity to Molfa Music’s catalog so far. In addition to Kidshot, recent label releases have included singer-songwriter Jafa’s single “Parchment Skin” and artist Gini’s “Ansuna.” Molfa Music CEO Dheer Momaya says in a statement, “Having grown up in the 90s – the golden age of hip-hop – we were itching to find the right track to enter the space with. ‘Mainland’ by Kidshot is the perfect example of pain funneled into fury, its real AF. Kidshot is a dedicated artist and we want his music to do the talking,” he adds.
Watch the video for “Mainland” below.