One of India’s most popular rappers Naved Shaikh, better known as Naezy, who hails from Mumbai, first broke into mainstream rap with the song Mere Gully Mein with fellow rapper Divine.

Naezy talks to Mae Mariyam Thomas in episode two of ‘The Mind Behind’ about his music, how it works, what inspires him and his process.

Produced by Red Bull Media House, the Mind Behind is a cross-discipline series about the lives and careers of professionals across multiple streams. Started as a three-part video series, The Mind Behind is now running live all week on Red Bull India’s Instagram page.

Excerpts from the interview:

Going back to the days you used to live in a chawl in Mumbai, what was it like when you started out and what inspired your music then and now.

A lot has changed, but a lot has remained the same. My inspiration is still the same. I used to get inspired by my environment, and jo bhi mereaaspaaskicheezhotithi, mera inspiration phelahotatha.

Your key inspiration for your music came from the social injustices and inequality that you saw around?

Definitely these are things that bother me even now and the whole scenario is still the same. Whenever I take my pen…apni kalam uthatahoontohyahisochtahoonkiissefayada ho society mein. Mein saachaibatane sedartanahi hu.

Is there a special place in your house where you sit to write and compose your songs?

I like to write in my hall. Because when I'm inside my bedroom, I am in the dark. But in the main room, there is light and there is connection of different people. So, I get inspired everywhere, every corner of my house. Even outside. Doesn't matter, the place doesn't matter whether it's the Himalayas, or whether it's a corner of a house. My brain is trained that way main kahibhilikhsakata hu, main local train mein hu ya main hawaijahaz pe hu, yasaatvaasmanmein hu, zameen par hu ya underground hu, har jagahlikhsakta hu. Jahawifiaur networks nahipauchtavahamera thoughts and rhyme pauchjaatahai.

We understand that you love collecting notebooks and pens. Is that true?

I prefer writing my rhymes in my book the traditional way. The best, the most gifted thing on my wardrobe is a book, you know, everybody is gifting me books whenever it's my birthday or any special occasion. People are gifting me books and I’ve filled my wardrobe with books. Other rappers collect sneakers, collect jackets and all in their wardrobe. But I keep my wardrobe full of pens and books.

Do you face a writer’s block sometimes?

So there are situations where I am completely blank. I don't know how to proceed with a rhyme. So I keep a pattern of verses like 16 bars, 14 bars 12 bars, 8 bars. Then I pray to God, then I start. I keep everything apart and pray to God and you know keep quiet for a while, take a break, maybe meditate to refine my thoughts and come back again and write. So, when I take a break and when I come back then, I'm in the zone again. When I'm in the zone I keep writing I keep. So it's important for me to get in the zone.

Do you feel that your honesty is not something people can always handle?

Sometimes I feel like that ki main zyadahonest ho gaya hu mujheitna honest nahihonachahiyalekinvohmerimajboorihaimerilikhavat hi aaisehaimeri personality hi vasihai main zyadajhootnahibolsakta hu.

Can you tell us something about the song Aane De Aane De ?

For my song Aane De Aane De I was touring in the UK and was performing in full zone, ki main international perform karraha hu vohbhi back to back, tohmujhebohot inspiration milavahajaake. Mein Karan Kachan ko call kiyakimujheaaise beat chahiyathodha Indian thodha hip hop flavor ka usseapni bhasha meinsamjhayausne beat bheja. Vahanraat ho rahithimeina time dekhanahiaurlikhnashuru kardiya aurvohgaanapura ban gayaAane De Aane De. In fivehours I had written the whole song.

Can you share some information on the dissing culture in hip-hop and rap?

It took birth from battle rap. And then it developed into dissing. You know hip hop is always competitive hameshaekdusere ko kuchnakuchbolnahai. Tum ekdusere ko bolkeaagebadoya scene meinkuch relevant bolkeaagebado. Kisika naam lenazaroorinahihai. I don’t really like doing that. But I get why artists do that because it is part of the whole rap battle culture to hone and sharpen your skills and show that you’re better than your opponent. It is fine if it is done in the spirit of competition but not if it gets personal and dirty. I'm not a person who will hurt someone's feelings.

What do you think about the impact of Bollywood on Indie rap scene”

Yes, there is some impact. Nowadays, we have created our own space, hip hop has it’s own own space aur Bollywood pe hum utna dependent nahihai. Bollywood ka impact haiekbadi industry se choti industry seekhrahihai. Leindeinchaluhai exchange horahahaikuch hum lerehaikuchvoh I have written a lot recently and the last couple of months have been a very productive time for him. He is looking forward to developing the material into an EP or album very soon.

Interviewed by Mariyam Thomas. Mariyam is the founder of Maed in India