By Spandan Fulkar
1st Jan 2024
By Spandan Fulkar
1st Jan 2024
At 27 years old, Tushar Adhav, revered by his stage moniker 'BamBoy,' hails from the dynamic city of Mumbai. His roots trace back to Parel, an area steeped in religious diversity and rich street life, where festivals of various castes and communities permeate the vibrant atmosphere. Originally a working-class enclave, the neighbourhood is currently undergoing change, but for BamBoy, the essence of his upbringing lies in the bustling streets that shaped his early years. It was here that BamBoy's musical journey took root, finding inspiration in the rhythm of the streets and the magnetic pull of truck shows.
BamBoy's initial connection with music was through dance, supplemented by Bharatnatyam lessons. However, it wasn't until 8th-9th grade that he stumbled into the world of DJing, thanks to his friend Umesh. Bollywood remixes marked his humble beginnings and despite later earning acclaim as a hip hop artist, Bamboy admits that hip hop entered his life relatively late.
“Me and late Mc Tod Fod were batchmates and even in the school when Tod Fod used to rap and write poetries, I wondered what exactly is doing but understood it later when I came out of school” said BamBoy.
At 27 years old, Tushar Adhav, revered by his stage moniker 'BamBoy,' hails from the dynamic city of Mumbai. His roots trace back to Parel, an area steeped in religious diversity and rich street life, where festivals of various castes and communities permeate the vibrant atmosphere. Originally a working-class enclave, the neighbourhood is currently undergoing change, but for BamBoy, the essence of his upbringing lies in the bustling streets that shaped his early years. It was here that BamBoy's musical journey took root, finding inspiration in the rhythm of the streets and the magnetic pull of truck shows.
BamBoy's initial connection with music was through dance, supplemented by Bharatnatyam lessons. However, it wasn't until 8th-9th grade that he stumbled into the world of DJing, thanks to his friend Umesh. Bollywood remixes marked his humble beginnings and despite later earning acclaim as a hip hop artist, Bamboy admits that hip hop entered his life relatively late.
“Me and late Mc Tod Fod were batchmates and even in the school when Tod Fod used to rap and write poetries, I wondered what exactly is doing but understood it later when I came out of school” said BamBoy.
Navigating the Intricate Layers of Hip Hop Culture
“I wasn’t an English song listener because Vh1 was never a part of my household and rap for us at that time was only limited till Honey Singh.” Music production was always a part of his life but exactly understanding what hip hop is and its deep intricate layers was done by the help of regional hip hop and his entry into Swadesi, marked by the track 'Khabardar' for the album 'Chetavani,' For a long time, he wasn’t writing rap and even when he slowly started writing, he told this to no one because others, according to him in his crew were writing very ‘Billa’ (Mumbai slang for cool and better) and he still didn't think himself as a full-time rapper or an Emcee but with time he became a complete producer-rapper package.
Juggling Music and Life
While Talking about the struggles of balancing equilibrium of his life while working as a musician. Adhav told ‘The Outsiders’ that juggling a music career with your daily life can definitely be very demanding. It demands you to save money for equipment, to do research which requires time. Currently fully immersed in music, BamBoy faces the constant balancing act of making a living while resisting the temptation to commercialize his art entirely because it’s not like he only wants to make money out of art. “Tushar and his life responsibilities are different and BamBoy and his responsibilities towards the scene are different, which also at times gets very hard.”
Navigating the Intricate Layers of Hip Hop Culture
“I wasn’t an English song listener because Vh1 was never a part of my household and rap for us at that time was only limited till Honey Singh.” Music production was always a part of my life but exactly understanding what hip hop is and its deep intricate layers was done by the help of regional hip hop and his entry into Swadesi, marked by the track 'Khabardar' for the album 'Chetavani,' propelled him into the intricate layers of hip hop culture. For a long time, he wasn’t writing rap and even when he slowly started writing he told this to no one because others according to him others in his crew were writing very ‘Billa’ (Mumbai slang for cool and better) and he still doesn’t think himself as a full-time rapper or an Emcee but with time he became a complete producer-rapper thing.
Commercialization Pitfalls
BamBoy also shed light on the pitfalls of hip hop commercialization, cautioning against losing touch with the roots of the culture. “People have sucked on whatever it was possible from hip-hop and that is why commercialization of hip-hop is growing and when an artist transcends from underground to commercial, and then further becomes more commercial and only aims to become a superstar it effects the underground scene” Drawing from his own experiences, he underscores the importance of making connections and the 'white collar' aspects of the music industry but according to BamBoy, an artist's journey extends beyond personal success to building a community, a network that sustains beyond individual recognition.
Commercialization Pitfalls
BamBoy also shed light on the pitfalls of hip hop commercialization, cautioning against losing touch with the roots of the culture. “People have sucked on whatever it was possible from hip-hop and that is why commercialization of hip-hop is growing and when an artist transcends from underground to commercial, and then further becomes more commercial and only aims to become a superstar it effects the underground scene” Drawing from his own experiences, he underscores the importance of making connections and the 'white collar' aspects of the music industry but according to BamBoy, an artist's journey extends beyond personal success to building a community, a network that sustains beyond individual recognition.
Beyond Stardom
Not driven by the desire for stardom, BamBoy sees himself first and foremost as a citizen of his country. His content reflects the realities he observes, rooted in societal issues and politics. Engrossed in Ambedkar literature, BamBoy finds inspiration in questioning societal norms, urging others to embrace curiosity, free of personal desires because anything can be a motivation, even a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. “When you step out of your house and see things around you, you can’t escape your society and its politics. Even the increase in your daily vadapav price is also an inflation and societal problem.”
Bridging Divides
BamBoy’s recent Boiler Room Roadshow set video is creating a great hype on the social platforms and his reason behind doing this stunt is because he’s performing this sound since the beginning of his career whether it be for Bhim Jayanti or Haldi functions or any other festival. In his own words, "What I've noticed is, whenever there's a roadshow, and someone in their luxurious car passes by, there's this notion – 'These guys are so cheap, what are they doing?' This thought has always lingered in the back of my mind. Interestingly, the decision to address this perception coincided with the day I was approached for the Boiler Room." He emphasizes, "Maybe we, as a society, aren't fully aware, but roadshow music is well-accepted and cherished worldwide." His recent Boiler Room set, upon closer inspection, reveals a deliberate effort to accord equal importance to all religions, castes, and minorities. It goes beyond just music; it's a cultural shock designed to dismantle stereotypes and cultivate unity."
Beyond Stardom
Not driven by the desire for stardom, BamBoy sees himself first and foremost as a citizen of his country. His content reflects the realities he observes, rooted in societal issues and politics. Engrossed in Ambedkar literature, BamBoy finds inspiration in questioning societal norms, urging others to embrace curiosity, free of personal desires because anything can be a motivation, even a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. “When you step out of your house and see things around you, you can’t escape your society and its politics. Even the increase in your daily vadapav price is also an inflation and societal problem.”
Bridging Divides
BamBoy’s recent Boiler Room Roadshow set video is creating a great hype on the social platforms and his reason behind doing this stunt is because he’s performing this sound since the beginning of his career whether it be for Bhim Jayanti or Haldi functions or any other festival. In his own words, "What I've noticed is, whenever there's a roadshow, and someone in their luxurious car passes by, there's this notion – 'These guys are so cheap, what are they doing?' This thought has always lingered in the back of my mind. Interestingly, the decision to address this perception coincided with the day I was approached for the Boiler Room." He emphasizes, "Maybe we, as a society, aren't fully aware, but roadshow music is well-accepted and cherished worldwide." His recent Boiler Room set, upon closer inspection, reveals a deliberate effort to accord equal importance to all religions, castes, and minorities. It goes beyond just music; it's a cultural shock designed to dismantle stereotypes and cultivate unity."
