Hip-hop is an inclusive musical genre which can be moulded into any form: DJ Invisible

DJ Invisible along with his band members had participated in a workshop, hosted by the US Embassy in India and the US Consulate in Kolkata, at the American Center last week.

In an interaction with IBNS at a corner of the American Center, DJ Invisible, while speaking about the Hip-Hop culture taking shape in India, enthusiastically said, "Hip-hop is an all inclusive musical genre. In Hip-hop, one DJ style differs from someone else's. That's what HipHop is all about. It's about seeing, adapting and learning, moulding and making it one's own."

"I want to see what Kolkata Hip-hop has formed into," DJ Invisible, a professional DJ from Michigan, added.

DJ Invisible and his group members, namely lyricist Miz Korona, producer and beatboxer Richie 'Robot' Steighner and emcee and rapper Khary Kimani Turner, were brimming with excitement to take part in a live show after two years of Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

The Invisibles' live show at EZCC in Kolkata

Sharing his experience during the lockdown, DJ Invisible says, "Everybody was in a box. I had started teaching DJs all around the world virtually. I was trying to stay busy and interact with people online.

"That's why this experience is so much more important because now it's turning into a live performance. The excitement level is out of control. So excited to be back in front of real people."

The same was echoed in the words of Khary who said, "We used a lot of technology, stayed in touch with people and saw their faces (online). We had spent a lot of time sticking close to the things that were really important to us. But now with the reopening of the world, as DJ said, it's really like the celebration of life together."

The live show was held in Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre or EZCC, which is under the Indian government, in Kolkata's Salt Lake area. 

Miz Korona, who discovered her talent in painting during the pandemic, shared how much she loved the old architectures of Kolkata, a former British colony.

"The architecture is beautiful, so tall buildings. Amazing. Very colourful. The vehicles are cool," Korona said as she was gearing up for the live show which was held on Apr 26, a day after the workshop.

The Invisibles at the American Center in Kolkata

Cutting into Korona's talk, DJ Invisible shared with us how much he loved the non-ac old yellow taxis (ambassadors) in the city, which is now almost swept by air-conditioned app cabs.

"I found romance with the older vehicles in Kolkata," says DJ Invisible amid the rising temperature and adds, "Kolkata is both rocking and romantic."