"We want to create music that is rooted in our indian culture but sounds international. Music that can create a statement and change lives."
It still seems unreal to Mumbai based rapper Tony Sebastian, a.k.a Tony Psyko that he's accomplished so much in so little time. From rapping in his Dharavi home to getting featured in big productions like Gully Boy, Kaala and Dear Comrade - Tony and his crew Dopeadelic'Z have had a truly incredible journey that has helped inspire hundreds of budding artists in the Indian underground scene.
"My love for hip hop started ever since I heard legendary tracks like 'In DA Club' by 50 Cent played at my school's fashion shows. The crowd went crazy whenever he came on and I remember thinking - I want that".
Tony is an active voice within the community and his impact goes far beyond the music he creates. After the initial success of Dopeadelic'Z, Tony and his team founded 'Dharavi United’, a group with 7Bantaiz and Enimiez to mentor budding talents in the scene. Dharavi United mentors upcoming producers like Captain Fuse, DRJ and several other rappers. During the pandemic, the group worked to raise awareness about covid safety which also included the release of an original song called 'Stay Home Stay Safe'. .
Tony believes that fashion is an important element in hip-hop culture and the support of brands is integral to the growth of the hip-hop scene in India. Every rapper needs a unique style to complement their overall image. "As one of the first Indian Streetwear brands, Supervek has played a huge role in vitalizing the underground scene in India." Tony has been a part of the Supervek Fam since '18.
In his latest single "Rasathi", he touches upon the stigma against dark skinned women in India. For centuries, we have been conditioned to equate fairness with beauty and with "Rasathi" - meaning a dusky beauty in Tamil; he hopes to change that notion and pay a loving tribute to all the beautiful, dark skinned women of our country.
