Hip-hop is a genre that thrives on freshness and the shock of the new: Hot rappers rarely get more than a year in the spotlight, and being on the crest of a wave without any controversies is unheard of — which makes the ongoing, mainstream-nudging success of DRV and Boyblanck all the more extraordinary. Two supremely talented rap stars with desi-trap flair, delivering iconic projects that define NCR’s sonic landscape are the most buzzed-over act in rap right now. And they just rounded off an ecstatically received album with their most bar-raising, industry-quaking collaboration yet. Black is white, and all bets are off.

A quick synopsis for newcomers: rapper DRV first emerged in 2020 as one of the leaders of the new wave, with his extraordinary self-titled debut album ‘Dhruv Rajpal,’ which helped set the template for the Delhi trap scene, currently revolutionizing the industry. He went on to forge a solo career during the pandemic, honing his fresh-from-the-oven flow, super-smart take on rhyming and writing to unfailing critical acclaim. Boyblanck, meanwhile, made his name alongside the swaggering G16 records, unleashing multiple projects of fresh-yet-graceful hip-hop before calling on DRV to join forces. The two forged an instant bond over a shared love of rap that balances introspection, humour, innovation, and defiant societal awareness.

‘Multani Mitti,’ the latest masterpiece in DRV and Boyblanck’s shared musical adventure, is a treasure trove of tracks that sparkle like the gems in Aladdin’s cave. This project has not been thrown together in a matter of haphazard days. Instead, the course has been plotted meticulously, befitting true visionaries; though rappers are often judged on criteria like lyricism and flow, patience should not go uncelebrated. In just a 17-minute whirlwind, Boyblanck and DRV serve up moments that’ll have your jaw on the floor, like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat. Each tune is sculpted with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, set to a rhythm that thumps like the heartbeat of a wild stallion. Beneath this tempestuous force lies a deep bond separated by borderlines — a tale etched in the sands of time.

The album’s curtain-raiser features a triptych act, signalling the inspiration with Oppenheimer’s historic speech, Anurag Kashyap’s artistic wisdom, and a news clip about the Indo-Pak partition. From the opening bars, there’s a certain vulnerability, simulated by the background vocals rising like a chorus of ghosts and bubbling bass making for a grand combination, bopping beneath DRV’s right-minded swagger. As he steps up to the mic, the depths of his vocal prowess are glimpsed; he appears to alter his cadence with little effort as if turning a soul dial. Then, in comes Boyblanck — the fast and loose nature of his verse is accentuated by the rumbling beats, the electric guitar that adds a dissonant, wild edge, and the warped vocals that stir ‘Zameen Se’ into action.

The madcap sermon continues with a chill, laid-back vibe that finds both parties going off in their own fashion. The American influence on the tape is no bad thing, either. Although songs like ‘Overseas’ could do with punchier lyrics or tighter arrangements, it, for the most part, proves that these guys can often do trap as effortlessly as its Atlantan originators. Admittedly, not everything is a home run: in the first quarter of this 7-track record, even the talented G16 flagbearer — generally a flowing god — sounds a bit monotonous, trotting out random (if sometimes entertaining) bars.

That’s not to say our journey ever stagnates. The men with fibres of ALT hip-hop entrenched within their DNA see to that, making sure to leave a trail of surprise breadcrumbs at every turn. Rest assured, the versatility astounds — ‘Tarakkiyan’ feels unique in such an unfamiliar setting, though close kin to Urban-Punjabi signature sound. It’s a formidable body of work, fusing gritty trap with Bombay The Artist’s Punjabi fireworks. As the song progresses, DRV and Boyblanck spit heat over Babywxve’s mosh pit-inducing beat, each note injecting a jolt of energy. The instrumental details are the secret sauce, cranking up the excitement.

Three songs in, both emcees bring much to the table, remaining evenly matched and raising the bar even further with braggadocio raps underpinned by exemplary production by the one and only, Akash. It’s a shared commitment to creativity, allowing for these collaborators to produce instant bangers. They blend their vocal textures and deliveries identically, creating a floor-filler with ‘Kadwa Sach,’ a tune you can’t help but two-step to. This isn’t just music; it’s a thrilling joyride that seizes your soul and refuses to let go.

The penultimate cut, ‘Court Kacheri,’ is a rumbling bed of Boyblanck’s ever-powerful, shapeshifting vocals, setting an aura of stylistic cool. When a keyboard bassline loosely creeps in near the climax, it is immediately subsumed into the Boyblanck ecosystem. Meanwhile, DRV’s appearance on the final track, the emotional ‘Akela,’ is the impeccable bow on a highly polished gift delivered to listeners by him.

That’s the energy throughout ‘Multani Mitti,’ which as a record, feels truly — and brilliantly — emblematic of the luxuriously layered hip-hop that these trappers have honed over a handful of previous collaborations. The duo guides us through their megaverse, while remaining untouchable within it. They make us feel like we care very much about their art, and yet this all appears to come so easily to them that it can seem like they don’t — surely their greatest trick of all. A purpose-built to inspire and scale the duo’s ambition — without ever going into specifics. Another point for mystique, then.

Listen to the EP Here