or 23-year-old Urooj Fatima Kapri, this was a big day. She was going to perform at the Lahooti Mela in Rani Bagh, Hyderabad, in front of thousands of people. She had never experienced such a crowd before. It was her first time performing rap songs outside of a recording room. An announcement was made to call her, the first Baloch hip-hop artist to perform on stage.

Kapri felt nervous as the announcement was made, but this soon dissipated as she got on stage and began rapping. She was in her element.

Before her performance, she was asked to speak about her journey from a small room where she recorded rap songs to the stage of Lahooti. She said, “On hearing a rap song for the first time, I sensed its potential as a powerful medium to raise community awareness. As resistance coursed through my veins, I envisioned using rap as a tool to address issues like social injustice, honour killing, gender-based violence and child marriage. Let’s amplify these voices, ignite change and groove to a rhythm of justice.”

Kapri tells The News on Sunday that breaking taboos in her community and taking centre stage has not been easy. This does not happen overnight. It’s a saga of relentless struggle. She owes her success to the unwavering support of her late father, Asghar Ali Kapri, a staunch advocate of gender equality. He not only confronted immediate family and relatives on her behalf but also stood firmly by her side in every endeavour.

“Before delving into hip-hop art, I was active on TikTok. One day, while I was watching TikTok videos, a song by Indian rapper Emiway Bantai appeared on my screen. It was trending. I was taken aback. I downloaded it and sent it to my brother Muhammad, who then researched hip-hop for months. It became a passion for him. He insisted that together, we could bring change in the community.”

“Girls in my community who have never been to school and lack access to education are often married off at an early age. Many cannot bear this burden. Some lose their lives. Through my music, I will be their voice and raise awareness of these issues on every platform,” Kapri said.

“Child marriage is a deeply entrenched practice in my community. It is threatening the future of many girls,” she added.

Globally, music is often used to shed light on serious issues. Musicians are using their work to discuss poverty, war, discrimination and climate change. Sometimes, music inspires people to take action and make a difference in the world. It’s a powerful tool that can help spread awareness.

Kapri believes that through its rhythmic beats and powerful lyrics, rap can capture listeners’ attention and convey important messages. She draws inspiration from local and international artists to hone her craft and use it as a tool for social change.

The writer is a multimedia journalist based in Hyderabad, Sindh. His X handle: @MathraniSanjai. He can be reached at smmathrani1@gmail.com