Red Bull, MX Player, AutoRap by Smule and Supari Studios come together to create Red Bull Spotlight

With the hip-hop scene in India fast-evolving and artists from the country making their mark on the global stage, a new series gives the next generation of rappers a platform to learn from the best and hone their skills.

An MX Original Series, Red Bull Spotlight featuring beats from Smule’s hip hop music app AutoRap is a nationwide hunt to discover and support India’s emerging rappers. It is now streaming for free on MX Player.

Started in 2019 as a platform to discover India’s newest rap talent, Red Bull Spotlight is now a six-part series that will see eight rappers go head-to-head for the title. The winner will receive the opportunity to record a full-length album in a professional studio, a music video, an EPK and more, selected following a finale judged by the biggest names in Indian hip-hop – Divine, Naezy, Emiway Bantai and Dee MC.

AutoRap, Smule’s app for hip-hop enthusiasts, rappers and beatmakers has partnered with the series to integrate its music creation platform, which allows users to record rap over beats with special effects to make original songs and videos.    

Vivek Jain, COO, MX Player, said, “We’re delighted to have partnered with Red Bull and AutoRap to bring alive the biggest battleground for budding rap enthusiasts in India. This three-way partnership presents as the perfect harmony of brands coming together for a bespoke integration and digital-first content solutions that we’re able to weave into stories or formats that can appeal to our large user base.”

“Red Bull Spotlight is a launchpad for the next generation of hip hop talent in India,” said Bill Bradford, Smule President. “We’re thrilled to partner with MX Player and Red Bull to fuel creative expression and shine a light on these talented rappers and their music. We’re proud to provide the musical creation platform these rising stars can use to share their stories and to serve as the backdrop of their art.”  

In the series, produced by Red Bull Media House and MX Player with Supari Studios and directed by Nisha Vasudevan, the finalists – A-Gan from Chennai, Loud Silence from Bengaluru, MC Headshot from Kolkata, Supermanikk from Chandigarh, Albela from Noida, Rhyming Man from Bhubaneshwar, The Rushi Gosavi from Goa and Siyaahi from Ahmedabad – spend a week under the mentorship of some of the finest in Indian hip-hop, attending workshops and sessions, doing challenges and more. Mentors include Sofia Ashraf, Naezy, Dopeadelicz, Sez on the Beat, and D’evil.