Singer-rapper Dino James, who has created a niche for himself in the hip-hop world, gets candid with The Pioneer, sharing his journey, music, and a lot more in this exclusive interview.
Tejal Sinha
A little-unknown fact: rapper-singer Dino James, who has created a niche for himself in the hip-hop world, initially desired to become an actor. That’s true, you might have seen him playing some small roles in the detective show CID. However, destiny had some different plans! From acting not bringing him the name and fame, that’s been quite the opposite for him now.
The inspiring journey that he has had so far, he says in our exclusive chat, was just going with the flow. Well, that is what he has written in his tattoo—Let thy will be done. “All the small miracles—God has a plan—me being born, raised in a small town in India, and doing bigger things in Mumbai. I feel it’s just destiny’s story.”
As a child, he dealt with dyslexia, and felt the pain of others not understanding the distress he was going through. With his honest words and unique approach, to him, hip-hop is the genre that will actually help you to do and write exactly what you’re feeling because you can add so many words in different kinds of beats.
When he started off his music, “It was never to become a musician. It was out of necessity that I wanted to actually speak and say what was running inside me. It was kind of frustrating! I then started writing, and when I realised that I was good at it, it just became a conversation with the beat. It was my experience, growing up—all the hurdles that I’ve been exposed to, plus the nature of hip-hop—that allowed me to actually speak, both came together.”
He then gives it all to the artists he was listening to, especially Marshall Mathers and Eminem. When he heard their lyrics, “I also felt like, ‘Wow, he is just talking about his life,’ and he is going through probably worse. If he is going through something like this after being such a big artist, one of the biggest artists in hip-hop, why can’t I, being nobody, say, What’s going on with me?”
Mumbai holds a special connection for him, since he grew up in Sarni, and to him, it’s very emotional and also weird. “I’ve been born and raised in Sarni, which makes it even more difficult to tell people geographically where it is located, and Mumbai is like my mother. Often, when I had no direction, she took care of me, gave me direction, nourished me, fed me, and did everything for me. Mumbai made me a different person altogether; these are two different lives that I’m living.”
Be it his independent music or collaborating with music labels, the Pyaar Pyaar singer looks forward to only working with people he vibes with, and the label that he works with is one of the biggest labels in the world. They respect him, his vision, and his freedom. Not someone who would work under any kind of pressure, he shares, “I used to give them what I felt like, and they used to listen to me. Obviously, we used to have a discussion about what is good and what is not and what they feel like, because they are good at marketing, structure, and muscle-wise. It was absolutely, like almost being independent; it was no difference at all, rather than big money.”
The Tandav singer also feels that all the genres can give you liberty, but the intent has to be there. “There are so many people who are doing regular things also in hip-hop but still making names,” he shares, adding that it all depends on “the intent, ki apka maksad kya hai, apke intentions kya hai (What’s your motive and intentions?). I do everything. I’m coming up with the album now. It has a very different kind of flavour. It’s not that I’m always in that pravachan (Sermon) mode, always trying to give up my life story. For instance, in my song Boyfriend, it’s a full act. This genre definitely has some freedom that you can express.”
Recently, celebrating the spirit of Living it Large, Seagram’s Royal Stag presented its second edition of Royal Stag BoomBox, a one-of-a-kind musical festival where the best-loved melodies of Bollywood met the pulsating beats of hip-hop. The youth festival held it’s second on-ground experience of the year, where, along with other artists, Dino ignited the crowd with the throbbing rhythms of hip-hop!
Recalling his experiences, he shares, “I will not forget my first experience. We made songs. I was very nervous because I’d never associated with the brand before this. And first of all, I feel that all the people are so artist-friendly. They will let you do whatever you want to do. There was a big discussion. There is no negativity. There is nothing that somebody is forcing me to do. The first song that I made with Jasleen Royal, I felt the song so much; it’s called Pehle Jaisi Baat Nahi. It has got a very deep meaning to it, and especially when it comes to marriage and relationships, after some time things just fade. Jasleen and I, both felt the song, and I was like, bro—I spoke to my team, and I said, ‘I feel the song; this is the energy they are looking for,’ but the team itself is so flexible, which a lot of brands miss. We have the liberty to interact with each other. Well, just like I did a song with Jasleen last year, I’m doing a song with Nikhita Gandhi this year. So, it’s a big opportunity, actually. It’s a very flexible, comfortable, easygoing zone for an artist to be in.”
Rappers and hip-hoppers are now part of reality shows, case in example, MC Stan. In fact, Dino himself has emerged as the winner of Khatron Ke Khiladi season 13. Speaking of where the community is now heading, he shares, “It depends on the personality, if you want to do it or not, and it also depends on the franchise, the channel, and everybody that is interested. Because there are two different things: making music and being in front of the camera and talking. There are people who can make good music, but somehow they shy away from cameras. Being exposed to all my hustle and being exposed to acting, I think I was pretty comfortable in front of the camera, although I never wanted to do that. But Hustle was the first show that, you know, I thought was okay. And Khatron Ke Khiladi was the best experience of my life.” Well, Dino is looking forward to taking care of himself and his health, gaining muscle, and being fitter, just like a marathon runner. We can’t wait to see what’s ahead!
