Rapper Sliime Aims to Elevate South Asian Culture Within the Rap Scene

For emerging rappers, appearing alongside figures such as Kendrick Lamar, Skepta, and Tyler, the Creator represents a significant aspiration. This achievement has become a reality for Sliime, whose most recent song has been added to the 1Xtra playlist. He first gained prominence in 2023 with his viral success “Lehenga,” which accumulated millions of streams on TikTok. His newest release, “Bengali,” expands on his initial hit by incorporating lyrics that address his identity and cultural background. Sliime conveyed to BBC Asian Network News that hearing his music broadcast alongside prominent hip-hop artists marks a pivotal moment. He stated, “I would’ve never expected to actually be acknowledged, as a South Asian, by the wider audience,” adding, “But it just shows that it’s possible.” Sliime, a Sheffield native who maintains a private identity and is consistently seen with his distinctive face covering, described the initial overwhelming nature of “Lehenga”‘s rapid success. Nevertheless, performing the song at significant events, including BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and receiving feedback from listeners, demonstrated to him that “Lehenga” was connecting with audiences. Subsequent to that achievement, Sliime indicated his desire to profoundly honor his heritage through “Bengali.” He explained, “Before that, I wasn’t really catering my music to the South Asian audience. “But then once I realised how much that song meant to South Asians, I realised what I needed to do.”” Sliime, whose mother relocated to the UK from Bangladesh, mentioned that he “didn’t really grow up around a lot of South Asians” and has only recently commenced exploring his cultural background. Government statistics from the 2021 census indicate that slightly fewer than 650,000 individuals in the UK identified as Bangladeshi. This figure represents approximately 1% of the total population, and within the same survey, around 200,000 people reported Bengali as their primary language apart from English. “We’ve been here for like half a century,” Sliime stated. “I just feel like it’s not in the spotlight. “But that’s what I’m here for.”” “Bengali” alludes to the migration of South Asian individuals to the UK decades ago and some of the persistent stigma. Sliime commented, “The stereotype people say is that we take jobs,” adding, “But really and truly we’re making jobs.” He continued, “We’re looked at as the complete opposite. I just really felt like people need to know that.” Sliime anticipates that his presence on the 1Xtra playlist will serve to introduce Bengali culture to a broader audience and motivate aspiring rappers to pursue similar paths. He articulated, “I’m stuck in between showing the rest of the world what we’re about but also representing people that are growing up just like me, making sure they’re not feeling left out.” He further explained, “Because it’s common with South Asians – we all grew up feeling like we had to fit in. “I’m trying to make sure our kids, our grandkids, don’t have to do that. “When they see people that look like them, grew up the same, it just means so much to people.”” Additional reporting was provided by Riyah Collins. Ankur Desai’s program on BBC Asian Network is available live from 15:00 to 18:00, Monday through Thursday, or can be accessed for playback. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.