Simba Uproar. Photo: courtesy of Simba
It was a gathering like no other. Over 5500 Gen Z and millennial festival-goers had the time of their life at Simba Uproar, touted as India’s wildest festival held at The Hub, DLF Promenade in the Capital on November 19th-20th. A blend of beer, hip-hop and all things street, Simba Uproar made a smashing entry onto India’s festival circuit.
If the curatorial objective for Simba Uproar was to unify the various elements of hip-hop and present a mix of upcoming and established artists, the festival over-delivered on its promise. With the bedrock of a unique line-up, the festival offered a heady dose of street culture experiences. For the first time ever, Delhi witnessed a niche festival of this scale which brought together some of the most trending stars on one stage. Day one saw roaring performances by Mumbai’s Gully Gang featuring flagship rappers MC Altaf, D’Evil, 100Rbh and more. India’s chartbusting rapper King played a headlining set on home turf and it was only natural for it to be memorable for both him and his fans. “Ab mera nahi raha yeh gaana, it’s your song,” declared King as he introduced his hit song “Tu Aake Dekhle” to a sea of excited fans. Day two saw Agsy, Azadi Records, Sez On The Beat and Ikka putting on a massive show.
Festival attendees were in for more than just a musical treat as Simba Uproar showcased street experiences with skateboarders, BMX artists, breakdancing, rap battles, and b-boying on the street stage, grooving to the beats of DJ Kave, DJ Kan-i, Bonehead, Dizlaw, Shia and more.
Bringing together both ends of the hip-hop spectrum — the growing and the established — Simba Uproar proved its mettle as an inclusive playground for artists. With this event, Simba Beer successfully built a creative pedestal for the current and future generation of Indian hip-hop. The curated street experience exhibited numerous streetwear brands, large art installations, and live street art. Not to mention the engaging sneaker raffles around the sneaker wall with over 100 exclusive kicks on display. Festival attendees soaked in the happy vibe with their funky face glitter art and neon tattoos, sipping on Simba’s flagship Cave Cocktails and enjoying the multi-cuisine delicacies. Says Ishwaraj Bhatia, co-founder and COO, Simba Beer, “Hip-hop as the theme for the first edition of Simba Uproar was a conscious one taken after observing audiences’ inclination towards this genre and its relevance to street culture. We envisioned bridging that gap between the two here. As positively anticipated, the festival was a roaring success in its debut. We cannot wait to announce the details of the second edition “
With its resounding success, Simba Uproar has established itself as a robust IP in hip-hop and street culture. Stay tuned for the announcement of the next edition!
