Shen B Confronts Humanity’s Hypocrisy

Team L&M

The Jammu-based hip-hop artist weaves a powerful tale of choice and consequence in thrilling neo-noir music video for new track

Shayaan Bhat aka Shen B has released a blistering new single, Karma. Marking the hip-hop artist’s third track of 2021, after the playful Sunshine and the braggadocious Zamaana, Karma, is a scathing reflection on humanity’s hypocrisy. Championing his tradition of critique, the Jammu-based hip-hop artist weaves serrated verses with dark production on “Karma”, interrogating humankind’s unnerving duality that roils beneath its gilded surface. The groovy bass and percussion-led single finds the rapper/poet in a confessional and confrontational space; he bides his bars, he harbours no haste. On “Karma”, Shen B invites listeners to meditate on the crossroads of choice. Will their path beget consequence or will their passage bring forth change?

Accompanying the song is a neo-noir music video that tells the tale of a man surrendering to his own karma. In the four-minute clip, we see Shen B portray two sides of a person — the calm side and the wild side. Representing the logical and impulsive personalities that live within human beings, the dark and dreamy music video for “Karma” explores the fight between the two sides of the coin to see who consumes who first. The rapper/poet worked closely with director Wikki Koul to develop the music video for “Karma,” building on the many rough ideas bubbling in his mind. Imbuing every frame with meaning, Shen B’s new single is ultimately a cautionary tale: we determine our destinies, we are our own karma.

“It feels like the right time to let this single out into the world. Ultimately, Karma is a message to everyone that, whether your actions are good or bad, you will face their consequences. Our deeds are our own; they determine how we shape our lives and by extension, the universe. Let’s not empower hypocrites and their falsities, let’s speak truth to power and create an enriching karma. I hope this track encourages people to drop their masks and forge their own fate.”

After releasing May’s vibrant and philosophical summer anthem “Sunshine,” Shen B was left with a void. He found within himself a space that was brimming with voices that begged to be let out. Gathering all the criticism he had garnered over the years, Shen B crafted “Karma” in a month. This song is the artist’s way of saying that he is conscious, aware and in control of his actions. Also, that he won’t accept hypocrisy and double standards as the moral norm.

Shen B filmed the music video for Karma at four locations across Jammu. He shot the prison scenes at his home, the shed sequences at his aunt’s house. The bathtub scenes were filmed at music video producer Danish Tak’s home, and the underwater sequences in a swimming pool. Keeping the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic in mind, Shen B ensured the entire shoot followed the best safety practices. Moreover, true to the DIY spirit, he approached the project with creativity and ingenuity. The result is a neo-noir music video that brings alive the isolation and ambiguity of the film genre.

Following a remarkable year, Karma marks another milestone for Shen B. After releasing his debut EP Zamaana and a series of successful singles, the rapper-poet is now exploring new genres. With Karma, Shen B explores new creative territory and showcases a different side of his artistry. The release marks a new chapter in his journey through Indian hip-hop.