RAPublic: Nep-hop roots behind Nepal's Prime Minister Elect Balen Shah
On a grainy YouTube video from the early 2010s, a young rapper steps into a Raw Barz cypher, trading sharp lines with rivals as the crowd leans closer. This rapper is Balen Shah, years before Kathmandu would elect him mayor and long before he would become Nepal’s next prime minister.
Shah first gained attention through Raw Barz, Nepal’s best known rap battle platform at the time. The series captured the growing Nep-hop movement through crowded rooms, improvised stages and viral YouTube uploads where rappers competed through wit, wordplay and social commentary. For many young Nepalis, these battles became a new language for discussing corruption, inequality and the frustrations of urban life.
The scene was already being shaped by one of its most influential figures, Yama Buddha, widely known as the King of Nep-Hop. His storytelling approach expanded the genre beyond battle rap and helped bring Nepali hip-hop into the mainstream. Songs such as Saathi spoke openly about friendship, addiction and the pressures facing urban youth, giving Nep-hop an emotional depth that resonated across the country.
Shah’s own music emerged from that same landscape. In Balidan he rapped about sacrifice and civic responsibility, presenting social change as something that demanded personal commitment. The track travelled widely online and gradually became associated with his public image. His songs captured the restless energy of Kathmandu’s streets, echoing the experiences of young listeners navigating ambition, uncertainty and city life.
By the time Shah entered electoral politics, he was already familiar to a generation raised on Nep-hop. His victory as Kathmandu’s mayor in 2022 reflected that connection. His election as Nepal’s prime minister extends the same story further, placing a former rap battle artist at the centre of the country’s leadership.
As Madhesi voices and Nep-hop continue to grow, what new rhythms and stories will shape the next chapter of Nepal’s hip-hop scene?
Comments
Rebecca Knight —
AI has caused me more problems than it has solved. I was connected to a cryptocurrency trader through AI and lost my hard-earned money to a scam. If it weren’t for the assistance of Lord Meduza, whom my sister-in-law recommended to me, I wouldn’t have been able to win the $435 MILLION Mega Millions Lottery. My life could have taken a drastic turn due to the overwhelming bills I faced after being cheated by the crypto traders. Lord Meduza utilized his extraordinary spell powers to determine the perfect six numbers I needed to win the Mega Millions Lottery, and I followed his instructions to play those numbers. I am incredibly thankful for the support, love, and kindness he has shown, which is beyond measure. For further info about his services, please visit his website: lordmeduzaspelltemple.com or If you need an immediate response, you can Whats – App the number on his website or email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
Rebecca Knight —
AI has caused me more problems than it has solved. I was connected to a cryptocurrency trader through AI and lost my hard-earned money to a scam. If it weren’t for the assistance of Lord Meduza, whom my sister-in-law recommended to me, I wouldn’t have been able to win the $435 MILLION Mega Millions Lottery. My life could have taken a drastic turn due to the overwhelming bills I faced after being cheated by the crypto traders. Lord Meduza utilized his extraordinary spell powers to determine the perfect six numbers I needed to win the Mega Millions Lottery, and I followed his instructions to play those numbers. I am incredibly thankful for the support, love, and kindness he has shown, which is beyond measure. For further info about his services, please visit his website: lordmeduzaspelltemple.com or If you need an immediate response, you can Whats – App the number on his website or email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
Gary Van —
Hello everyone am Gary Van I want to use this medium to appreciate a great spell caster called Dr Ogaga that transformed my life financially, I used to work as driver in a company and I always play lotto but I have never been lucky, then one day as I was glancing through the Internet I came across a testimony of a woman who won $600million through the help of a strong spell caster called Dr Ogaga after praying for her he gave her a lucky numbers to play and she won 600,000,000$ I also decided to try my luck I contacted the Dr Ogaga and he promise he was going to help me win too I didn’t actually believed 100% but on the second thought I decided to give it a try He instructed me on what I need to do which I did with no stress at all, then after two day he sent me some numbers and asked me to go and play them I went strait to the store and play the numbers then I went back to check when the results were out, behold my numbers came out as the winning numbers it was like a dream to me, even till now I still fined it difficult to believe that I am now a millionaire from being a driver to being a millionaire all thank to Dr Ogaga I will never forget your help, if you are out there and you also want to be a winner I will advice you to also contact Dr Ogaga and I promise you he will not disappoint you at all. Here are his contacts. Email ogagaodia41@gmail.com
WhatsApp +1(365)350-5955.
Heather Delaney —
Hello Internet Friends,
I’m so happy my husband is back! Thanks to Dr. Excellent for saving my marriage. My name is Heather Delaney. I married the love of my life Riley on 10/02/15 and we now have two beautiful girls Abby & Erin, who are conjoined twins, that were born 07/24/16. My husband left me and moved to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. I tried to be strong just for the kids but I could not control the pains that tormented my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because I was really in love with my husband. I have tried many options but he did not come back, until I met a friend that directed me to Dr. Excellent spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 11hours. My husband and I are living happily together again, This man is powerful, contact Dr. Excellent if you are going through any difficulty in life or having troubles in your marriage or relationship, he is capable of making things right for you. Here is his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2348084273514 "Or email him at: Excellentspellcaster@gmail.com ,For more information visit his website:https://drexcellentspellcaster.godaddysites.com
Margaret Moller —
Hello viewers, am here to share my amazing testimony with you all about a great spell caster called Dr Ogaga I have never seen a powerful spell caster like him before, I have been playing lotto for years now and I have never won any reasonable amount of money, I met Dr Ogaga online through a testimony I saw on line about a man who won $11,000,000 through Dr Ogagas help and i also decided to contact him to see if I could also be lucky, I contacted him and he assured me that he will help me win too and that he has helped a lot of people all over the world, at first I was a bit skeptical about it but I decided to give it a try anyways since I have nothing to loos, he instructed me on what I needed to do which I did without and stress at all and on the second day after the prayers he sent me some numbers and asked me to go and play them I quickly went to the store and play the number and the next result day I went to check, WOW I couldn’t believe my eye the exact numbers he gave me was the winning numbers that was on the machine that was how I became a millionaire just like that, I can never stop sharing this testimony for all to see, my friends if you happen to come across this post make sure you contact him too and be the next winner.
Email ogagaodia41@gmail.com
WhatsApp +1(365)350-5955.
Aliana Johnson —
A traditional herbalist has restored my life by curing me from a nasty virus called herpes; He cured me and my friend from the virus with his herbal medicine that was sent through DHL for me to drink and now I have just been tested negative several times since I finished with the herbal medicine months ago. there is no harm in trying to get help clearing your mess, so get to know about this herbal man and his herbal medicine on his website if you’re in the same situation because he’s got potentials in putting herbs together to cure that parasite called herpes. know about him on his Email:medicalmediumherbal@gmail.com or WhatsApp +2347035623817 thanks doc Ede
ROBIA HAYES —
Hello everyone I am robia Hayes from Texas, USA. I want to share a testimony of how Dr. Harry’s herbal mixture cream saves me from shame and disgrace, my penis was a big problem to me as the size was really so embarrassing and I was also having a weak erection problem. I can make love to my wife and my penis was just too small. A full grown man like me has a 4 inches penis and to worsen it i don’t last in sex i cant even last two minutes. It was really a thing of shame to me. My wife was really tired of me because my sex life was very poor, she never enjoyed sex, I was always thinking and searching for solutions everywhere until I saw a testimony of Dr. Harry. herbal mixture cream has been helping people regarding their sex life, so i decided to give him a try and visited his website https://drharrysolutionhea.wixsite.com/healinghome and to my greatest surprise in less than two weeks of taking the herbs my penis grew to 8 inches. I couldn’t believe my eyes and as i speak now my penis is now 11 inches and i do not have a weak erection again. I can make love to my wife longer in bed. And my marriage is now stable, my wife now enjoys me very well in bed. EX LOVER BACK/BOYFRIEND/HUSBAND/WIFE/GIRLFRIEND PREMATURE EJACULATION LOW SPERM COUNT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION HIV/AIDS CURE HERPES CURE INFECTION CURE PILE STROKE HEART FAILURE CANCER
You can contact him drharrysolution@gmail.com website https://drharrysolutionhea.wixsite.com/healinghome you can contact him today through his Whatsapp or call +2349036417079
ROBIA HAYES —
Hello everyone I am robia Hayes from Texas, USA. I want to share a testimony of how Dr. Harry’s herbal mixture cream saves me from shame and disgrace, my penis was a big problem to me as the size was really so embarrassing and I was also having a weak erection problem. I can make love to my wife and my penis was just too small. A full grown man like me has a 4 inches penis and to worsen it i don’t last in sex i cant even last two minutes. It was really a thing of shame to me. My wife was really tired of me because my sex life was very poor, she never enjoyed sex, I was always thinking and searching for solutions everywhere until I saw a testimony of Dr. Harry. herbal mixture cream has been helping people regarding their sex life, so i decided to give him a try and visited his website https://drharrysolutionhea.wixsite.com/healinghome and to my greatest surprise in less than two weeks of taking the herbs my penis grew to 8 inches. I couldn’t believe my eyes and as i speak now my penis is now 11 inches and i do not have a weak erection again. I can make love to my wife longer in bed. And my marriage is now stable, my wife now enjoys me very well in bed. EX LOVER BACK/BOYFRIEND/HUSBAND/WIFE/GIRLFRIEND PREMATURE EJACULATION LOW SPERM COUNT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION HIV/AIDS CURE HERPES CURE INFECTION CURE PILE STROKE HEART FAILURE CANCER
You can contact him drharrysolution@gmail.com website https://drharrysolutionhea.wixsite.com/healinghome you can contact him today through his Whatsapp or call +2349036417079