Shankar Mahadevan: Rap is a very important form of music

Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan shot to fame crooning “Breathless” in 1998. The song, which runs for three minutes and five seconds, was recorded to sound as if it had been sung without a break or even a pause for breath. Although the song doesn’t fall in the category of rap, it bears a similarity with that genre of music in the sense that rap requires continuous singing, almost without a break.

Mahadevan has never taken up rap as the defining option in his long and illustrious musical career, but he strongly believes the genre is a very important form of music.

“Rap is contemporary music and a very important form of music. People should be aware that it’s the genesis of black culture. I have a lot of respect for freestyle rap. The rappers who get on to the stage and do freestyle rap are amazing,” the 54-year-old musician told IANS.