Reble Rises From Meghalaya to Indian Hip-Hop

Why this is here: Reble raps in three languages—English, Khasi, and Jaintia—blending local and global influences in her music, with Jaintia remaining “my emotional anchor” despite her limited fluency.

Reble, a 24-year-old rapper from Meghalaya, India, is gaining recognition as a compelling new voice in Indian hip-hop. Growing up, she felt like an outsider, attending boarding schools and later studying engineering in Bengaluru, before finding her calling in music. She raps in English, Khasi, and Jaintia, exploring themes of distance and reinvention with deliberate emotional restraint.

Reble’s breakout came with the Bollywood film Dhurandhar, where her verses stood out on the soundtrack. Her latest single, “Praying Mantis,” is currently generating discussion online. Her success reflects a broader trend of artists from India’s northeast gaining wider audiences, though they have historically faced cultural distance and prejudice within their own country.

Despite her growing popularity, Reble admits she dislikes writing and struggles with fluency in Jaintia, her mother tongue. She has also received backlash online, with some accusing her of “selling out” or misrepresenting religious beliefs. She continues to create music, valuing consistency and self-improvement above all else, and hopes to experiment with more film projects.