Music of Nepal refers to the various musical genres played and listened to in Nepal. With more than fifty ethnic groups in Nepal, the country's music is highly diverse. Genres like Tamang Selo, Chyabrung, Dohori, Adhunik Geet, Bhajan, Filmi music, Ghazal, Classical music, songs and Ratna music are widely played and popular, but many other less common genres are yet to be cataloged. Western musical genres like Rock, Metal, Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B also regularly feature on the Nepalese music charts. Most of the country's musical bands are based in the Kathmandu valley. Musical genres from Tibet and India have greatly influenced Nepalese music.
Indian hip hop is a genre of popular music developed in India. Desi hip hop is a term given by Bohemia for music and culture which combines the influences of hip hop and the Indian subcontinent; the term desi referring to the South Asian diaspora. The term has also come to be used as an alternative for rap music and even pop music which involves rappers of South Asian origins.
Dirty rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that contains lyrical content revolving mainly around sexually explicit subjects.
"Party Like a Rockstar" is a song by American hip-hop group Shop Boyz. It was released as their commercial debut single and also served as the lead single from their debut album Rockstar Mentality (2007). It reached huge success during mid-2007, namely in the United States, peaking in the top five of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, and Hot 100 charts. The song was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 50th Grammy Awards.
"Freaky Gurl" is a song by rapper Gucci Mane from his 2006 album Hard to Kill and his 2007 album Trap-A-Thon. The song was produced by Cyber Sapp for Big Cat Records; its catchy beat interpolates "Superfreak" by Rick James, who is credited as a songwriter. The song performed poorly in 2006. Remixed and released as a single by Atlantic Records, it entered the Hot 100 pop chart at position 94 on October 6, 2007, then rose for two months to a peak of number 62 in early December. It peaked at number 19 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart at the end of October. The remixed song served as the lead single to Mane's first album with Atlantic: Back to the Trap House.
Sugam Pokharel is a Nepalese singer, music composer, songwriter, and radio jockey known for his contribution towards Nepali pop music. His first solo recording, Mero Sansaar (2001), became a top seller in Nepal. He gained recognition from the mass, particularly the youths, in the early 2000s, when pop music was not particularly popular among the general public. Because of this, he is seen as one of the most prominent figures in Nepali pop music.
Mausami Gurung, is a popular singer, songwriter of Nepal.
Anil Adhikari better known by his stage name Yama Buddha was a Nepalese rapper based in London, United Kingdom. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of Nepalese hip-hop & often referred as "King of Nephop". His songs Sathi, Aama, Aaudai chhu ma, Yo Prasanga, Antya Ko Suruwat, etc. are popular hits. He was the creator and the presenter of the popular Rap Battle show Raw Barz.
Dinesh Subba (Limbu) (Nepali: दिनेश सुब्बा) is a composer, singer and lyricist of Nepali music.
Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Pranil L Timalsena is a Nepali singer and rapper.
Kul Prasad Pokhrel was a Nepalese singer-songwriter. He was popularly known by his stage name Cool Pokhrel and he was well known as a pop and folk music singer. He died in 2004, possibly of drug overdose.
Samir Ghising, better known by his stage name VTEN, is a Nepalese rapper and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the prominent figures of Nepalese hip hop. He started gaining popularity after release of his song "Churot" in 2016. His songs like ''Simsime Pani", "Paara", "Hami Yestai ta honi bro", "Yatra", "Haalkhabar", "Kaatha" etc are major hits.
Manas Ghale is a Nepalese rapper, singer and songwriter. He started his career in the year 2000.
Girish Khatiwada is a Nepalese rapper, radio, television personality, and vlogger. He is consistently cited as the first rapper of Nepal and was labeled the "Godfather of Nephop" by The Diplomat Magazine. Khatiwada started his career at the age of 15 with his first track "Meaningless Rap" in 1994 and became mainstream with his counterpart Pranil Timalsena with other tracks like “ Ma yesto chu”Timi Jaha Pani Jaanchhau, Malai Bhot Deu, Hami Dherai Sana Chhu. Today, besides his career in the Nepalese rap music scene, Khatiwada is also one of the most influential vloggers from Nepal.
Shailesh Shrestha is a Nepalese composer and record producer, known for his work in Nepalese films. Shailesh began his career as a jingle composer, primarily focusing on non-film materials such as albums. He made his debut as a film composer with "Aawaran," and his work gained significant recognition, particularly for his contributions to "Nepalese Dreams" and "Gajalu," leading to him receiving multiple awards, including the Kamana Film Awards. Award, Dcine Awards and the National Box Office Film Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Shiv Bahadur Pariyar aka Shiva Pariyar, is a Nepali singer, songwriter, and composer known for his contribution in Nepali music. Some of his well-known songs include Dherai Choti Maren Ma Ta,Kaha Thiyeu Timi, Alikati Nazar Timro, Sangi, Kya Dami Bho, Pakera Khako Fal MiTho, Aansuko Artha, Nabheti Nabheti , Dhokebaj Hau Timi, Fulai Ful Dinchhau ki, Fewatalama Saili and Pilayo Sathile. As of 2019, he had released Thirteen studio albums.
Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen Shah or simply Balen, is a Nepalese rapper, structural engineer and politician. He is currently serving as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
Bimal Adhikari is a Nepalese model, dancer, lyricist, and musician. Adhikari was born in Chapakot- Syangja Nepal.Debuted from song "timilai pardina runa" on 2010 Adhikari mainly appears on music videos of Nepali folk and modern songs. His song with Himal Sagar and Anu Chaudhary A hora maya was one of his hits.
Superstar is the first studio album by the Nepalese rapper VTEN, released on January 20, 2020, by Trap Nepal. It is also the most viewed and streamed Nepalese hip hop album on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. The album's sixth track, "Yatra", has over 44 million views in YouTube, which is the most for any Nepalese hip hop song.
