New York-Based Producer Karan Viegas Shares Jungle Rap Collab “Circus Freestyle”

Brooklyn-based, India-born producer Karan Viegas has teamed up with prominent Indian rapper Arshaq Malik and Smokey The Ghost for the jungle-funk hit “Circus Freestyle”, featuring Zulu chants from the legendary Broadway performer Bongi Duma. The socio-conscious theatrical hip-hop track infuses funk, rap, and afro-jazz to shed a light on poaching and wildlife preservation, brought to life by an animated video by Argentinian artist German Jorge.

The piece tells the story of a noble leopard (played by Smokey the Ghost) who’s captured by a poacher (played Arshaq Malik) from the Serengeti and sold to a circus where he’s stripped of all dignity & freedom, until one night, he escapes to find his way back home.

The piece is also informed by research in consultation with biologists & conservationists. Karan elaborates, “I came up with the concept and storyline last year, composed all the music, and then approached Arshaq Malik and Smokey the Ghost to tell the story through their rap. I did intensive research and consulted with biologist friends so that I could understand the experiences of leopards and poachers, and help the rappers build empathy.

“What I discovered was that there’s good and bad on both sides – on the one hand, wild cats and other wildlife are routinely displaced from their natural habitats and trafficked into the $10 billion illicit trade industry. On the other hand, many poachers turn to the profession due to the financial uncertainty that comes with livelihoods like farming. More so, they do what they do at a high risk of arrest, imprisonment and fines. The conflict between human beings and wildlife is clearly nuanced, and only introspection and empathy will set us towards harmony.”

A groovy pace and fast-firing lyrics make for an entrancing combination on “Circus Freestyle”, that is only made better by the accompanying visual. Check it out below: