Def Jam India’s latest Malayalam rap music video drop, ‘Nera’ by ARJN, KDS, and RONN, blends hip-hop with Kerala’s cultural firepower. Chenda beats, fierce bars, and proud regional identity come together to shake the rap scene. Here’s everything you need to know.

Nera isn’t just a song – it’s a seismic wave crashing straight out of Malabar, waking up the entire Indian hip-hop community. The track, a brainchild of ARJN, KDS, and producer RONN, is presented by none other than Def Jam India, and it’s loud, unapologetic, and soaked in authenticity. Dropped on June 9, 2025, Nera is a powerful entry into the Malayalam rap catalogue, screaming confidence and repping Kerala without compromise.

The opening bars hit like a war cry. As the chenda beat rolls in, you’re not just listening to a song, you’re walking through the lanes of Kozhikode or Kannur, where tradition and rebellion hold hands. 

ARJN and KDS, both fierce emcees from the Kerala rap scene, come armed with a lyrical flow that’s rooted yet global. They aren’t just dropping rhymes; they’re telling stories, reclaiming pride, and giving South Indian hip-hop a whole new volume.

Meet the Voices Behind the Verse

If you’re new to these names, let’s catch you up. ARJN has been steadily building a reputation for spitting sharp, socially aware bars in his mother tongue, while KDS brings raw energy and regional slang into the modern rap lexicon. Together, they’re forces of nature. 

And with RONN behind the boards, the production doesn’t just slap, it pounds with intensity, wrapped in traditional percussion like chenda, making it impossible not to nod your head.

Bars That Speak Louder Than Words

The song features lines that don’t just entertain but assert identity: “We been wearing dhothi all over the world” isn’t just a punchline, it’s a statement. It speaks of rootedness in tradition while walking in step with global hip-hop culture. 

The Malayalam lyrics, like “Enthanda Chengayi Ippo Malabarilu, Nalla Vambulla Chennayi Und Tharavaattilu,” carry rhythm, pride, and a local dialect flair that refuses to dilute itself for mass appeal. And that’s the beauty of it.

There’s even a possible nod to South Indian rap royalty, when the verse drops, “We got some big dawgs over here,” it’s hard not to think of Hanumankind, another titan from the South. 

Whether intentional or not, the track feels like a conversation within the community, a coded acknowledgment that the scene is expanding and connecting.

The music video, directed by Jibin Joseph, adds another layer of power. With earthy tones, bold fashion rooted in local culture, and cinematic cuts, it reflects the gritty, grounded essence of the song. This isn’t a flex for fame, it’s a celebration of origin. And it looks beautiful.

Fans Are Calling It Underrated Gold

Fans in the YouTube comment section are already calling it one of the most underrated rap drops of the year. “The beat SLAPS HARD,” says one. Another praises the visuals, pointing out that the video’s quality alone makes it deserving of more attention. 

And then there’s the chenda beat, that percussive thunder that grounds the entire experience in Kerala’s sonic identity. It’s got listeners hooked.

What Nera truly proves is this: regional hip-hop doesn’t need to conform. In fact, it thrives when it doesn’t. By blending modern rap structures with Malayalam linguistics and Kerala’s soundscape, ARJN, KDS, and RONN have carved out a lane that’s uniquely theirs. 

It’s not a remix of Western hip-hop, it’s an evolution of it, told through a Southern Indian lens.

With Def Jam India backing this movement, Nera is more than just a song, it’s a landmark. It shows what happens when labels put their faith in cultural authenticity instead of chasing trends. 

And for the Malayalam rap scene, this might just be the moment that shifts the narrative from local hustle to national spotlight.

Desi Rap Network. We don’t just report the culture. We speak it.