MC Altaf first made a name for himself when he was featured in the groundbreaking Bollywood film Gully Boy. Although that was the story of DIVINE, it was Altaf [who hails from Mumbai’s biggest slum Dharavi] who ended up coaching mega-star Ranveer Singh on the Bombaiya dialect. Real recognizes real and not long after that DIVINE signed MC Altaf to his Gully Gang label. Now 25, and with a bunch of singles and last year’s Robin Hood EP under his belt, MC Altaf has released his long-awaited debut album Halaat. It was worth the wait.

The album’s eight songs burn slowly and take on an intensity that builds until you realize that regardless of the track tempo, MC Altaf is taking you on a lyrical and emotional drive by. Everything he touches on, from his early struggles, to hustling in the gully, has the stamp of authenticity because he’s describing what he knows. He’s stamped because he’s lived it. Think 50 Cent’s first album, think Mobb Deep. Standout tracks include the melodic ‘Hood Poetry,’ Bhangra-influenced ‘Suspicious’ featuring Mahlan Wala 59, and 'Chuke Dekh' [Go for Yours] with Samohit and DIVINE. While the album doesn’t have any all-out club bangers in the vein of Hanumankind’s ‘Big Dawgs,’ it bangs just as hard, like eight tracks you wanna listen to LOUD on repeat with your homies driving around the hood.

Check out MC Altaf's HALAAT below.