Interview
The LiFTED 5 with Panther
“It’s pure hunger that’s driving me. It’s that urge to be the best that makes me push out consistent music.”
The Indian Hip Hop pie is only getting bigger by the day, and Panther is out here getting his slice. Rooted in the underground, Panther knew his music was fire but he needed ears to hear it. Enter MTV Hustle 2.0. After appearing on the show, his life flipped and he’s now got a fan base and his music is doing the talking. As 2025 comes to a close, he is focused on the future: bringing his version of Awadhi Pop to the masses through collabs, singles, and a new album in 2026. To learn more about his journey, LiFTED caught up with Panther to hear his thoughts on his name, socio-political issues, and what is driving him to be the best.
What does the name Panther symbolize for you? How does it connect to your Rap identity?
Panther for me is both chaos and calm together. That balance is what I carry in real life, too. The same reflects in my music; sometimes it’s raw and aggressive and other times calm and composed.
When did you first realize Hip Hop could be more than just music—that it could be your voice in society?
Even before music, I was writing on socio-political issues and my own inner thoughts. When I started rapping, my pen naturally carried that into Hip Hop. Plus, the artists I grew up on did the same, and that inspired me to be comfortable using it as my voice.
What were the differences in your life before MTV Hustle 2.0 and after the show?
Life completely flipped after Hustle 2.0. I always believed in my music and knew it had that fire, but what I needed was the ears. The show gave me that platform. I grabbed it, built a fanbase, and from there, my music spoke for itself.
You've strung together quite a 2025 with ‘Pahiye,’ ‘Manwa,’ and ‘Bolo Bolo’ featuring Wish. What do you think is contributing to your success this year? What will you be releasing next?
It’s pure hunger that’s driving me. It’s that urge to be the best that makes me push out consistent music. That’s been the key behind everything so far. Up next, I’ve got a few singles and some exciting collabs lined up this year, and next year you can expect my debut album.
Tell the readers about your version of Awadhi Pop. What is it? Why is it different from what anyone else is doing?
Awadhi Pop for me is Hip Hop and Pop fused with the authentic Awadhi dialect and rooted Indian sounds. What makes it different is the authenticity. A lot of people dilute it to sound more mainstream, but my Awadhi Pop is raw and true to its roots.
BONUS: Indian Hip Hop is still carving its global identity. What do you think sets it apart from other movements worldwide?
I don’t really buy into the idea of chasing a ‘global identity’ or validation. Indian Hip Hop is already one of the biggest genres in our own country, killing it on streams and live shows. The global eyes are already here. Major labels and artists are betting on us, and that itself is a positive sign
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