Yelhomie’s ‘We Outside’ on Mass Appeal India is more than just a song and video. It’s a powerful protest anthem forged in the chaos of conflict. Written during the height of the 2023 violence in Manipur, Yelhomie’s lyrics are steeped in the trauma of state repression, internet blackouts, gunshots, and curfews. ‘We Outside’ is a raw declaration from an indigenous voice that is refusing to be erased.

‘We Outside’ opens with a tribal chat by Augustine of Featherheads stating, “Carry the shield/Hold the spear.” This battle call to the ancestors sets the tone and helps the song and video bridge the past and present. ‘We Outside’ was produced by Seej from Mizoram, and it gives a region often ignored a gritty and raw Hip Hop anthem.

With a line that pulls no punches, Yelhomie said, “Heavier the pants/Dreams don’t fly.” These six words capture perfectly a shift from youthful ambitions to armed survival. The video, with some hints of Kendrick and Hanumankind, is an important piece of cinema to watch and understand.

In the end, ‘We Outside’ is a biting protest anthem that gives a voice to the displaced, grieving, and defiant in Northern India, a region we should all know more about.

Check out Yelhomie’s ‘We Outside’ below.