Hailing from Shillong in the Northeast of India, REBLE has started making waves as an MC who can spit absolute FIRE. We first noticed her when she torched her verse on the East Indian Cypher with Rapper Big Deal. Since then, she hasn’t made a bad move and continues to impress each time she guests on tracks or drops her own. We recently caught up with her from India for a LiFTED 5 session.

Shillong is a place where people love music. Northeast India, especially Shillong, has a deep connection with Hip Hop and Rock music. We come from a minority community in a developing country, so there are a lot of struggles. I’m not saying it’s all negative, but there are challenges like poor infrastructure and limited opportunities. Hip Hop really resonates with people here because it speaks for them in so many ways.

For me, music has always been a way to express myself, and Hip Hop does that best. It’s an outlet. I started writing around 11 or 12 after hearing Eminem—same story as a lot of people, right? Most kids here started with Em. He’s always been my idol. I never felt like I fit in, and Eminem gave me the confidence I lacked.

The East India Cypher was cool, but it’s not really my style of music. I did it because it was important to represent our region and come together as rappers from East India. It’s not my sound, but I still do things for Hip Hop. Because of the British system that was in place during colonial times, we were taught English, and we tend to lean towards Western culture in Shillong. Plus, we grew up on American Hip Hop.

I don’t look at a beat and think, “I’m gonna rap super-fast to show off.” I’m more about cadence, flow, and rhythm. Whatever feels right for the track. The speedy stuff is fun because it feels good, but I like to be versatile and not stick to one style of music. I just love making music and rhyming on different types of beats. I don’t have a strict preference, but I’m not a fan of really slow-tempo songs. That’s just not my thing.

My biggest Rap influences are definitely André 3000, Eminem, and Biggie. I grew up listening to these rappers, and they shaped my love for Hip Hop.

When it comes to collaborations, I don’t necessarily dream of working with my childhood idols because the music I make is quite different. It’s not just about getting on a track with someone you admire. I think collaborations should have a sonic resonance. There needs to be compatibility between the artists’ styles. That said, I think a dope collaboration for me would be with G-Eazy. I feel like we could make an incredible song together. I listen to a decent amount of his music, and he’s got this unique swag that I really vibe with.

I want to put out one of the best albums to ever come out of South Asia. Not just something cool from India, but a project that makes people say, ‘This is it.’ I want it to stand out as some of the best work to ever come from the region.