Indian rappers are using their music to raise awareness about the climate crisis, focusing on issues such as water scarcity and its impact on communities. Among them is Kali, a Bengaluru-based artist whose track “Neer Kodu” (“Give Water” in Kannada) draws on his childhood experience of fetching water from public taps. The song is part of the “Climate Emergency Mixtape,” India’s first multilingual rap album dedicated to addressing climate change.

Kali, whose real name is Akshay, grew up in Bengaluru, a city frequently affected by water shortages. Residents often rely on groundwater, which tends to dry up during summer months, or on costly water deliveries from trucks. With rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns linked to climate change, water stress in the region is expected to worsen. Kali’s decades-long engagement with music, influenced by artists such as Eminem and Akon, now incorporates messages about environmental challenges. He said his childhood memories made a lasting impression, emphasizing the need to conserve water.

India, the world’s most populous nation and third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, faces varied climate-related threats. Some regions have suffered prolonged droughts, while others have experienced deadly floods and landslides triggered by intense rainfall. Brikesh Singh of Asar Social Impact Advisors, one of the project’s collaborators, highlighted music’s role in communicating these complex issues. “If we want to reach out to people who are experiencing the climate crisis, we need to change how society tells those stories,” he said, adding that rap serves as a powerful platform for engagement.

Another artist on the album, Abisha, a rapper from Tamil Nadu and a member of the state’s first all-women rap group Sollisai Sistahs, contributes the Tamil-language track “Veppa Marathadiyila” (“Under the Neem Tree”). Her song highlights the effects of climate change on marginalized communities. Abisha recalled that water once flowed into her neighborhood regularly, but by the time she was ten, access had disappeared. She noted that discussions about climate change remain limited in her community and expressed hope that her music would foster greater understanding.

Kali encourages fellow artists to expand their lyrical themes beyond typical subjects such as vehicles, which he described as “boring.” Instead, he advocates for greater focus on pressing issues like climate change to resonate with audiences and inspire action. The “Climate Emergency Mixtape” represents a creative effort to engage diverse listeners on one of the country’s most urgent challenges.