Premiere: Archiesman Kundu Flexes His Roots in ‘Jacket’ Video

Kolkata-based hip-hop artist uses Bangla and English bars on his latest song produced by longtime collaborator Rawhit

Kolkata hip-hop artist Archiesman Kundu. Photo: Sayan’s Hunters

Kolkata rapper Archiesman Kundu’s “Jacket” looks back at his journey amid the differences in generations over skittering, ominous trap beats by Rawhit.

The Bangla-English bilingual hip-hop song is the first release of the year from Kundu, who released his seven-track debut tape Norther Ties in July last year. “Jacket” comes with a music video made with Special shout to directors Mindey 101 and Sayan Dey with cinematographers Kshitiz and Aryan Jain, which sees Kundu in a playground and parking lot settings.

A press release for the song says, “The track reflects the pride, confidence, and transformation that come with success. Blending Bengali and English seamlessly, Archiesman paints vivid imagery of “returning to his hometown, where his style, persona, and roots are always under the spotlight.”

Impressing upon listeners that the “hood is watching,” Kundu reflects upon performing big stages like Spotify Rap 91 Live in 2022 as well as heading back home where he was raised – town of Garhbeta near Midnapore. “It’s a celebration of individuality, cultural pride, and the undeniable aura of someone who has worked hard to earn their place in the spotlight,” the press release adds.

The depth in the lyrics peaks with the line “Farak ache hodie pora ar ghomta,” where Kundu references his roots with this clothing. He’s talking about “generational differences” here, according to a press release, specifically talking about how he balls like a farmer in the rap game and puts a towel on his shoulder so that he can clean off his sweat after a recording. The difference between a hoodie and a ghomta, as the rapper points out in the lyrics, is that it’s a traditional item of clothing, allowing the rapper to make a comment on the “generation gap.”

Watch the video for “Jacket” below.