Rap perhaps featured for the first time in a Bollywood film in 1994, when singer Baba Sehgal recreated Duma Dum Mast Kalandar for 1994 film Hum Hain Bemisaal. Sehgal remained a trailblazer, singing three rap songs for the film Miss 420 (1998), in which he also acted.
In 2002, A.R. Rahman introduced singer Blaaze to Bollywood. Blaaze went on to create iconic rap verses with Rahman in films like Saathiya (Chori Pe Chori), Yuva (Dol Dol), Bunty aur Babli (B N B), Paathshaala (Rang De Basanti) and the title song of Delhi 6.
Hard Kaur entered Bollywood in 2007 with the smash hit Move Your Body (Johnny Gaddar) and she went on to perform rap verses in some of Bollywood's biggest hits of the period, including Lucky Boy (Bachna Ae Haseeno) and Main Tera Dhadkan Teri (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani).
Bohemia was already a 'desi' rap star and known among NRIs, but in 2009 he featured in songs for Bollywood. 'C C 2 C'(Chandni Chowk to China) was a rap song penned by Bohemia, that was sung by Akshay Kumar and him. I got the picture (8 x 10 Tasveer) featured Bohemia with rapper J. Hind and the song stood out. Two years later, Subah Hone Na De’(Desi Boys) sung by Mika Singh and Shefali Alvares featured Bohemia. The track was a hit and also featured in 2017 film Dishoom.
RDB, a British band of three brothers, had multiple hits in Bollywood including the title track of Singh is Kinng (2008) featuring Akshay Kumar and Snoop Dogg, as well as the title track of Aloo Chaat (2009).
The increasing popularity of rap paved the way for rappers who were already well known as independent musicians. In 2012, Yo Yo Honey Singh, who had a huge fan following for his Punjabi songs, featured for the first time in a Bollywood film song. Honey Singh went on to create multiple hugely popular party anthems like Lungi Dance (Chennai Express), Chaar Botal Vodka (Ragini MMS 2) among others.
Raftaar featured for the first time in a song for a Bollywood film in 2013 with Tamanchey Pe Disco (Bullet Raja) and has featured in the soundtracks of multiple films including the Andhadhun title track.
Badshah's big hit 'Saturday, Saturday' released in 2012 but the song would feature in Bollywood only two years later in 2014 in the film 'Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania'. He has since featured in multiple films with hits like 'Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai'(Khoobsurat), 'Kar Gayi Chull'(Kapoor and Sons), 'Tareefan' (Veere Di Wedding) among others.
Mumbai-based rapper Divine (aka Vivian Fernandes) debuted in Bollywood in 2017 with 'Paintra' (Mukkabaaz), which was an instant hit. Two years later, Gully Boy is said to be loosely based on Divine & Naezy's lives and careers.
In 2017, California-based artist Raja Kumari featured in the song 'Freaking Life' (Mom). In late 2018, she featured in Husn Parcham (Zero).
Pardhaan, a Haryanvi rapper who collaborated with Mumbai-based Naezy in the song BC Rap Knockout from the movie 'Bank Chor'
Rapper Dee MC recently featured in the track 'Jagga Jiteya'(Uri).
Rappers featuring Gully Boy album: Ace, Divine, Dub Sharma, Kaam Bhaari, Arjun, Blitz, Desi Ma, MC Altaf, MC TodFod, 100 RBH, Maharya, Noxious D, Naezy, Spitfire, Ranveer Singh
