IPL 2023 Finals set to get lit with the performance of DIVINE

Photo Credit: GLTCH

Mumbai, 26^th May 2023– As the Indian Premier League nears its conclusion, preparations for the closing ceremony of the IPL 2023 have commenced at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The grand event is set to take place on May 28, marking the conclusion of yet another thrilling season of the most lucrative cricket tournament in the world.

The IPL 2023 closing ceremony promises to be a spectacle, with organizers planning a star-studded entertainment package to mesmerise the audience. Following the success of last year’s closing ceremony, which featured award winning musician A.R. Rahman and Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, audiences are in for a treat with this latest announcement!

In exciting news, multi-platinum hip hop icon DIVINE aka Vivian Fernandes is confirmed to perform on the night of the finals at the first-ever mid-innings/half time show and provide a fitting end to a thrilling season. He will be joined by long-time collaborator and Canadian playback singer Jonita Gandhi for a special collaborative showcase on their Virat Kohli starrer track ‘Naya Sher’.

Watch ‘Naya Sher’ here:

DIVINE states, “I am proud to be representing the hip hop movement at the country’s largest stadium and bringing together the parallel worlds of cricket and music! I’m looking forward to performing for all my fans all around the world, including all the sports aficionados of the country at the most prominent sporting league of the country. This is my very first performance at IPL and I’m excited and grateful. From being a big fan of cricket, to playing at the stadium for the finals, is truly a dream come true.”

The hip-hop superstar’s setlist for the much-awaited performance includes a wide-ranging selection of evergreen radio mainstays such as ‘Mere Gully Mein’, ‘Kohinoor’, ‘Sitara’, ‘Mirchi’, ‘Kaam 25’ and ‘Baazigar’.

Watch ‘Baazigar’ here:

With an estimated viewership of over 100 million spectators across 47 countries, the half-time performance will reinforce the mainstream success that desi hip hop has achieved courtesy the incessant effort of seasoned artists like DIVINE who are pushing the boundaries and setting milestones for their peers and successors alike.

With a vision of cementing Indian hip hop’s position in the global music landscape, the hip hop titan stands not only as one of India’s most accomplished rappers, but one of the most accomplished cultural icons of modern times.  

From inking global deals with Mass Appeal and Reservoir to launching his own imprint and entertainment conglomerate Gully Gang to being the first Indian rapper to be featured on a Times Square Billboard in New York City and attend the Grammys, and more recently being the first Indian musician to be invited to Camp Nou, home stadium of FC Barcelona; this path breaking rapper continues to be in a musical league all his own, imprinting hip-hop in the cultural consciousness of the world!

Watch ‘3:59 AM’ here:

About DIVINE

The advent of hip-hop in India runs parallel to the rise of India’s premier hip-hop star, Vivian Fernandes who goes by the stage name, DIVINE. His ascent has been no ordinary chronicle. Consistently cited as one of the most prevalent hip-hop acts in the country, the 32-year-old has played an empowering role in the rise of the ‘gully rap’ movement and has landed him a cultural legacy matched by very few. Lauded for his lyrical complexity and relatable storytelling, his autobiographical rap often touches upon the trials and tribulations implicit in inner city life. His success has offered a blueprint for innumerable young artists who wish to break into the genre while his music has found an authentic appetite amongst listeners.

Often referred to as the voice of the streets and responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstream in South Asia, he boasts over two billion views and 1.5 billion streams across full catalogue, #1 album on Apple Music as well as Spotify charts in India (all genres), and an MTV Europe Music Award to his credit along with being the only Indian rapper to collaborate with legends like Nas, Pusha T, Metallica and KSHMR. He has not only created an unmatched legacy but given Indian hip-hop a distinct musical identity in the global music circuit and inspired an award-winning Bollywood blockbuster based on this life, “Gully Boy” that earned him the coveted Filmfare, Star Screen, and Zee Cine awards for its OST.

His debut album ‘Kohinoor’ was launched in partnership with hip-hop legend Nas’ Mass Appeal in 2019 which went 20x Platinum in India with the track ‘Chal Bombay’ from the album hitting 30x Platinum and garnering more than 110 million views on YouTube. As the follow-up to his inaugural album, his sophomore album ‘Punya Paap’ clocked in upwards of 200 million combined streams and 500 million views on YouTube.

From inking global deals with Mass Appeal and Reservoir to launching his own imprint and entertainment conglomerate Gully Gang to being the first Indian rapper to be featured on a Times Square Billboard in New York City and attend the Grammys, the rapper continues to be in a musical league all his own, imprinting hip-hop in the cultural consciousness of India! 

With a vision to expand the sound and scope of the Indian music landscape, he has cemented his repertoire as one of the most bankable stars of the Indian hip hop community.