Growing up outside of India, I was unhealthily obsessed with smelling good. I’d scrub my body in the shower till it stung and douse myself in perfume before going to school, terrified of fulfilling the stereotypes my peers loved to joke about. Even if their jokes weren’t at my expense, and no matter how clean I knew I was, the narrative that Indians were dirty was always playing in the back of my mind. Now, while I’m old enough to recognise these racist stereotypes for what they are (AKA, bullshit), it’s hard not to feel bitter over their continued prevalence.
Indian-American rapper KOAD channelled his frustration with this stereotype into his latest single, ‘Dirty’, taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to call out how ridiculous the racist narratives constructed around South Asians are. The ‘Dirty’ music video opens with a short monologue, as a little boy points out the Western world’s double standards for Indians over an old Bollywood-inspired loop. As he asks the question, “You like the food, but why do you hate the chef?” the beat kicks in, and KOAD’s raspy voice chimes in, “I’m a clean motherfucker, but I’m dirty.”
“They used to call us dirty, ain’t that crazy? Dirty, dirty, dirty. They love our clothes, though! I mean, look at this — at this point, they should be paying me. They’re always stealing our spices. Like, you like the food, but why do you hate the chef?”Exercpt from the ‘Dirty’ music video by KOAD
With lyrics like “I’m a g motherfucker, like parle”, KOAD’s strength is in his cheekiness. Dirty is a lighthearted response to racist hatred, showing us how we can rise above it rather than dwelling on the pain that it can cause. KOAD isn’t concerned with proving our worth to anyone; the song feels empowering because his lyrics are so assured in our capacity to be multidimensional and cool, not despite our heritage but because of it.
The Dirty music video finds KOAD on a farm, surrounded by women dancing along to the song in traditional wear. In a few scenes, the video pokes fun at a white woman trying to force herself into the group, commenting on cultural appropriation. While this topic warrants a discussion that is far deeper and more complex than a 2-minute music video allows for, Dirty dips its toes into discourse on the West’s tendency to co-opt South Asian customs as trends while also actively discriminating against us.
In the same vein, there is something to be said about Black American culture’s influence on KOAD and other brown hip-hop artists, particularly when we consider lines of cultural appropriation and appreciation. Just as we demand recognition for how South Asian culture is adopted without credit, it’s important to give others credit where it’s due. In this case, KOAD’s work feels like a result of his multicultural upbringing, with Dirty acting as a discussion on power dynamics when it comes to sharing versus taking advantage of another culture.
Perhaps I’m thinking too deeply about a song where the chorus is a repetition of the line, “I’m a clean motherfucker but I’m dirty”, but I think its a good thing that we're seeing brown artists bring these discussions into the mainstream. Right now, South Asian customs and fashion are globally more popular than ever, but only when our faces aren’t attached to them. With anti-South Asian sentiments on the rise, now is the time for us to push back against cultural double standards and claim our heritage with pride.
If you enjoyed reading this, here’s more from Homegrown:
'Ya Aunty’s Favourite': Weston Estate Is Rewriting The Boyband Playbook
Wazir Patar: Punjabi Hip-Hop’s Renaissance Man Lifts The Lid On His Artistry
Kishte: Dorwin John’s New Single Ponders The Existential Terror Of Authentic Connection