Aafid Haseeb
In the quiet lanes of Tral, where mountains stand watch and tradition shapes everyday life, a new sound is steadily rising. It is not the echo of traffic or the chatter of markets, but the sharp rhythm of hip-hop—honest, restless, and fearless. At the center of this sound stands Abdul Munim, better known by his stage name Munim Niyaz, a young artist who is turning beats into stories and music into resistance.
In a place where conformity is often safer than creativity, Munim’s journey feels almost revolutionary.
Born into a religious, middle-class family in Pulwama, Munim grew up in what he describes as a “religious mahool,” a household deeply rooted in spirituality and discipline. In such environments, music is rarely seen as a career option. For many, it is considered unnecessary, even sinful. The path laid before him was clear—excel in studies, choose medicine, and secure a respectable future.
By the 11th grade, Munim had become the “model son.” Good grades, obedient nature, and big academic dreams defined him. But behind the books and lab notes, another passion was quietly growing.
Late nights with earphones introduced him to voices that felt familiar in struggle and emotion. The sharp lyricism of Young Stunners, the fearless Kashmiri storytelling of Ahmer, and the reflective poetry of J. Cole spoke to something deeper inside him. Through them, he discovered that rap could be more than rhythm—it could be truth, therapy, and protest.
Yet, choosing music meant stepping into conflict. In many conservative spaces, musicians are judged harshly, sometimes even equated with Iblees. For Munim, however, the microphone became a sanctuary—a place where he could speak freely without fear or filters.
His journey into music began quietly in early 2021. There were no sponsors, no expensive studios, and no shortcuts. All he had was determination.
With limited pocket money, he started saving every rupee. Each coin meant one more studio session. When he finally booked time, it was never luxurious. Two hours only. A ticking clock. No room for mistakes.
These were intense, high-pressure sprints. Munim would walk into the studio fully prepared, verses memorized, beats selected. Sometimes he recorded four songs in a single session just to justify the sacrifice. What others saw as limitations, he turned into discipline.
That grind eventually paid off.
His breakout track, Gangster Shit, spread quickly among local listeners and online circles. Raw and unpolished, the song carried the frustration and ambition of Kashmiri youth. It wasn’t commercial—but it was real. And that authenticity struck a chord. Suddenly, the quiet boy from the neighborhood had a voice people were listening to.
Today, Munim balances two identities. By day, he is a student at Sri Pratap College. By night, he is an underground rapper writing verses about protest, pain, and perseverance. Books and beats exist side by side in his life.
But his music goes beyond personal ambition.
Munim sees rap as responsibility.
He speaks openly about issues affecting Kashmiri youth—depression, isolation, and the growing addiction to screens and substances. He worries that real human connection is disappearing. “Even if five friends sit together, four are lost in their phones,” he says. “We’re forgetting how to live in the moment.”
He also takes a strong stand against nasha, or drug abuse, which continues to destroy many young lives. Through his songs, he encourages strength, faith, and hard work instead of escape.
His philosophy remains simple: “Khuda gives to those who grind.”
Despite criticism and social pressure, Munim remains grounded in faith and purpose. He does not see music as rebellion for fame but as storytelling for his people. Each lyric becomes a diary entry of the Valley’s youth, each beat a reflection of their silent struggles.
With his upcoming release, Faded, Munim hopes to take the name of Tral beyond Kashmir and onto the national stage. For him, success means representation—showing the world that even small towns carry big dreams.
From saving pocket money for studio hours to becoming a rising underground voice, Munim Niyaz’s journey is proof that passion can survive even the toughest surroundings.
And through every beat he drops, he continues to roll his stories forward—transforming silence into sound, struggle into strength, and Tral into a rhythm the world is finally beginning to hear.
(The author hails from Chadoora, Budgam)
