Culture and Music are co-related. In fact in my opinion they are two sides of a coin that cannot be divided from each other. Culture is way of living, traditional heritage and comprises of custom and behavior of people. Music, a fundamental activity of humankind, has been, and continues to be, important to all people around the world. The ideas and feelings that music reveals to its audience is culture specific. Being a means of communication it involves sounds created by community members that are understandable by other community members. Furthermore, it is part of a group's cultural identity, which reflects their past activities and separates from adjoining people. In addition, Music is rooted in the cultural society in the same ways as food, dress and language. There might be a wide variety of musical traditions as well as culture due to virtue of music. Both culture and music is part of every day life people living in a society. Music is voice of people for various activities, feasts and festivals as well. There is music for agricultural labor, for building houses, for funerals, and for marketing cattle, sheep and goats. National anthems describing bravery of people and pride of country are also included as well. There are also numerous traditional dances and traditional dance songs. The earth, the seasons, love, bravery, harvest time, pride, family, children, beauty, and the stars are the subjects included in music. We believe that musical knowledge may contribute to cultural awareness and help to create cross-cultural understanding. Furthermore, music helps to transfer culture from one generation to next. Then, perhaps, we can be in a better position to help not about the survival of music but about the survival of cultural groups. With these music cultural surveys we wish to share our ideas about world cultural diversity, beauty, value, and survival through music. People participate by playing and singing together rather than watching others perform. It includes the sentiments of individual people of each caste holding people from various castes together in a society. Music is not static, it changes constantly as people and their circumstances change. People migrating from one location to other carry their culture as well. No doubt, there they share the culture with the help of music. As people move and share their music with other people, musical styles alter. Prior culture may be synchronized with that of the new location. Religion of particular location may also contribute for making music dynamic. As a result, variety of cultures influences in creation of different types of cultural music. However, music helps to demonstrate as well as to conserve tradition and culture. It is noteworthy that a massive movement being created as an alternative leisure activity for youths besides discos and music clubs. Furthermore, being `in the culture' means to walk one step ahead of fashion. It assists to focus and organize thoughts, and it supports to eliminate negative mental habits. While at the same time reconstructing its cultural identity, necessary for group integration. Musical innovations are very essential in the formation of musical cultural strategies. However, music has been one of the primary and foremost activities to bring people together, and has been significant because of its capability to transmit on a tradition while setting itself in opposition to the main culture through its obviously different and unique music.

2nd July 2007, California USA, A pop album ultimate Target and Samjhana released in USA, on the historic and 25th anniversary of Associations of American Nepalese (ANA) a most popular and largest Nepalese association in the country held at city of Hollywood, Los Angeles. The association celebrated its silver jubilee program in a vibrant way at west in Hotel, California starting from Friday June 29 to 1st July 2007. On the first day of the program the event took place at Logan Hall of Westin Airport Hotel at Los Angeles. On the occasion more than four thousand Nepalese were presented gathered from all over Nepal and distinguished guests from Nepal and even from Australia and Canada. On the occasion Nitesh Raj Panta has brought his film Guruba in Australia, the film is edited, directed and produced by Mr. Panta himself.
ANA’s silver jubilee program was graced by Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav, Dr. Kulchandra Gautam, Deputy Ambassador Mr. Kali Prashad Pokhrel and many distinguished guest from different field and profession. The program was divided into different categories including live concert from well known singers, musicians from Nepal. Among them Nyuh Bajracharya, Sugam Pokhrel, Dipesh Kishor Bhattarai, Deepak Bajracharya and well known Radio Nepal’s anchor Navraj Lamsal were invited from Nepal.
On the special literary session of the association, lyricist, poet and Radio Nepal host and officer Mr. Navraj Lamsal released two albums ultimate Target a real rocking pop musical album and another album Samjhana, modern song. First Album’s lyricist Dhruva Thapa lives in Berkeley California and other two lyricists Basu Dhakal and Anup Srivastav live in Davis California. Each lyricist has contributed with three songs each and the music director of the album Ultimate Target is Rahul Pradhan and the singer of the album is Chrish K.C. The album is produced and marketed by United Music Pvt.ltd, Kathmandu Nepal. Another album Samjhana’s lyricist Shekhar Dhungel also lives in California. In his album different singers have given their vocal and composed by different Music Director.
The program was hosted by Mr. Rohini Sharma, Engineering Manager for Phelps Dodge moderated the Poetry Session. Mr. Sharma is one of INLS’ ten Trustees, is also ANA’s Life Member.
The program was well attended by literary lovers and friends that included dignitaries such as Honorable Acting Nepal Ambassador to USA, Mr. Kali Prasad Pokhrel, Deputy Chief of Nepal UN Mission, Mr. Maduban Poudel, Nepali folk music singer Prem Raja Mahat, ANA’s founding President Dr. Hari Sharma, a popular artist and poet Karna Maskey ,Nepalese association of Northern California’s President Dikendra Maskey , President of Mother land Nepal Mr. Anil Pandey and another popular businessman of Davis Mr. Durga Dahal and various other professionals like Dr. Engineers, IT Professionals and true aspirant of music and literature personal were present coming from different states of America and many others. It was one of the premier events for the day that took Los Angeles Nepali Community to a pleasant surprise and made every attendee proud of their Nepali root and heritage. The program also proved that where ever we live we are always rooted with our mother land, as said by lyrist Basu Dhakal, “we are living here in USA, it doesn’t mean that we have forgotten our culture language and literature, it is our responsibility to keep it alive and as a result we are able to publish many books, Musical albums from here too. It is our contribution to our country Nepal. Another lyricist, freelance journalist and poet Dhruva Thapa rightly remarked that we are encouraging our young talents from our level best as a result we are able to bring out this album, living here in USA. The music is composed in Nepal and singer Chrish KC has given his true melodious vocal to all the songs, in future too we have plan to launch another album covering various singers, musicians and music company. We try to encourage and search new talents in future too.
The Program was of two parts first part was Poetry session and second part Music album release. Poetry session has been a staple feature of ANA’s Annual convention for the past 15 years and the age-old tradition was no different this year than preceding years. The event had good press coverage. Radio Nepal, The Sagarmatha Television of Washington D.C. Vishwasandesh Nepali News Paper of Virginia, DC Nepal, Nepal Horizon and others provided live coverage with audio, photo and video of the LA events for the mass consumption by Nepali at motherland, USA and worldwide who were not able to attend the convention.
While expressing releasing note Mr.Navraj Lamsal said that in his entire career he has composed more than hundreds of songs, poems and released in due time but this is his first time to release a Music album from his hand. He added my first work in Nepal would be to broadcast this album’s song and that day I will call its release day because only on that time many people will be able to listen this songs live broadcasting from Radio Nepal. He further added that he felt really happy to know that many poets, writers and song writers are here in USA who wants to contribute from their level best to uprise Nepali music world.
The Poetry Session started with children’s recitals. There were over 16 recitals that included number of distinguish guest poets in-between competitors recitals. A melodious and patriotic poem by Nepal Radio Artist Mr. Nabaraj Lamsal made the audience feel that they were in real Nepal. Similarly other guest poets were Basu Dhakal, Kamala Prasai, Dhruva Thapa and many more. Towards the end of program, Karna Maskey from Nepal delighted attendees with poem recital from his book “Ritindai Aasu ko Thopa”. Following the completion of poetry recital round for adults (18 years & old) and children (Below 18 years), Dr. Hari Sharma sponsored the adult prizes whereas Dr. Amar Giri sponsored the children prizes. Cash prizes were awarded for the winner.

When Girish and Pranil, popular as GP, debuted their musical journey through their “Meaningless Rap” album people had not trusted these school fellows then. Thus their Rap was taken to be meaningless. However GP (Girish Khatiwada & Parnil L. Timilsina) kept on holding their tracks as Rap singers.
That was more than a decade ago but things have changed now, albeit slowly. Rap, RNB and Hip Pop song’s market is growing in Nepal, as artists are providing many good numbers. As a result these singers are getting popular. They have been working hard to entertain the music lovers to full extent. No doubt these singers and bands are surely to keep it alive but the question arises whether the listeners have picked up the messages that is expected to flow? Have the listeners taken these songs as fashion and only shaken their bodies with the music? If the answer is in the affirmative then the efforts of the artistes are being wasted, hence making their creation worthless.
Simple fact of the matter is that if previously you have been only shaking your hips to these numbers then you have been wrong the reality is that these artists’ creation definitely bears a message for the listeners. If one spends time listening to romantic or other type of songs then s/he might think that throughout the song the lyrics flows praising his/ her loved ones. Some songs describe the eyes of the beloved while others describe the hair, complexion, catwalk, voice, etc attracting the singer and falling in love and so on. These songs make you romantic and enable one to float in the ocean of imagination with lyrical flow and the activities shown in music videos. While in tragic songs the singers tell the story of their beloved’s betrayal and their ditching them for a wealthier person. The artists may also add drama to their songs and mention poison as well. However, there are songs with national feelings and songs presenting various cultures as well.
By separately studying the Hip Pop songs in some cases the story flows in critical topics such as violence, drugs, politics of Nepal and so on. The story gives glimpse of the present situation of the nation. “Ma Yesto chu” by GP inspires one to quit bad habits such as using drugs (hashish, brown sugar, syringe, gazza along with cigarette), watching blue films when alone, being alert from highway girls to prevent HIV AIDS. At the end of the song G & P regrets from their bad habits and requests the addicted people to do the same. GP’s another song “Malai Vote Deu” picturesque the shameless politician seeking for votes from villagers giving fake statements and never focusing on the development, just thinking of own and political selfishness.
Abhinash Ghising’s “Sunko bala” gives us the message to love our country, gulf is not the solution to get rid from loan and poverty as many labours have given up their lives. “Jastapata” by Abhinash lets us know replacing roofs with galvanized sheets (Jastapata) after selling their own chelibeti (daughter, sister and other ladies). “Women” by Abhinash acquaint with married women visiting to Disco & Casino with other’s and enjoying giving no thoughts to the drops of sweat of husband in Lahore ignoring her small child, husband – “Lahure” and society. Sharad Singh’s “Prashna” put forward selfishness of political parties and untrustworthy political leaders activities by singing “Swarthi chan Dala haru Biswash chaina Neta haru prati”. The song also focuses on the peace and looks for the youths to be separated from violence as they are being used as the medium for violence and show them the right path. “Ma Nepali” is a song by Nirnaya Da NSK advising Nepalese to keep hand in hands to solve the various problems of Nepal.
However, many Hip Pop songs are based on love as well. But this article deals specially with Hip Pop songs with message and raps. It deals with the words used in Raps, Vyakaran of Rap, i.e. grammar of Rap that is used to spread the messages regarding violence, drugs addiction and politics in Nepal. The people who love only Romantic, Sentimental, Modern and Lok Dohari songs accuse that Hip Pops are meaningless, like hard rock they are useless. But it is not true. I don’t agree with this and desire to convey that some Hip Pop songs holds message. It is one segment of music and one of the means to make listeners familiar, alert and aware from the current situation. Most of the Hip Pop artists try to portray message through their songs. I’m not trying to saying that all have to listen to Hip Pop songs. Neither am do I think that other categories of songs are bad. All I’m trying to say here is that Hip Pop songs bear messages. However I will take the liberty of making the suggestion that don’t only make time just listening to romantic songs. It would be better if one sometimes enjoys the music as well as the message given through rap creations. Don’t let these meaningful, and full of message creation go to waste assuming that it might be meaningless.

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