Ranveer Singh says he mugged up an entire Tupac album, took fashion inspiration from Eminem

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh, who is scoring chartbuster success with hip-hop artiste avatar for Gully Boy, says he had an affinity towards the genre since his childhood and loves music by Eminem.

Ranveer, who has been showcasing his versatility film after film and is fresh off the box office hit Simmba, plays a street rapper in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy and has sung four songs in the album. Two of the tracks — Asli Hip Hop and Apna Time Aayega — have found fans.

“Hip-hop is something that’s very alive inside me and always has been ever since I was a kid,” Ranveer Singh said. I have a natural affinity and inclination towards it and I was thrilled to be in Zoya’s film because I had always wanted to do such a film, “Ranveer said in a statement to IANS.

It was because of his passion towards the genre that he could sink his teeth deep into the role in the film, which also stars Alia Bhatt.

“I think I was in Class 3 or 4 when I first got into hip-hop. I loved listening to Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious BIG while growing up and I have been into that kind of music ever since,” revealed the Gully Boy actor.

Rap legends Tupac and Eminem have inspired Ranveer, shaping up the ‘hip-hop artiste’ in him.

“I think Tupac’s All Eyez on Me was the first album that I had mugged up. And when Eminem made his debut… he completely blew my mind. I followed his music very closely and he became one of my most favourite artistes of all time,” he said.

Known for his eclectic sense of fashion, some of Ranveer’s earlier looks were also inspired by the rappers. “I used to go through phases where I used to dress like rappers  wear baggy jeans, oversized jerseys.”