Talha Anjum, Bohemia to judge Pakistan’s first reality rap contest

Pakistan is set to have its first-ever reality rap contest with two of the biggest names in the South Asian hip-hop, Talha Anjum and Bohemia, coming on board as judges.

According to media reports, the show, titled Rap Icon Pakistan, is being produced by Pixel Entertainment, the team behind popular programmes such as Shark Tank Pakistan and MasterChef Pakistan.

Pixel Entertainment CEO Rizwan Siddiqui said that the idea behind the project is to discover the country’s next major rap star — “the next Talha Anjum or the next Bohemia”.

The season will feature around 10 episodes and is scheduled to go on air after Eidul Fitr.

The competition will bring together 10 to 12 contestants who will face a series of rap-based challenges built around different themes. As the show progresses, participants will be eliminated, with the strongest performers advancing to the grand finale.

The organisers have opened submissions for aspiring rappers across the country. Interested participants are required to send a video of their rap performance under the theme Rap Icon Pakistan.

Auditions and shortlisting are expected to be completed by January, while filming is likely to wrap up before Ramazan.

While rap reality shows have gained popularity globally, including The Rap Game in the US and Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow,  this marks the first time a format of this kind is being introduced in Pakistan.