iWorld
Karma drops truth bombs in ‘Zi Freestyle’ as 64 Bars returns for season 3
MUMBAI: Bar none, hip-hop just got real. Def Jam Recordings India and Red bull have teamed up once again to unleash season 3 of Red Bull 64 Bars, the platform that strips rap back to its purest form, 64 lines, no hooks, no fluff, just raw lyricism and storytelling.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1NZfcJlmwxaOt9z9tTIePU?si=od7C1BNBQhe6eZk9uu0YDg
The season opens with a bang as rapper Karma joins forces with producer Stunnah Beatz on “Zi Freestyle” a track that sways from smooth, jazz-soaked textures into a hard-hitting beat, mirroring Karma’s verses that blend vulnerability with bravado.
“Working on Zi Freestyle was an incredible experience,” Karma said. “The format pushes you to focus on the essence of the craft, pure bars and storytelling. Stunnah’s production was the perfect canvas to lay down my truth.”
Launched globally, Red Bull 64 Bars challenges both rising and established MCs to showcase skill over spectacle. It’s about words, rhythm and authenticity, not chart hooks. Last year’s standout, Vazan by Sambata, became a fan favourite, and season 3 promises to push the envelope further.
Industry leaders say the format is fuelling India’s hip-hop movement. “Red Bull 64 Bars is one of the most exciting platforms for hip-hop in India,” said UMG India & south Asia, new business & brand partnerships, svp & business head, Preeti Nayyar. “With Def Jam as the perfect home, this collaboration reflects our commitment to championing new voices and celebrating India’s music culture.”
Adding to that, UMG, head of independent artist collective, Sumedhas Rajgopal, noted: “The format gives artists the freedom to express themselves in the most authentic way. With season 3, we’re bringing fresh performances from rappers and producers who’ll keep pushing boundaries.”
Zi Freestyle by Karma and Stunnah Beatz is now streaming on all major platforms, setting the tone for a season that proves when it comes to hip-hop, it’s all about the bars.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
