MTV Hustle


MTV Hustle is an Indian rap and hip-hop reality show. Aspiring rappers battle it out to become India's biggest hip-hop star. The show airs on MTV India.
The first season premiered on 10 August 2019, and was judged by Raftaar, Nucleya and Raja Kumari, accompanied by host Gaelyn Mendonca.
The second season premiered on 3 September 2022. Hosted by Krissann Barretto, the show was judged by Badshah along with four squad bosses - EPR Iyer, Dino James, Dee MC and King Rocco.
The third season premiered on 21 October 2023. Hosted by Wicked Sunny and Super Mannik, the show was judged by Badshah for the second time consecutively, along with four squad bosses - EPR Iyer, Dino James, Dee MC and Ikka.
The fourth season premiered on 19 October 2024. Hosted by MC Talha and MC Jizzy, the show was judged by Raftaar and Ikka, along with four squad bosses - EPR Iyer, Dino James, Dee MC and Raga.
On 10 December 2023, during episode 16 of season 3, Samantha Ruth Prabhu announced the Tamil edition of MTV Hustle Namma Pettai.

Series

As of 2024, there have been 4 seasons of the show.

Season 1

MTV Hustle 1 premiered on 10 August 2019. M-Zee Bella was declared winner.
• Judges
Raftaar
Nucleya
Raja Kumari
• Host
Gaelyn Mendonca

Contestants

Summary

Weekly summary

Week 3 (Episode 5–6)

Week 4 (Episode 7–8)

Week 5 (Episode 9–10)

Week 6 (Episode 11–12)

Week 7 (Episode 13–14)

Week 8 (Episode 15–16)

Week 9 (Episode 17–18)

Special Performance by the first two finalists EPR & M-Zee-Bella along with Raftaar & Brodha V in Episode 18.

Week 10 (Episode 19–20)

After Top 5 Finalists performed, Judges had to decide two of them to the Final Battle Round for the Title.
OrderRapperResult
1EPRRunner-up
2M-Zee-BellaWinner

Guests

Season 2

Judges and host

replaced the entire judge panel of season 1, along with four squad bosses Dino James, Dee MC, EPR and King, out of which, the latter two competed as contestants in the previous season. Krissann Barretto hosted the show. MC Square was declared as the winner.

Contestants

Squads

Episode 1-4

Episode 5-20

Squad of the Week

Summary

Weekly summary

Week 1-2 (Episode 1–4)

For week 1 & 2, after each contestant performed Badshah decides which squad to be assigned to. But, the Squad Bosses can sound the horn and ask the contestant to join their squad.
Key Squad Boss horn to join their squad Badshah choice to assign squad Radio Ready Performer Bottom 6
Battleground 2.0
The bottom 6 contestant compete one vs one in the Battleground. Only 2 moved-on to the next round.
After 3 battles, the two squads EPR Rebels & King Slayers had to choose one contestant to join their squad. UNB was not chosen and was eliminated.
Snatch Battle
In this battle the squad bosses compete against each other for a contestant.

Week 3 (Episode 5–6)

From this week, the squad bosses scored after each performance.
Also the public voting were open, with the votes effecting the next week's elimination.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer Safe

Week 4 (Episode 7–8)

Last week's squad of the week, Dee MC had to choose one of the two random cards. She got the Danger Zone and chose Lxsh.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer Immunity Card Danger Card Immune Safe Danger Zone Bottom 2 Eliminated

Week 5 (Episode 9–10)

Last week's squad of the week, EPR had to choose one of the two random envelops. He got Power to save and chose GD 47.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer Power to save Power to eliminate Immune Safe Danger Zone Bottom 2 Eliminated

Week 6 (Episode 11–12)

Theme: Lyrical
Last week's squad of the week, EPR had a special power "Judge 2.0", to judge the elimination battles. But he decided not to eliminate anyone.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer Power to save Power to eliminate Immune Safe Danger Zone Bottom 2 Eliminated

Week 7 (Episode 13–14)

Theme: Shout-out
Last week's squad of the week, Dino James had a special power "Score + 2.0", where he could add 2 points to any rapper. He choose GD 47 to add 2 points.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer Immune Safe Danger Zone Bottom 2 Eliminated

Week 8 (Episode 15-16)

Theme #1: Collaboration - Squad Bosses' paired-up the rappers.
Theme #2: Badshah's Industry Ready Challenges:
  • Dee MC Dynamites: Ad Jingle to Hip Hop
  • Dino Warriors: Use Key Words in Rap
  • EPR Rebels: Brand Anthem Rendition
  • King Slayers: Bollywood to Hip Hop
Last week's squad of the week, Dino James had a special power "Danger Zone 2.0", where he could another Collab pair in Danger Zone. He choose Spectra and Panther.

Week 9 Semi Final (Episode 17-18)

Theme: Battleground 2.0
Top 10 contestants competed in one-on-one Battles to earn the Ticket to Finale. Only 5 contestants advanced to the Finale.
Battle No.OrderSquadRapperBattle Result
11Dino WarriorsWicked SunnyEliminated
12EPR RebelsNazzTop 5
21Dee MC DynamitesSuper ManikkEliminated
22Dee MC DynamitesSpectraTop 5
31Dino WarriorsGravityTop 5
32King SlayersParadoxTop 5
41Dee MC DynamitesQKEliminated
42King SlayersUK Rapi BoyEliminated
51Dino WarriorsSrushtiEliminated
52EPR RebelsMC SquareTop 5 +

Top 5 Finalists performed for the public and the public voting were open for final time, with the votes deciding the winner next week.
OrderSquadRapperJudge
OrderSquadRapperBadshah
1EPR RebelsMC Square
2Dino WarriorsGravity
3EPR RebelsNazz
4Dee MC DynamitesSpectra
5King SlayersParadox

Week 10 Final (Episode 19-20)

After Top 5 Finalists performed, based on Public Votes three moved-on to TOP 3.
SquadRapperFinal Result
EPR RebelsMC SquareWinner
King SlayersParadoxRunner-up
EPR RebelsNazz3rd Place

Guests

Season 3

Judges and host

and squad bosses EPR, Dino James and Dee MC returned to judge. Ikka Singh joined season 3 as the new squad boss. Super Manikk and Wicked Sunny were the hosts for this season. On 24 December 2023, Uday was declared as the winner.

Contestants

Squads

Squad and Performer of the week

Summary

Weekly summary

Week 1-2 (Episode 1–4)

For week 1 & 2, after each contestant performed Badshah decides which squad to be assigned to. But, the Squad Bosses can mic drop and ask the contestant to join their squad.
Key Mic drop from squad boss Radio Ready Performer Bottom 6 Advanced to Top 16
Battleground: Ground Shunya
The bottom 6 contestant compete three-way battle in the Battleground. Only 2 moved-on to the next round.
After 2 battles, Badshah had to choose two contestant to join Dee MC Dynamites squad.

Week 3 (Episode 5–6): Showcase Week

From this week, the squad bosses scored out of 3 after each performance.
Also the public voting were open, with the votes effecting the next week's elimination.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer of the Week Safe

Week 4 (Episode 7–8): BYOB Week - Bring Your Own Bars, Bring Your Own Beats, Bring Your Own Bangers

This week's squad of the week, Dee MC had to choose to save one of the four Rappers in Danger Zone. She chose Shen B.
Key "Radio Hit" from Bashah Best Performer of the Week Immune Safe Originally in Danger Zone, but was saved from Squad Boss of the week Danger Zone Bottom 2 Eliminated