Template:Infobox musical artist
Baby Jean (born Habish Rahman) is an Indian rapper, singer, songwriter and actor from Kerala. He is associated with the Malayalam hip hop scene and came to wider attention with songs including "Kaayi".[1] He has been identified among the emerging names in Malayalam rap by publications such as The Indian Express, Onmanorama and Rolling Stone India.[2][3][4] He made his acting debut in the 2025 Malayalam film Alappuzha Gymkhana.[5]
Early life
Habish Rahman is from Othalur in Malappuram district, Kerala.[4][1] In an interview with Samayam Malayalam, he spoke about the difficulty of pursuing rap music professionally and the challenges involved in gaining acceptance for it as a career path.[1]
Career
Music
Baby Jean emerged as part of a younger generation of Malayalam rappers whose work gained visibility in the early 2020s.[3][2] Rolling Stone India included him in its Future of Music 2024 list, noting songs such as Bandana and Thalakkanam among the tracks that helped establish his profile.[4]
His song "Kaayi" drew significant attention on social media and contributed to his wider recognition in Kerala.[1] Publications covering the growth of Malayalam rap have included him alongside artists such as Hanumankind, Fejo, Dabzee and Vedan.[2][3]
In 2024, Baby Jean appeared on "Ballaatha Jaathi", a hip hop single led by actor and musician Neeraj Madhav, alongside Dabzee.[6][7]
He later contributed to film songs including "Marpapa" from Marco, which gained online traction after release.[8][9] In 2025, he was credited among the performers of "Neon Ride" from Officer on Duty.[10]
Acting
Baby Jean made his acting debut in Khalid Rahman's 2025 Malayalam film Alappuzha Gymkhana, playing the character David John.[5] He had earlier been cast in Aashiq Abu's Rifle Club but was unable to continue because of scheduling conflicts.[5]
He was later announced as part of the cast of the Malayalam film Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam.[11] He also joined the cast of Kattalan.[12][13]
Artistry and reception
Baby Jean has been described as part of the wave of younger artists who helped bring Malayalam rap into wider public visibility in the 2020s.[2][3] A feature in The Indian Express on a football-related rap track highlighted his energetic delivery and wordplay.[14] Rolling Stone India described his work as combining hip hop with local cultural textures and language.[4]
In 2025, comments made by Baby Jean regarding rapper Vedan were reported by DoolNews, reflecting his growing visibility within Malayalam popular culture and hip hop discourse.[15]
Discography
Selected singles
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "Kaayi" | Single with RXZOR[16] |
| "Padachatta" | Single[17] | |
| "Ballaatha Jaathi" | With Neeraj Madhav, Dabzee and Rzee[6][7] | |
| 2025 | "VADHAM" | Single with RXZOR[18] |
| "MAAPLA" | Single with RXZOR and Sulthan[19] |
Film songs
| Year | Song | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "Marpapa" | Marco | [8][9] |
| 2025 | "Neon Ride" | Officer on Duty | With Zeba Tommy and Ramya RamC; music by Jakes Bejoy[10] |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Alappuzha Gymkhana | David John | Acting debut[5] |
| 2026 | Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam | Subhash | [11] |
| TBA | Kattalan | Template:N/a | Announced cast member[12][13] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "ദുനിയാവിൽ ആരാണ്ടാ" ഇൻസ്റ്റാഗ്രാമിലെ ഈ ഹിറ്റ് പാട്ടിനു പിന്നിൽ വേദനകളും ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളും; റാപ്പർ ബേബി ജീൻ പറയുന്നു!. Samayam Malayalam(20 February 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hanumankind, Fejo, Dabzee: Meet the Big Dawgs of Malayalam rap. The Indian Express(2 November 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kerala rappers spit bars, break into mainstream with a bang. Onmanorama(2 June 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Baby Jean – Future of Music 2024. Rolling Stone India(5 April 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Rapper Baby Jean is David John in Khalid Rahman's Alappuzha Gymkhana. Cinema Express(12 January 2025). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 'ബല്ലാത്ത ജാതി' പാട്ടും പാടി നീരജും ഡാബ്സിയും ബേബി ജീനും; വൈറലായി മ്യൂസിക് വീഡിയോ. Manorama Online(8 June 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Malayalam actor Neeraj Madhav on pushing boundaries, his new hip-hop single 'Ballaatha Jaathi' and new projects. The Hindu(17 July 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 After 'Blood,' second promo song from 'Marco' hits the internet. Onmanorama(3 December 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 ഉണ്ണി മുകുന്ദൻ ചിത്രമായ മാർക്കോയിലെ 'മാർപാപ്പ' ഫാസ്റ്റ് വേർഷൻ പുറത്തിറങ്ങി. News18 Malayalam. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Officer On Duty song 'Neon Ride' released. The Times of India(February 2025). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Saiju Kurup's Mohiniyattam gets first look. Cinema Express(14 February 2026). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Makers of 'Kattalan' welcome rapper Baby Jean onboard film unit. The Times of India(10 June 2025). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Makers of 'Kattalan' salute bravery of stuntmen, release footage of risky stunt sequence shot for film. DT Next(2025). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ In Kerala, rap song captures hearts and an obsession: 'Let's go play football'. The Indian Express(15 September 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ ഇങ്ങനെയൊരു വെറൈറ്റി മനുഷ്യനെ കണ്ടിട്ടില്ല, അവന് ആ ലൈൻ വന്നത് തന്നെ എവിടുന്നാണെന്ന് മനസിലായില്ല; വേദനെക്കുറിച്ച് ബേബി ജീൻ. DoolNews(2025). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ KAAYI - Song by BABY JEAN & RXZOR. Apple Music(2 January 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ PADACHATTA - Song by BABY JEAN. Apple Music(30 April 2024). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ VADHAM - Song by BABY JEAN & RXZOR. Apple Music(25 March 2025). Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ MAAPLA - Song by BABY JEAN, RXZOR & SULTHAN. Apple Music. Retrieved 14 April 2026.