MTV Hustle

MTV Hustle is an Indian rap/hip-hop reality show. Aspiring rappers battle it out to become India’s biggest hip-hop star. The show airs on MTV India.

Season 1 premiered on 10 August 2019. Judged by Raftaar, Nucleya and Raja Kumari and hosted by Gaelyn Mendonca.

Season 2 premiered on 3 September 2022. Hosted by Krissann Barretto, the show is judged by Badshah along with four squad bosses- which were EPR, Dino James, Dee MC, King Rocco.

Season 3 premiered on 21 October 2023. Hosted by Wicked Sunny and Super Mannik, the show is judged by Badshah for the second time along with four squad bosses - EPR, Dino James, Dee MC and Ikka.

On 10 December 2023, during episode 16 of season 3, Samantha Ruth Prabhu announced the Tamil edition of MTV Hustle Namma Pettai.

Format
In Season 1, 40 auditionees were selected from the Voot online registrations, out of which only 15 rappers were selected to compete against each other. The rappers were judged on the basis on their writing, rapping flow and overall performance.

In Season 2, 16 contestants were chosen by online auditions on Voot. Badshah decided which contestants to be assigned to and now the four Squad Bosses will groom and judge the contestants based on their talent, performance, meter, technique, musicality and storytelling.

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

 * Male
 * Female

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.

Judges and host
Badshah along with four squad bosses EPR, King, Dino James and Dee MC judged and Krissann Barretto hosted the show. MC Square was declared winner.

Contestants

 * Male
 * Female

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.

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.

Week 4 (Episode 7–8)
Last week's squad of the week, Dee MC had to choose one of the two random cards (Immunity Card: to save one Rapper from elimination & Danger Card: to put one Rapper up for elimination from other squad). She got the Danger Zone and chose Lxsh.

Week 5 (Episode 9–10)
Last week's squad of the week, EPR had to choose one of the two random envelops (Power to eliminate & Power to save). He got Power to save and chose GD 47.

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.

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.

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 (Classic range)
 * Dino Warriors: Use Key Words in Rap (Muscle, Freak, Fitness, Weightlifting)
 * EPR Rebels: Brand Anthem Rendition (Yamaha - the call of the blue)
 * King Slayers: Bollywood to Hip Hop (Tujhko jo paya)

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. Top 5 Finalists performed for the public and the public voting were open for final time, with the votes deciding the winner next week.

Week 10 Final (Episode 19-20)
After Top 5 Finalists performed, based on Public Votes three moved-on to TOP 3.

Judges and host
Badshah and squad bosses EPR, Dino James and Dee MC returned to judge. Ikka Singh joined season 3 as new squad boss. Super Manikk and Wicked Sunny were the hosts for this season. Uday was declared the Winner.

Contestants

 * Male
 * Female

Squad and Performer of the week

 * Winner & Winning squad

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.

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.

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.

Week 5 (Episode 9–10): Zone Flip
This week's squad of the week, Dee MC had to choose to save one of the four Rappers in Danger Zone. She chose 100 RBH.

Week 6 (Episode 11–12): Level Up
This week's squad of the week, Dino had to choose to save one of the three Rappers in Danger Zone. He chose Poet Shaf.

Week 7 (Episode 13–14): Go Bass the Boss
Mrunal Shankar won the ticket to Finale. This week's squad of the week, Ikka Gangstar had to choose to save one of the five Rappers in Danger Zone. He chose Kayden.

Week 8 (Episode 15–16): Collab Week
This week contestants collaborated and performed in pairs. As Mrunal Shankar won the Ticket to Finale, she collabed with her Squad Boss EPR.

Also each squad performed a group Ad Jingle for the sponsors of the show.


 * EPR Rebels: POCO
 * Dee MC Dynamites: Appy Fizz
 * Ikka Gangsters: Big muscle nutrition
 * Dino Warriors: MTV

Vijay Dada won the ticket to Finale. This week's squad of the week was Dee MC Dynamites. This week there was only bottom 2, no-one was saved by squad boss power or public vote.

Week 9 (Episode 17-18): Semi Final - Mega Ground Shunya
8 contestants from Top 10 competed in one-on-one Battles to move on to the Finale. Only 4 contestants advanced to the Finale. Mrunal Shankar and Vijay Dada didn't compete as they had ticket to Finale Top 6 Finalists performed for the public and the public voting were open for final time, with the votes deciding the winner next week.

Week 10 (Episode 19–20): Grand Finale
The winner wins ₹10,00,000 cash prize, POCO Made of Mad gifts worth ₹2.5 lakhs and GOVO soundbar.

100 RBH won the OG Hustler Award and received a cash prize of ₹5,00,000.

After Top 6 Finalists performed, based on Judges choice three moved-on to TOP 3. And the winner was crowned based on Public Votes.