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Reality shows are all the rage nowadays, with MasterChef Pakistan and Pakistan Idol airing on primetime slots every weekend. Amidst the competitive storm, Pixel Entertainment announced its next project — the country’s first reality rap show.

Titled Rap Icon Pakistan, the show comes from the makers of Shark Tank Pakistan and MasterChef and two of the biggest names in South Asian hip-hop, Talha Anjum and Bohemia, have been confirmed as judges.

Speaking to Images, Rizwan Siddiqui — CEO of Pixel Entertainment and an executive producer of the programme — said the idea was to “find the next Talha Anjum or next Bohemia”. He said the show was going to be 10 episodes long, airing sometime after Eidul Fitr.

The 10 to 12 contestants on the programme will have to take part in a number of rap-related challenges based around different themes and styles. Many of them will be eliminated in the earlier episodes, with the best making it into a “grand finale” where a Rap Icon will be crowned.

Organisers issued a call for entries on Saturday, asking potential participants to create a rap song based on the words “Rap Icon Pakistan” and send in a video of themselves performing it.

Siddiqui said they plan to audition and shortlist contestants in the next month, with shooting for the programme planned to conclude before Ramazan.

While this is the first such show in Pakistan, the idea of mixing rap and reality TV isn’t new. The Rap Game ran in the US for five seasons between 2016 and 2019.

Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow saw big names such as Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, DJ Khaled and Ludacris appear as judges. In neighbouring India, MTV Hustle had Badshah, Raftaar and the US-based Raja Kumari come aboard through its four seasons.