New Delhi: A widely shared video posted by the official X handle of Bharatiya Janata Party features clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to a fast-flowing rap song. While the comments were filled with memes and criticism for the “IT cell”, a quote retweet by a journalist asked a key question.
“Why choose a song by a rapper, who was sharing about his OCD, struggles and pressures,” asked Gargi Rawat, news anchor and consulting editor at NDTV.
‘The Search’, a 2019 rap song by artist NF, expresses the artist’s self-doubt, loneliness, and painful nostalgia at the height of fame. The song deals with heavy themes—there is a mention of “pumping the stomach”. Even the verses used in the BJP reel reflect anxiety and trepidation at the peak of success.
“Yeah, the sales can rise
Doesn’t mean much though when your health declines
See, we’ve all got somethin’ that we trapped inside
That we try to suffocate, you know, hopin’ it dies
Try to hold it underwater, but it always survives
Then it comes up outta nowhere like an evil surprise
Then it hovers over you to tell you millions of lies
You don’t relate to that?”
The lyrics led many to comment that the video appeared more of a meme targeting PM Modi than one intended to praise him.
Think big. 🎯
Lead bold. 💪
Put India first. 🇮🇳
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐏𝐌 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐢. 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞, 𝟐𝟒×𝟕. 😎 pic.twitter.com/mYBtOSYndk
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 4, 2026
Mental health, religion
Nathan John Feuerstein, known professionally as NF, is a US-based Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, and music producer. He debuted in 2012 with I’m Free, the first of three EPs he would go on to create.
In 2017, NF achieved mainstream success with the album Perception. The Search—the album that features the song used in the BJP reel—followed soon after.
Often compared with Eminem, NF is often praised for not objectifying women in his songs and avoiding the use of slurs. His music especially features a focus on mental health.
“One of the biggest things that sets [NF] apart from others in the genre is that he speaks openly about his struggles with mental health and attending therapy. And despite not identifying himself as a Christian artist, he talks openly about his faith and the role it plays in managing his mental health,” reads an article on the artist by clinical counselor Grant Stenzel.
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