MTV Hustle Season 5 Episode 10 turned the homeground into a high-pressure battle as EPR’s Rebels and Paradox’s Alphas went head-to-head. Titled “Rebels and Alphas Take Over,” the episode continued Level Up Week with stronger competition, unexpected musical switches and performances that directly affected the squads’ safety.
While Raaj Babu used the stage to answer his critics and Dhadkan surprised everyone with a melodic performance, mistakes from some contestants made the fight even more intense. The biggest shock came later when four Hustlers entered the Bottom Battle, ultimately leading to Xeemo’s elimination.
Rebels vs Alphas Sets Up A High-Stakes Squad Battle
The central attraction of Episode 10 was the direct clash between EPR’s Rebels and Paradox’s Alphas. With individual performances contributing to the larger squad battle, every rapper had added pressure to deliver. The format made consistency particularly important. A strong performance could lift a squad, while a major mistake could hurt the entire team’s position.
The rivalry between the two squads also gave the performances an added competitive edge. Instead of simply trying to impress Badshah, the contestants were effectively fighting for their squad’s position while trying to stay away from the danger zone.
Also Read: MTV Hustle 5 Ep 8: EPR vs NCR Battle Brings Heated Moments
Raaj Babu And Dhadkan Show Two Different Sides
Raaj Babu delivered one of the episode’s most talked-about performances with his reimagined “Lakdi Ki Kathi” track. He used the performance as a direct response to people who had criticised or doubted him. Rather than holding back, Raaj Babu leaned into an aggressive delivery and turned the stage into his answer to the haters. His confidence and intensity helped the performance make an impact with Badshah and the squad bosses.
On the other side, Dhadkan surprised viewers by stepping away from her usual hard-hitting approach. Her performance took a more melodic and emotional route, allowing her to showcase another side of her artistry. The switch was significant because it showed that Dhadkan could move beyond rapid flows and punch-heavy verses. Her vocal delivery and emotional presentation added another layer to her performance.
What stood out:
- Raaj Babu: Turned criticism into an aggressive, point-proving performance.
- Dhadkan: Switched to a melodic style and showcased her versatility.
- Overall impact: Both rappers demonstrated very different ways of making an impression during the squad war.
R-Mridul And TXAMA Face Performance Setbacks
The episode also showed how quickly things can go wrong when the pressure rises. R-Mridul performed “Bhaukaal”, but struggled during his set after fumbling his verses and losing his rhythm. The mistakes affected the flow of the performance and became a setback for his squad. TXAMA, meanwhile, brought plenty of energy with his performance and experimented with an international-inspired sound.
His stage presence remained one of the positives, but a verbal slip-up prevented the performance from reaching its full potential. Elsewhere, Parv stood out with “Satark”, while OG Tehran brought a lighter, more commercial energy through “She Wanna Play.” Their performances added variety to an episode otherwise dominated by the Rebels-Alphas rivalry.
Drop The Beat Cypher Leads Into Bottom Battle Drama
One of the episode’s biggest special moments was the “DROP THE BEAT” cypher, which brought together multiple Hustlers for a collaborative hip-hop showcase. Contestants including Dhadkan, Bhaktaaa, whysoKai, R-Mridul, TXAMA, Dflacko, Raaj Babu, Farak, Ansh4sure, Parv and Harmeeet came together for the special performance. But the mood changed when the squad scores sent four bottom-performing Hustlers into the Bottom Battle.
The survival round stripped away the usual performance setup and tested the contestants through raw 16-to-32 bar verses. With no elaborate presentation to hide behind, the focus shifted completely towards writing, flow and battle-rap ability. The pressure proved too much for Xeemo, who was ultimately eliminated from MTV Hustle Season 5. His exit marked an emotional end to his journey after previously showcasing a more melodic side with “Pyaar Ka Gulaam.”
MTV Hustle Season 5 Episode 10 Performance Snapshot
| Contestant | Episode Performance | Outcome/Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| Raaj Babu | “Lakdi Ki Kathi” reimagined | Aggressive response to critics |
| Dhadkan | Melodic rap performance | Showcased versatility |
| R-Mridul | “Bhaukaal” | Fumbled during the performance |
| TXAMA | High-energy international-inspired set | Verbal slip-up affected the performance |
| Parv | “Satark” | Strong cadence and delivery |
| OG Tehran | “She Wanna Play” | Commercial, playful energy |
| Xeemo | Bottom Battle | Eliminated from the competition |
Episode 10 ultimately proved that Level Up Week is testing much more than individual talent. Raaj Babu and Dhadkan stood out through completely different styles, while R-Mridul and TXAMA experienced the dangers of performing under pressure. With Xeemo becoming the latest Hustler to leave, the competition is now entering an even more unpredictable phase.
Also Read: MTV Hustle 5 Episode 9: Ikka Joins Badshah, Level Up Week