Beware of the (Punjabi Rap) Boys

More Punjabi artists have recently taken center stage in the Bollywood film industry with the introduction of their brand of rap music, but many question if the influence has been detrimental for the culture at large.

Written by Aalap Diwanji

Diljit Dosanjh. Photo courtesy of Filmfare

For anyone who has ever gone to an Indian function with music or dancing, you might have been a little perplexed to hear Jay Z’s raps over “Mundian To Bach Ke [Beware of the Boys].” The single by Panjabi MC was originally released in 1997 but was remixed with Jay Z and re-released to acclaim in 2002. This crossover between hip-hop and the music of Punjab has long defined the significant cultural influence that Punjabi music has had worldwide. Even the most sheltered and ignorant have familiarity with the Punjabi culture without realizing it — be it the dance moves or the feverish, extravagant beats originating from Bhangra, dance music originating from Punjab. Since the inception of Bollywood, Punjab has been at the foreground of popular North Indian culture.

The Punjabi music industry is the second largest in India and has exported their beats, music, and dance to the rest of India and all over the world with widespread popularity. There are over 130 million Punjabi-speaking people worldwide and, due to lingual commonalities, the language is easily digestible to those who speak Hindi, easing the global exportation of the culture. Today, the fabric of hip-hop has established itself in Punjabi music, receiving both great praise and concern about the controversial content of the music.

Some of the first Punjabi rap introduced to the music industry came from Bohemia, a Punjabi rapper who moved to the United States at the age of 13. After being introduced to producer Sha One, the duo went on to release the first Punjabi rap album, Pesa, Nasha, Pyaar [Money, Intoxication, Love] (2006), on a major music label, signing with Universal Music India. They found their rhythm with Bohemia rapping verses in Punjabi and Sha One coming for hook duty in English, best exemplified by their smash hit single “Kali Denali.”

Today, the Punjabi music industry is worth over 700 crore rupees, or 100 million U.S. dollars. This growth was first fostered by Bollywood’s almost insatiable appetite for Punjabi culture as two of the hallmark production studios, Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions, are run by Punjabi families. Their music, often more lighthearted and celebratory than the spiritual iterations found in other parts of India, proved to perfect additions to the extensive soundtracks of Bollywood films.

Though initially the influence manifested in subtler ways, such as phrases taken from Punjabi or beats and instruments being emulated by music producers, Punjabis are now starting to move into the foreground of the industry they have greatly influenced. This shift was lead by the appearance of acts likeYo Yo Honey Singh (who has the record of the highest fee for a Bollywood song: 7 million rupees, or 100,000 USD),RDB,Badshah, andDiljit Dosanjh. Badshah and Dosanjh even recently appeared on the immensely popular Bollywood talk show, “Koffee With Karan.”These artists have all started to land starring roles in movies, prominent TV hosting roles, and much more in addition to their music careers.

The influence of the Punjabi rap scene has not been welcomed by all. Many lament that the music, which often espouses unabashed materialism, partying, violence, and drugs, poorly influences the youth and has robbed music of any significant meaning. Most recently, Punjabi rappers like Sidhu Moose Wala and Mankirt Aulakh have gained both significant popularity and criticism for their violent and drug-filled content. In his song "So High", Moose Wala raps about keeping loaded guns on him and poses with his gang Bandook (Gun) Group, while Aulakh laments in “Gangland” that his village has been overrun by violence and has turned into a gangland.

It is hard not to draw parallels to the American hip-hop industry, which has long faced criticism for its subject matter as well. Music videos from both industries put the rappers’ lavish lifestyles on full display, featuring private jets, exotic cars, and beautiful women. Despite these criticisms, there is no denying the far-reaching influence that the artists, aesthetic, and music have on popular culture in their respective societies. I, for one, celebrate that a grassroots musical movement from the streets of the United States has inspired influential expression and art over 9000 miles away.

Special shout out to my mom for the idea for this article and my dear friend Rohan Chaudhry for verifying this article for authenticity regarding the state of affairs of the Punjabi music industry.