Rapper-singer Badshah says that he is happy but not satisfied as there is still a lot to be achieved. Starting his career in 2006 alongside Yo Yo Honey Singh in his group Mafia Mundeer, his raps like Saturday Saturday gained popularity as party anthems. His last single Mercy also turned out to be a hit and he says he is doing exactly what he came out for doing and there are no compromises or hurdles for him. Recently in the city for Tuborg Open, he took some straight questions on his kind of music.
Excerpts:
What is your present state of mind?
There is more energy and excitement now because once you know that you are being accepted you get more confident.
You cannot be satisfied and happy at the same time but I am grateful to God for everything. Currently, I am excited to be working with Major Lazer on the Tuborg Open Project, which is an amazing platform for global and cultural amalgamation of music. I have been a huge fan of Major Lazer for a long time and they have done a phenomenal job in redefining Dance Music across the globe.
Were there any inspirations?
Apart from A.R. Rahman’s music, Eminem’s song ‘Loose yourself’ which says cease the momentum, remains a big influence on my life. I grew up in an age when there was no internet and only popular songs used to come to India. He has been a social commentator and according to him life does not give you second chance and that is my life all about.
Shah Rukh Khan’s stardom always inspires me. His sensibilities, way of life and the way he does business, I love him for that.
How do you see the interpretation of rap in the cultural milieu of current Punjab?
My lyrical content is all about entertainment. I think the culture of Punjab has changed a lot. A few years back Punjab was going through a very difficult phase but now the youth has woken up and have realised the potential of their State. Punjab has given amazing sportspersons, stars and it is an important state financially. Punjabi songs set standards and benchmarks.
Punjabi song industry was producing singles much before the trend of singles started appearing in the Hindi music industry...
There is a certain amount of effort that goes into each song in an album. Why not concentrate that effort in one song and make it work for you.
There is a psychological factor in audience that compares songs in an album but if they come out as singles, they will be equally accepted. Money and time play an important part. It is more viable for a music company to produce one song than more songs.
But there is still a lack of filter in the content which is rushed in the name of rap...
Digital platforms have given power in the hands of the audience. There will be ten similar looking people in front of you but you have to decide who the original is. Being influenced is just fine but copying will not help you as you will find your audience only when you have your own style.
Also, good thing is corporates and the music companies know that the power is in the hands of artists now. They cannot fool the audience anymore. If the song is good, it does not matter if it is released by a music company or not. I have seen people becoming stars without any help from big companies.
There is Dhinchak Pooja also.. .
I appreciate what she is doing.
Bollywood, of late, has also started recognising the rappers by giving them full-fledged songs having a unique hook line. How do you see the trend?
I think it is a welcome change and I think rap is here to stay for long time as I am seeing young kids growing up aspiring to become rapper rather than a singer, an astonishing thing. I think it is good for the genre and for those struggling. I want audience to get hooked to it. It just has to be easy and should not make you think. It should just make you enjoy.
We are not preachers or teachers; we are entertainers. There is no conscience involved apart from the fact that I am here to entertain you.
What about those meaningful lyrics which Bollywood was famous for?
People do it and I do not do it. If I also start doing that, what will be the difference between me and them? Kalyanji Anandji had a song ‘Aap jaisa koi meri zindagi mein aaye to baat ban jaye...’ Are lyrics saying something? No. It is all subjective and there is audience to decide what to listen.
An artist is the representation of the times he is living in and so are my lyrics. There is more fun in teasing rather than being crass. A lot of my songs are being listened by families, so I keep them clean. I want maximum target group.
Be it Sambhar in Rajasthan or O2 Arena in London, your visuals in songs are equally eye-catching...
You do not repeat your sounds, why repeat your visuals ? Every rap song does not need to have dancing in the club, you can also dance on the wing of an aeroplane if you have money, which I had. It has to be different, it has to look grand. We are officially the only one who have shot in the O2 world arena. I am Badshah, I do whatever I want (laughs).
Your relationship with Raftaar and Honey Singh says something about the frequent disagreements between the various camps...
When you grow up, you tend to develop your own ideologies. It happens everywhere, groups do fallout. I think it is the difference between the ideologies. If you are having a disagreement, it is fine to part ways and that is what we did. Grown up people mind their own business . Kya pata lad marte koi kuch na kar pata . But today we all are doing well.
