Panjabi MC
Encyclopedia
Rajinder Singh Rai better known by his stage name Panjabi MC is a British Indian
musician
.
he used in the music he plays and raps
. "One of [his] main goals is to fuse the two worlds [of bhangra and hip-hop]."
Nachural Records signed Panjabi MC following a remix
of Kuldeep Manak's "Ghariah Milan De". Although the single
was taken off the market, Panjabi MC continued making records. Another successful release was "Mundian To Bach Ke
" ("Beware of the Boys") (1998; it first appeared on the album Legalised) which mixed the theme
of the TV series
Knight Rider with bhangra. An underground hit on the internet, it was picked up by the German record label
Superstar Recordings, and became a hit
in Germany and across Europe, including the UK. A version of this recording in 2003 featured American rapper Jay-Z
named "Beware of the Boys".
His work, particularly the early singles and the "Mundian To Bach Ke" remix with Jay-Z, brought bhangra to a global audience via the BBC
. He continues to produce music and is ever popular as a collaborator and remixer. In 2004 he made music called Mirza
and mixed this song with Turkish singer Mustafa Sandal
's Isyankar
, but they did not release the mixed version.
His album Indian Timing was released in 2008.
His music video "Snake Charmer" was screened at Deejay Ra's music video night in Toronto at the FILMI festival, North America's longest running South Asian film festival.
's "Im Nin'Alu
". He used "Planet Rock" ("Pyar Wich (Planet Rock Remix)" on Legalised) before Afrika Bambaataa
recorded "Indian Planet Rock". On “Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee”, Panjabi MC uses the theme music from the TV show Magnum, P.I.
"Mundian To Bach Ke" (along with the subsequent remix version featuring Jay-Z
, "Beware of the Boys") uses the bassline from the television show Knight Rider.
(episode 2, Don't Look Back, which aired October 2, 2006). The single "Mundian To Bach Ke" was featured in an episode of Queer as Folk and in the 2000 movie Bend It Like Beckham
. The song "Yaaran Kollon Sikh Kuriye" was featured in the show Wild Boyz as a music video. Panjabi MC has appeared on Top of the Pops
, from which the video
to "Mundian To Bach Ke
" began to appear on music channels across the globe.
Together with Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi, Panjabi MC remixed the popular song "Chaiyya Chaiyya
" from the Bollywood
film
, Dil Se
. This song was used as the background during opening credits for the Hollywood movie Inside Man
. Their song "Land of Five Rivers", used as a theme song for the WWE wrestler The Great Khali, features on Voices: WWE The Music, Vol. 9.
British Indian
The term British Indian refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Career
Rajinder Singh adopted his stage name from the Punjabi languagePunjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
he used in the music he plays and raps
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
. "One of [his] main goals is to fuse the two worlds [of bhangra and hip-hop]."
Nachural Records signed Panjabi MC following a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of Kuldeep Manak's "Ghariah Milan De". Although the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
was taken off the market, Panjabi MC continued making records. Another successful release was "Mundian To Bach Ke
Mundian To Bach Ke
"Mundian To Bach Ke" , also titled "Beware of the Boys ", is a bhangra song performed by Punjabi artist Labh Janjua and remixed by Panjabi MC in 2002...
" ("Beware of the Boys") (1998; it first appeared on the album Legalised) which mixed the theme
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
of the TV series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Knight Rider with bhangra. An underground hit on the internet, it was picked up by the German record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Superstar Recordings, and became a hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in Germany and across Europe, including the UK. A version of this recording in 2003 featured American rapper Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
named "Beware of the Boys".
His work, particularly the early singles and the "Mundian To Bach Ke" remix with Jay-Z, brought bhangra to a global audience via the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. He continues to produce music and is ever popular as a collaborator and remixer. In 2004 he made music called Mirza
Mirza
Mirza , is of Persian origin, denoting the rank of a high nobleman or Prince. It is usually translated into English as a royal or imperial Prince of the Blood...
and mixed this song with Turkish singer Mustafa Sandal
Mustafa Sandal
Mustafa Sandal, commonly known as Musti, is a famous Turkish pop singer. He is fluent in English, Turkish, Italian and French. He emerged in the early 1990s with the revival of Turkish pop music and is one of the most successful pop singers in Turkey with overall sales of 13 million copies...
's Isyankar
Isyankar
"İsyankar" was Mustafa Sandal's fourth CD single and third CD single to be internationally released. It was recorded and released in 2005.-Turkish Release:* İsyankar, 2005...
, but they did not release the mixed version.
His album Indian Timing was released in 2008.
His music video "Snake Charmer" was screened at Deejay Ra's music video night in Toronto at the FILMI festival, North America's longest running South Asian film festival.
Sampling
On "Indian Timing", Panjabi MC uses vocal samples from Ofra HazaOfra Haza
Ofra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
's "Im Nin'Alu
Im Nin'Alu
"Im Nin'alu" is a Hebrew poem by 17th-century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi that has been set to music and sung by Israeli singer Ofra Haza and others...
". He used "Planet Rock" ("Pyar Wich (Planet Rock Remix)" on Legalised) before Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
recorded "Indian Planet Rock". On “Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee”, Panjabi MC uses the theme music from the TV show Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
"Mundian To Bach Ke" (along with the subsequent remix version featuring Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, "Beware of the Boys") uses the bassline from the television show Knight Rider.
Television work
In 2001, Panjabi MC made his Canadian premiere at the Payal Banquet Hall in Mississauga (Ontario). Deejay Ra hosted a TV special covering the event entitled "The Bhangramentary", which was aired on the Asian Television Network (ATN). His single, "Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee", from Beware, was featured on the television show HeroesHeroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
(episode 2, Don't Look Back, which aired October 2, 2006). The single "Mundian To Bach Ke" was featured in an episode of Queer as Folk and in the 2000 movie Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham is a 2002 comedy-drama film starring Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Myers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis, and Archie Panjabi first released in the United Kingdom. The film was directed by Gurinder Chadha...
. The song "Yaaran Kollon Sikh Kuriye" was featured in the show Wild Boyz as a music video. Panjabi MC has appeared on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, from which the video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
to "Mundian To Bach Ke
Mundian To Bach Ke
"Mundian To Bach Ke" , also titled "Beware of the Boys ", is a bhangra song performed by Punjabi artist Labh Janjua and remixed by Panjabi MC in 2002...
" began to appear on music channels across the globe.
Together with Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi, Panjabi MC remixed the popular song "Chaiyya Chaiyya
Chaiyya Chaiyya
"Chaiyya Chaiyya" is a Hindi song from the 1998 Hindi film Dil Se directed by Mani Ratnam.The song was composed by A.R. Rahman, written by Gulzar, and sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi. It quickly became popular upon release and its music video gained the same status, partly because it...
" from the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Dil Se
Dil Se
Dil Se is a 1998 Hindi film directed by Mani Ratnam. The film stars Shahrukh Khan, Manisha Koirala, and Preity Zinta. Mani Ratnam also co-wrote the screenplay for the film...
. This song was used as the background during opening credits for the Hollywood movie Inside Man
Inside Man
Inside Man is a 2006 crime-drama film directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Willem Dafoe and Jodie Foster. The film's screenplay was written by Russell Gewirtz and produced by Brian Grazer...
. Their song "Land of Five Rivers", used as a theme song for the WWE wrestler The Great Khali, features on Voices: WWE The Music, Vol. 9.
Studio albums
- Rootz
- Souled Out (1993, Nachural Records)
- Another Sell Out (1994, Nachural Records)
- 100% Proof (1995, Nachural Records)
- Grass Roots (1996, Nachural Records)
- Magic Desi (1996)
- Legalised (1998, Nachural Records)
- Dhol Jageroo Da (2001, Moviebox)
- Desi (2002, Moviebox)
- Indian Breaks (2003, Compagnia Nuove Indye)
- Mundian To Bach Ke (2003, Compagnia Nuove Indye)
- The Album (German version: Superstar/Warner; Germany) (French version: Scorpio; France) (UK Version: Instant Karma) (2003)
- Beware (U.S. version of the album) (2003, Sequence)
- Steel Bangle (2005, Moviebox)
- Indian Timing (2008, PMC Records)
- The Raj (2010, PMC Records)
EPs
- Jatt Ho Gya Sharabi (1996, Nachural Records)
- Mirza Part Two (1997, Nachural Records)
- Switchin (2000, Moviebox)
Singles
- "Dhol Jageero Da" (2001)
- "Backstabbers" (with Mark MorrisonMark MorrisonMark Morrison is a British R&B singer. He was the most successful UK R&B singer of the mid-90s and the first black male solo artist to reach number one in the 90s. His single "Return of the Mack" became a #1 or Top 10 hit in several European countries in 1996...
and Daz DillingerDaz DillingerDelmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records.-The Chronic, Tha Dogg Pound and Dogg Food:Daz began his career on Death Row...
) (2002) - "Mundian To Bach KeMundian To Bach Ke"Mundian To Bach Ke" , also titled "Beware of the Boys ", is a bhangra song performed by Punjabi artist Labh Janjua and remixed by Panjabi MC in 2002...
" (2002) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#5 - "Jogi" (2003) - UK #25
- "Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee" (2005)
- "Jugga Jugga Jugga Jugga Jugga Jugga" (2006)
- "Snake CharmerSnake Charmer (song)"Snake Charmer" is a single by UK bhangra artist Panjabi MC and the first track to be lifted from his 2008 album Indian Timing. It was released as a single in the UK in May 2009.-Track listing:*Digital download# "Snake Charmer" – 3:16...
" (2009) - "Panjaban" (2009)
- "Jodi - Big Day PartyJodi - Big Day Party"Jodi - Big Day Party" is a single by UK bhangra artist Panjabi MC and the first to be taken from his album The Raj. It was released in the UK and worldwide on 1 November 2010....
" (2010) - "Moorni" (2010)
- "Akh Da Eshara" (featuring Lehmber HussainpuriLehmber HussainpuriLehmber Hussainpuri in a Jatt Sikh family. He is a popular bhangra singer in India, UK, US, and Canada.-Career:Hussainpuri first appeared onto the mainstream bhangra scene in 2001 through Mukthar Sahota on a track titled Sanu Sohni Lagdi. His next song was the all-time classic Das Ja on the album...
)(2010) - "Jatti" (featuring Jelly Manjitpuri)(2011)
Awards
- 2003 MTV Europe Music AwardsMTV Europe Music AwardsThe MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
- Best Dance Act - 2003 MOBO AwardsMOBO AwardsThe Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music....
- Best UK Act - 2003 UK Asian Music AwardsUK Asian Music AwardsThe UK Asian Music Awards, also known by the abbreviation UK AMA, is an award show that is held annually in the United Kingdom since 2002. It is presented by B4U Music since 2008...
- Best Single Bhangra - "Mundian To Bach KeMundian To Bach Ke"Mundian To Bach Ke" , also titled "Beware of the Boys ", is a bhangra song performed by Punjabi artist Labh Janjua and remixed by Panjabi MC in 2002...
" - 2003 World Music AwardsWorld Music AwardsThe World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show...
- World's Best Indian Artist - 2011 Punjabi Music AwardsPunjabi Music AwardsThe Punjabi Music Awards are Music Award annually presented every year to honour the Punjabi Music. They have been regarded as the Punjabi Grammy Awards.-Awards:There are 25 different awards. Winners are decided by public voting...
- Best Sound Recording - "Moorni"