‘I am a shayar more than a rapper’

Mona

It was true fan frenzy that one saw on Thursday afternoon, as rap sensation Bohemia showed up, a tad bit too late, a tad bit too little, for the eager crowd that had awaited his visit for two years now!

In his characteristic style — a white hoodie, black cap and dark shades — he was earnest and candid to the core. While people would love to label him ‘Father of Punjabi Rap’, he is more comfortable being called the ‘Big Brother’ of the same. And if you thought rap was all about guns or violence, he clears his stand, “People want to hear what they want to hear. I wrote Kali Denali some 20 years back, now if you confuse a car (GMC Denali) with dunali (gun), I am not to be blamed.”

Others might credit him for opening up a new genre — Punjabi rap — he insists his music is anything but it, “I would rather identify myself as a shayar than a ‘rapper’; my music is not even in English.” After a pause, he adds, “Actually there is no name for the genre I dabble in.”

Trump card

Questions flow on his ‘criticism’ of Donald Trump, a ‘charge’, he refutes, “You haven’t really heard Koi Farak Nahi (his latest) properly. I don’t even know what Trump sir is doing, as politics is not what I follow.” As for his die-hard fans, who want to emulate him, his message is clear, “Do what you are best at.” And, he claims, that his true fans are doctors, pilots, police officers and writers too. While he wouldn’t name any of his favourite current singers, citing that he barely listens to music these days, he is happy sharing that his reading list is replete with biographies of music artistes and philosophers, including Noam Chomsky.

The little time that he has, he is happy to present a sher on a fan’s request, who had come all the way from Jalandhar to meet him. And then, the famed artiste is whisked away in an AUDI Q7 as swiftly as he was brought in! 

Jazzy-Sukhshinder collaboration

Jazzy B-Sukshinder Shinda bonhomie was pretty visible as the two joined Rabindra Narayan, President of PTC Network to announce Punjabi Music Awards. Having collaborated on many a project, this duo hails the interest of youngsters in music, “Even if they are singing with auto-tuner at least koi galat kam te nahi kar rahe.” However, when it comes to them, it’s a no-no to auto-tuner. Jazzy B merrily shares how he used auto tuner once in Soniye Ne Tu Meri Ki Lagdi and people asked him what’s wrong with his voice. Immensely proud of their mother tongue, they claim that it’s their music, their mother tongue that has made them what they are.

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