Panjabi MC

Artist Image: Panjabi MC
Attribution
Image Credit: Loz Pycock (Flickr: London Mela 2010, Panjabi MC), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Rajinder Singh Rai: born in Coventry, England), better known by his stage name Panjabi MC is a British Indian musician. He is best known for the worldwide bhangra hit "Mundian To Bach Ke" (1998). Rajinder Singh adopted his stage name from the Punjabi language 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.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1970
Number of Albums 6
Record Label
Website www.pmcrecords.com
Wikipedia Panjabi MC on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

In what country did Panjabi MC play a DJ set in 2003?

Germany

... 2003, the UK bhangra producer and rapper Panjabi MC played a DJ set in Germany , then flew by private jet to Switzerland to play twice more that same ...
In what year did Panjabi MC fly by private jet to Switzerland to play twice more sets?

2003

...In February 2003 , the UK bhangra producer and rapper Panjabi MC played a DJ set in Germany, then flew by private jet to Switzerland to play twice more...
Who was the manager of the album?

Rekha Sagoo

...eece. Touching down at Birmingham airport after the tour, his manager Rekha Sagoo received a call from the promoter. The success gave bhangra music a ...
In what city did Rekha Sagoo receive a call from the promoter?

Birmingham

...op 5 and No 1 in Italy, Hungary, Belgium and Greece. Touching down at Birmingham airport after the tour, his manager Rekha Sagoo received a call from ...
Where did many families emigrate from after 1947?

Punjab

...n of India in 1947, many families emigrating from the severed region of Punjab arrived in the Midlands, where men found work in metal foundries. Rais ...
What did Rais grandparents settle in?

Coventry

... where men found work in metal foundries. Rais grandparents settled in Coventry , where he was born. He grew up Sikh in a traditional home. I had a goo...
What is Panjabi MC's real name?

Rajinder Rai

...AngloIndian rap musician Panjabi MC (born Rajinder Rai ) made waves in 2003, when his single Mundian To Bach Ke became the first Punjabi rap song to ga...
What was the first Punjabi rap song to garner mainstream appeal in Europe and the United States?

Mundian To Bach Ke

...anjabi MC (born Rajinder Rai) made waves in 2003, when his single Mundian To Bach Ke became the first Punjabi rap song to garner mainstream appeal in ...
Who remixed the song Mundian To Bach Ke?

JayZ

...tream appeal in Europe and the United States. A remix by American rapper JayZ helped make Panjabi MC (also known as PMC) one of the most talked about ...
What is Panjabi MC also known as?

PMC

...es. A remix by American rapper JayZ helped make Panjabi MC (also known as PMC ) one of the most talked about names in hiphop that year. The Englandbase...
What is bhangra?

AngloIndian dance melodies

...g Public Enemy and NWA. He also listened to modern bhangra, the AngloIndian dance melodies that set the tone at Punjabi weddings and other gatherings....
In what year was Rajinder Rai born?

1976

... from the Punjab region of northwest India, Rajinder Rai was born around 1976 in Coventry, England, a suburb of Birmingham in the English Midlands. Hi...
What was his father's occupation?

spraypainter

...suburb of Birmingham in the English Midlands. His father worked as a spraypainter at the Jaguar automobile factory there. Eventually his family launch...
Where was Rai's father employed?

Jaguar automobile factory

...e English Midlands. His father worked as a spraypainter at the Jaguar automobile factory there. Eventually his family launched a retail business selli...
What was the name of the Indian style of clothing?

saris

...re. Eventually his family launched a retail business selling fabrics for saris , an Indian style of clothing. I remember two cultures clashing in the h...
Which two cultures clashed in the house as I was growing up?

British and Punjabi

... remember two cultures clashing in the house as I was growing up: British and Punjabi , the musician told Baz Dreisinger of the Los Angeles Times. I wa...
What was the name of the AngloIndian dance?

bhangra

...at the time, including Public Enemy and NWA. He also listened to modern bhangra , the AngloIndian dance melodies that set the tone at Punjabi weddings ...
What is the AngloIndian dance melody that sets the tone at Punjabi weddings?

modern bhangra

...ar at the time, including Public Enemy and NWA. He also listened to modern bhangra , the AngloIndian dance melodies that set the tone at Punjabi weddin...
What is Panjabi MC's zodiac sign?

Aquarius

...Panjabi MC have? According to Astrologers, Panjabi MC's zodiac sign is Aquarius . Rajinder Singh Rai (Punjabi: ਰਜਦਰ ਸਘ; born 14 February 1973), better ...
What is Panjabi MC's stage name?

Rajinder Singh Rai

...? According to Astrologers, Panjabi MC's zodiac sign is Aquarius. Rajinder Singh Rai (Punjabi: ਰਜਦਰ ਸਘ; born 14 February 1973), better known by his st...
What ethnicity is Panjab MC?

Punjabi

...e Panjabi MC, is a British recording artist, rapper, producer and DJ of Punjabi ethnicity. He is best known for the worldwide bhangra hit, Mundian To ...
How many copies did Mundian To Bach Ke sell worldwide?

10 million

...for the worldwide bhangra hit, Mundian To Bach Ke of 1997, which sold 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the bestselling singles of all tim...
What is the name of the 2003 release that Panjabbi gained acclaim for?

Jogi

... of all time. Among other songs, he gained acclaim with the 2003 release Jogi . Allmusic has called him one of the most prominent names in bhangra. Nac...
Who signed Panjanbi MC after a remix of Kuldeep Manaks?

Nachural Records

...llmusic has called him one of the most prominent names in bhangra. Nachural Records signed Panjabi MC following a remix of Kuldeep Manaks Ghariah Mila...
AllMusic has called him one of what type of names in bhangra?

most prominent

...laim with the 2003 release Jogi. AllMusic has called him one of the most prominent names in bhangra. Career edit Rajinder Singh adopted his stage name...
What was the name of the German record label that picked up Panjab MC's hit single?

Superstar Recordings

...hit on the internet, it was picked up by the German record label Superstar Recordings , and became a hit record in Germany and across Europe, including...
When was Mundian To Bach Ke released?

2002

...t. He is best known for the worldwide bhangra hit, Mundian To Bach Ke of 2002 , although it originated from 1998, and Jogi, of 2003. Allmusic has calle...