Archive for the ‘Old School – Panjabi’ Category

RDB Remember Brother Kuly With Special Memorial Song: Yaadan – RDB feat. Harjog Singh.

In a final poignant farewell to their beloved brother Kuly, who passed away on the 22nd of May 2012 from a brain tumour, his family and record label Three Records will release a special song and memorial video to remember the international musician.

The song, entitled ‘Yaadan’ (Memories) has been written by Kuly’s father Harjog Singh and sung by Kuly’s brothers Manj and Surj along with a verse sung by their father. The music and production of the track was composed by Kuly last year.

In a further tribute to international producer Kuly, Urban Bhangra songstress Nindy Kaur will release a track featuring Kuly’s vocal and a hook line produced for her by Kuly before he passed away.

Speaking about the recording of the emotional song ‘Yaadan’, Manj said: “This song was the hardest one we have ever had to sing, and was very emotional for us all. Dad would tear at every line he would sing. This song is from the heart and we hope the world appreciates it.”

As a lasting legacy to Kuly, his family and friends have set up a ‘Just Giving’ Memorial Page, so that those who wish to can visit the page and pledge what they can to BrainTumour UK, which works tirelessly to fund research and raise awareness of brain cancer (http://www.justgiving.com/Kulyrdb).

Click here to download Yaadan.

The international music fraternity has faced a saddening loss with Kuly of music band RDB, passing away on 22nd May 2012 in Houston, Texas, USA. The popular music group member sadly lost his battle with cancer at the young age of 35 years old.

Kuly was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2011 and underwent radio and chemotherapy. He was receiving treatment at a specialised clinic in Houston at the time of his death.

Kuly was an intrinsic part of RDB, a leading international music group, famed for their contribution to globalising Bhangra and Indian music. His legacy will remain with RDB and their super-hit tracks such as Aaja Mahi, Singh is Kinng, Aloo Chaat and Shera di Kaum.

Today, 5 June marks the birthday of Kuldeep Singh Ral, one third of the imperious musical outfit RDB. Kuly was the catalyst, the all-important spark and very much the driving force behind the group’s burst into the public’s consciousness. Their breakthrough was spectacular; their image and branding a rank improvement on virtually everyone else at the time of their debut and in one fell swoop took the scene by storm.

This was a cohesive, eyes-on-the-prize unit that made accessible music which certainly hooked us in from the get-go with their flair for producing anthems that combined inspired sampling, plenty of speaker-shaking bass allied with desi rhythms. They had the exceptional capacity and musical nous to switch from a blistering garage or drum & bass beat to a hardcore desi smothering at a drop of a dime, such was their comfort and creativity across genres to formulate the RDB sound which we grew to love.

Once they had Bhangra conquered here in the UK, Kuly sought to take the RDB show worldwide and so off they headed into the Bollywood razzle-dazzle. Sure some observers may argue that the band appeared to neglect the UK Bhangra scene but they took several artists under their wing and to this day continue to contribute towards the songs we play over and over again on our iPods. Even the sceptics cannot knock them for their confidence in treading new waters and indeed making a good fist of it with a string of hits under their belt and many more we suspect in the pipeline.

Like others have mentioned, our fondness of Kuly goes way back to the advent of the RDBtv video blog that was the brainchild of and presented by Kuly himself. This was groundbreaking content for the mainstream let alone the Asian scene and he was the life of the online party as it were. We would eagerly anticipate each new episode like nothing before as we knew Kuly would have something entertaining up his sleeve to reward our patience.

Such a sincere, remarkably hard-working and all-around good guy has left us far too early but we will never forget the name he forged with so much dedication and continue to appreciate the amazing musical memories.

As a tribute to the pioneering man himself, T-Minus’ very own @HarkBhambra has put together an 80 minute mixtape that celebrates the work of RDB and particularly their early years wreaking havoc on the UK Asian market. RIP Kuly.

Quite possibly one of the greatest collaboration albums that I have in my collection. Released on Kamlee Records in 1999, the album consisted of six tracks which contained no dancefloor anthems but in my opinion, Sukshinder Shinda’s greatest ever masterstroke. Often I have conversation with friends about Sukshinder and we always come up to the conclusion: we wish that he would one day return to the beast of a producer to recreate the genius that exist within albums such as Men of Respect, The OG’s and Dhol Beat Dho.

Combining with one of the greatest singers from the UK Balwinder Safri, the album began with the upbeat Kadhi Puch Mitran Da Haal but in my opinion, the album excelled from Track 2 onwards. Kyon Door Door Rendo Oh, Ankhein Teri and Kardi Eshara Luk Luk are honestly some of the greatest gems that were created around the 2000 era and it’s actually quite saddening to know that the same collaboration will never exist again (if it does, I’ll eat my own hat, seriously).

Hopefully this has sparked the same memories in your grey matter as it did with mine, if you have any suggestions or albums you would like to see up here in its entirety then let me know. This blog is yours as much as it is mine.

Over the next couple of weeks I shall try to pick out some of the albums that really have shaped our industry and for some of you will hopefully bring back some memories to when these gems were originally released.

First off is Star Crazy 2, If you’re an 80′s baby like me then look away at the next sentence. Bally Sagoo’s masterpiece Star Crazy 2 shall be reaching 12 years old later this year. Yes, as (star) crazy as it reads, this album is nearly 12 years old but for me it feels like a yesterday release. I was actually in high school at the time and I distinctly remember visiting an old bollywood video store requesting for the shop owner to purchase the album so that I could buy the album with whatever money I could conjure up. The excitement when I finally opened up the cassette to play in the car journey home was immense.

The intro has you instantly hooked, nobody will ever say that they never tried to emulate that freshy accent ‘What we still need… is some more bass… in this place‘.

And then the mandolin kicked in. Pendha Giddha started off the journey with that distinctive Bally Sagoo ragga dub feel attached within it along with the rare vocals of Satwinder Bitti. Gem after gem continued; Mundeyo Aagee Oye, Aaja Nachle, Punjabiyan Di Shaan and Preeto De Ghar all stood out as classics but were all totally different from each other. The starting melody of Aaja Nachle, the introducing speech to Punjabiyan Di Shaan and those tumbi/vaja pieces within Preeto De Ghar all have stayed embedded within our grey matter that just will never leave. This is why we call these albums classics.

If you were born in the 80s like me you would have noticed the impact of Kismet Record releases had on your life in the 1990s-2000s. A singer who shone bright for me was the instantly noticeable strong vocalist Jinder Jinda who really never stepped into the spotlight at all but always sang numbers that I actually liked more than other tracks that were being compiled on the same albums he would sing on. Tracks like Jee Karda from The Yardies album and England Joga from 2 Lethal Desi actually were tracks that still live on my iPod and it would be great if Jinder would reappear on some newer material. Last time (if my memory serves me correct) we saw Jinder was on Mukhtar Sahota’s album ’4 The Muzik’ which was released way back in 2004 so if I am correct, we deserve some new Jinder Jinda.

Felt like one of those Sunday’s where searching for new music was going to hit a brick wall. Recently on Twitter I have been reminiscing of music that the Bhangra industry offered throughout the 00s and being an 80s baby, I thought why not share and reminisce with you some of the anthems that seem to have fizzled and almost been forgotten.

First up is a track taken from an album titled Dance With Me. This album which was released way back in 2002 contained one of the dancefloor anthems of the past decade in Aaja Ni Aaja sung by the now redundant vocalist, Amar Arshi. As good as the song was, the track that actually did it for me was sung by Kamal Katania. Hit play and let me know within the comments section whether you remember this one!
Kam Dhillon feat Kamal Katania - Akh Naal Gal Kardi

Released by Kismet Records in 1998, 2 Lethal Desi was a pioneer album which released one of the first tracks that Labh Janjua ever featured on, Gabroo. It also featured one of my favourite vocalists, Jinder Jinda who for some reason slipped off the radar. Check out the song which had me going crazy because of its underlying bass line, an essential requirement for any Bhangra fan going through puberty.
Bally Rai Feat Avtar Chamak + Amanjyot - Jija

Hard choice picking a track from the Ambersariya album which featured the hit title track and another diamond gem, Sharaabi (sung by the Late Mohan Singh Nimanna, may he RIP). I went for the track which almost everyone forgot about but tended to do so well on the dancefloor, let me know if you remember this one.
Mac-G Feat Labh Janjua - Munde Kolo

You probably think and its probably true, the anthem that everyone remembers from The Lick is Tappe by HS Talwar but for me tracks like this one and Pyar Kiya to Nibhana by Shazia Manzoor were the real highlights from the album.
Surinder Rattan Feat Avtar Maniac - Jag Hasia

Finally, a debut album by PJD titled Another Way of Life provided a track which seemed to gel so perfectly. Featuring the vocals of the living legend Sabar Koti and a garage instrumental of K-Ci+Jojo, the track was an instant hit (well for me anyway)
PJD Feat Sabar Koti - Dil De De

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did, leave a comment if you’d like me to go through the archives at a later stage. Enjoy.

Midland Boyz (Sone Munde Midland De) - Midland Boyz The Band
From the album Point Blank, check out one of my favourite hits from the year 1995. Midland Boyz The Band (whom my father once played drums for) set Bhangra in the Midlands alight with this dancefloor classic. Apologies for the slight dip in quality half way through, you can still enjoy and I shall upload a better mp3 file in the future.

Death Jamm – Released in 1993 by Roma Music Bank
Death Jamm - Balwinder Safri - Put Sardaran De
Death Jamm - Balwinder Safri - Boliyan (Gangsta Hip-Hop Mix)
Death Jamm - Jatt Di Dushmani
Death Jamm II – Released in 1994 by Roma Music Bank
Death Jamm II - Balwinder Safri - Par Ligande
Death Jamm II - Dippa Satrang/Dosanjh - Akhiyan Di Maar Buri
Death Jamm III – Released in 1995 by Roma Music Bank
Death Jamm III - Surjit Bindrakhia - Dupatta Tera Satrang Da
Death Jamm III - Silinder Pardesi - Mundeya De Kanna Vich

If you’re an 70′s/80′s baby and you didn’t own the Death Jamm collection, you didn’t really experience UK Bhangra in the 90′s. A series of anthems that would support the platform for one of the greatest UK Bhangra singers, Balwinder Safri. Although Moviebox and other labels got their grubby hands on the collection name after Death Jamm III, it was the first three parts of the series that would set the UK alive. I personally remember rewinding the distinctive production using my cassette player over and over again just to hear the anthem for me, Par Ligande.

There’s not much more to say about this collection other than it was legendary and unfortunately listening to it all again, it highlights what I am missing from our industry today. Blame it on the new technology, on piracy or blame it on the lack of new talent.. I don’t care, this type of production will never die and I want it back.

17 years after Panjabi MC released his first album Souled Out, we see the 10th album release from the legendary Bhangra producer. I think it’s safe to say that without all of his releases, and I mean every single one, our industry wouldn’t be where it is today. I don’t mean to imply that our industry is up there in bright lights and enjoyed by the masses throughout the world but more to state that Panjabi MC has consistently year on year provided us with a collection of music that the Bhangra industry should be proud of. Having mentioned Souled Out, albums like 100% Proof, Grass Roots, Legalised and Desi having been nothing short of being one of the best albums within its time and always contained one if not more dancefloor anthem.

It’s been two years since Indian Timing was released and the anticipation for his newest release has been enormous. Since PMC dropped exclusives from the album at the BBC Asian Network London Mela on the 8th August, fans like me have been itiching to hear bangers like Moorni, Nach Di Di and Jodi. With the album being an eighteen, YES EIGHTEEN! track release, sceptics will say that some of the tracks aren’t up to the normal standard but I think the point that needs to be made is that not everyone of the eighteen tracks will suit each and every person. I think it’s also good to point out that this album is clearly progressive with PMC’s taste. Almost four tracks have been on a dance tip and he recently stated in a BBC interview that his next release will be heavily hip-hop with his own Panjabi MC touch which will cater for the mainstream. I personally think the album has some serious great tracks on it and the ones I like have been uploaded for you to listen above. Again as always, if you like the tracks then download from iTunes.

I think I can confidently say that Panjabi MC’s greatest album was Legalised. So ahead of its time and within it held the gem that would take the world by storm in ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’. At the time, although MTBK was an anthem, tracks like Mirza Part 2 and Ghalla Ghurian were the real diamonds. Have a listen below to the tracks I thought were the greatest from a pick of Panjabi MC’s earlier discography:

Souled Out (released in 1993)
Panjabi MC feat Meshi Eshara - Nach Ke
(The same production was to be used with the famous Kuldeep Manak vocals Ghariya Milan Deh on 100% Proof but I still like Meshi’s version)
Panjabi MC - Baah Phar Ni

100% Proof (released in 1995)
Panjabi MC feat Kuldeep Manak - Sarwan Phuter
Panjabi MC feat Mohd Saddiq - Jogi
(Unbelievable how this jam became a dancefloor hit after its official single release in 2003)

Grass Roots (released in 1996)
Panjabi MC feat Surinder Sonia - Raat Da Na Bole
(One of if not THE best track ever to be made by Panjabi MC, utilising Summertime to create an awesome smooth jam)
Panjabi MC feat Labh Janjua, Ranjit Mani, Surinder Shinda + Kuldeep Manak - Jind Mahi

Legalised (released in 2001)
Panjabi MC feat Lal Chand Yamla Jatt - Neuke Phadin Jawana
Panjabi MC feat Surinder Shinda - Mirza Part 2
(The second part to a series of great Mirza productions, although the first versions were top, this one was superb)
Panjabi MC feat Hema Sharma - Ghalla Ghurian

Narinder Biba + Hardev Dilgir - Chandigarh Rehan Waliye
What a classic from the year 1968 which makes the song more than 40 years old now. Produced by Bhulla Ram Chann and features on many albums including Hits of Narinder Biba, please enjoy one of my ultimate favourite folk panjabi tracks.

From Kahnu Athru Vhaundi, Mann Vich Vasna to Vichora Tera and Tappe, Dilshad Akhtar (Rest in Peace) was undoubtedly one of the greatest punjabi singers of all time. His slow songs were on another level and his talents are sorely missed.