Posts Tagged ‘Labh Janjua’

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.

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