Behti Hawa (Remix) - DJ Zedi - Review and Video

Song: Behti Hawa (Remix)

Artist: DJ Zedi

Review:

I long for the days where the hottest desi music from outside of India didn’t involve the use of a microphone in the production mix at all – it was great hip hop beats mixed with Bollywood melodies. BMW, Die Hard, Best of the Best, Lil’ Jay, Back II Basics, DJ Sunshine, DSNY… the list goes on. 

Unfortunately, the list kind of just stopped growing.

DJ Zedi is the revival of hip-hop-remixed Bollywood music. He’s not “trying” to be as good as the DJs of yesteryear, he’s killing it! This is one of my favorite remixes by this DJ, but I’m also a huge fan of the Lambi Judai Remix and the Tu Hi Haqeeqat Remix.

This song is my top pick for DJ Zedi because it retains such a balance between the two vastly different genres – it combines an airy, melodic Hindi track with a fun club-banging beat, weaving in out of the two songs so effortlessly. I love the strong climactic transitions on this track - this remix has its own pure identity separate from the two parent songs from which it was conceived.

I really hope that more DJs come out of the woodwork to drop some gems like this – this genre needs to be maintained!

Amplifier - Imran Khan - Review and Video

Song: Amplifier

Artist: Imran Khan

Review:

Even though this song is sick, it still makes me chuckle a little. Maybe that’s part of the reason I like it so much. These days, Asian UK pop is so serious – I like that Imran Khan adds a bit of levity to the genre – songs like “Bounce Billo” and “Ni Nachle” are just a lot of fun to listen to.

This track has a unique appeal in that it’s trend-setting – nobody calls his girl his subwoofer, and says that he’s her amplifier. Well, maybe they do now. In a genre filled with songs that have the same names (ie. dozens of songs called “Soniya”) and the same hook (ie. Bohemia and Punjabi MC both have a track whose lyrics are “Mundiya Nu Bachke Rahi”), “Amplifier” stands alone.

Making a statement is the premise of this track – Imran Khan very artistically poses his strengths in this track: better production, a futuristic sound, great lyrics, strong singing talent, holistic approach to music – and with his video, he’s screaming “oh, and I’ve got the funds to stay on top”. While his competition scrambles to get a catchier hook, the secret to Imran Khan’s success is the entire package of every song he releases.

I play this track a lot – I’ve got this habit of blasting music in the locker room at the gym to drown out the Miley Cyrus playing over the loudspeaker. Often, the track of my selection is Desi (though usually southern hip hop or dancehall) – and if it is, “amplifier” is on top of the list. It’s a song that no Desi can be embarrassed to play loudly out their car windows or whatever – it can go toe-to-toe with any radio jam and break a few toes while it’s at it. It appeals to women as it is a love ballad, and to men at is has a bad-ass beat.

If you don’t have this track, your music collection is crap. Love it, or stop listening to music!

Ra Ra (Run Dis City) - Roach Killa Ft. Blitz – Review and Video

Song: Ra Ra (Run Dis City)

Artists: Roach Killa Ft. Blitz

Review:

I hate to love this song. Why? It’s my experience that people get music wrong. I follow Roach Killa and Blitz on twitter and my god, this song has blown up. What that usually means to be is that the song sucks.

I was wrong: sick beat, a hook with an ode to both Tupac’s “Hail Mary” and KRS-1's "Sound of Da Police", great vocals, engaging composition (ie. great climax), and some smart lyrics to top it all off.

The song is too young for me to have had a strong personal connection to it yet, but it’s surely a necessary addition to #NiksDesiPicks. In 12 months’ time, I’ll be looking back at this song and saying it’s a must have for your party playlist, workout list and that it has a universal appeal to all who’ve heard it – I’ll have at least half a dozen anecdotal stories about this track.

Although I don’t think it’s going to be a breakout track for Roachkilla and Blitz into mainstream radio, I think it’s bound to dominate the UK Asian market – especially with its video montage of South Hall and major UK cities. Press releases indicate that Bollywood is pulling Roachkilla into the fold and he’ll soon be a mainstay in the Indian music scene as well.

Been a big fan of Roach since “Thora Thora” – his music is a tribute to our generation’s unique love of Desi culture. Watch this guy closely.

Akheer - Juggy D - Review and Video

Song: Akheer

Artist: Juggy D

Review:

I think Juggy D’s a pretty great artist – “Nasha” is one of my favorite tracks – but overall what really stands out about this guy is his good nature. His music demonstrates that he’s an incredibly positive person.  “Akheer” is Juggy D’s best track ever in my opinion – it’s a track that is more likely to have been released by Juggy S (Jagjit Singh) than Juggy D.

The song hits you with a perfect blend of instruments, carried mostly by a violin (kind of a Karnatik style approach) with tabla played at a rate you’d expect from a fast Kirthan or an intense qawwali moment – but it’s all subdued and carries beautifully into the lyrics and Juggy’s tone of voice.

Desis use the term “sweet” to describe a voice that is soothing to the ear, soothing to soul – Juggy is a quintessential example of a person with that type of voice.

While the song stands alone as sweet, rhythmic and melodic – it’s Juggy D’s effortless alaap sections that lend this song to a different level. I wish this track was released for a Bollywood film or in the Pakistani circuit because it would have done really well – maybe not when the track was created, but surely today.

I hope Juggy D makes more music like this – I’d buy it! And so would others. While the Punjabi market is saturated, it’s niches like ghazals that are underappreciated. When you’ve lost Jagjit Singh, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – and I can’t name the last time Ghulam Ali released a track – then there’s a gap that needs to be filled. While I find comfort knowing that Shujaat Khan is still making great music, it’d be nice to have some young blood enter the space as well – ideally somebody who will switch things up a bit.

Do it Juggy!

2 Step Bhangra - The Bilz ft Kashif & So D – Review and Video

Song: 2 Step Bhangra

Artist: The Bilz ft Kashif & So D

Review:

I listen to a lot of the music that gets play on the BBC Asian network and the whole radio "network" of the South Asian diaspora youth – to be honest, a lot of it wouldn’t make it on the radio if there wasn’t some ethnic nepotism going on.

But - this song stands out as a track that could have made it even if those radio stations never existed.  The flow, the beat, the hook, lyrics, mixing, production – it’s Bad Boy level.  Remember that little outfit that created the artist Notorious B.I.G.?  Well, this is the type of music they were best known for in the 90’s – party anthems.

I love this track and no party playlist is complete without it – desi or not.  Must have for all DJs.  Play on fellas!