24
Jan
2010
Old School Sunday – Mark Morrison “Blackstabbers”
I couldn’t resist. Another Panjabi MC produced track, but with a twist, as there is nothing in Punjabi on this track besides the Alaap sample in the background.
Released in 2004, this track made its rounds everywhere. There’s nothing more I wish to add, besides these lyrics:
Who’s supposed to be ya friend?
The one that be down to the end
So what they do they stab you in the back?
What I’m supposed to do, Stab em back?
10
Jan
2010
Old School Sunday – Panjabi MC “Raat Da Na Bole”
It’s bloody cold, so I figured I bump a little summertime tuneage to heat things up a little.
I have three copies of this album. Back in 1996, this was the only thing I listened to for months.
Grass Roots, had just released when I was visiting the UK in May, 1996. I bought the cassette, which had the original six songs on it, and rinsed it back in Canada.
A few months later, upon visiting my favourite record store in Brampton (Spark Audio/Video – These guys had everything) I discovered the limited edition cassette, which featured two tracks that were only available on CD. (I was a late adopter of CDs you can say.)
Finally, I got my hands on the CD.
With Surinder Sonia on the vocals, it ended up being this track that became my favourite cut on the album. I’m a sucker for songs that make me feel like I’m in the Pind, without the song sounding that pindoo itself. Add the Will Smith “Summertime” sample, and we have a hit.
Panjabi MC featuring Surinder Sonia
Dude is making us wait far too long in between albums these days.
10
Sep
2009
Panjabi MC in Perth, Australia
Panjabi MC was recently DJing at a gig in Perth, Australia, and he posted up a couple of videos of himself in action.
Back in the day, I used to hear people saying that PMC would mix his songs before gigs, and then just press play. Clearly, today that is not the case.
PMC mixing “Main Hogaya Sharabbi” with “Crack a Bottle”
PMC mixing “Jogi” with “Hip Hop is Dead”
“Jogi” has been one of my favourite PMC joints since he first released it on “100% Proof” back in 1995. To this day, whenever I have it on, and my mum is around, she’ll still reminisce by saying “this song was performed live by Mohammad Sadiq and Ranjit Kaur at your Mamma Ji’s wedding in India in 1976.”
3
May
2009
Old School Sunday – PJD Productions “Giddyan de Rani”
Reaching back to 1996, this track came about in the era that Tru-Skool was talking about when he released “In Tha House” recently. Straight up punjabi tunes mashed with a popular Hip-Hop/R&B beat.
I rinsed this tape for months, as it had some popular mixes of some real folk tunes (“Lambran di Noh,” “Umbh da Boota,” “Main Ki Pyare Vichon.”)
This track effectively used the Shabba Ranks sample “Mr. Loverman” with a small taste of Zhanés “Hey Mr. DJ” at the end.
As far as I know, it was the only release by DJ Stin Mattu and DJ Eezback. When I picked up this tape and looked at the inside cover, I saw that it was recorded at PMC Studios. To this day, I feel like PMC has had a hand in the production, since some of the tracks and samples Panjabi MC has used, are in this album.
July 19, 2009 Edit: I got an email from DJ Stin (yes this DJ Stin) that he is DJ Stin Mattu. Dude has made mad albums since then!
1
Apr
2009
Panjabi MC “Panjaban” Video
Panjabi MC’s second video off of “Indian Timing” is here, and of all the tracks on the album, I’m surprised that he picked this one.
It’s a somewhat standard video, barring the fact it’s not based in a club, but no Jelhi in the video either. Come on P, let’s see Jelhi!
I wasn’t feeling this track on the album, and the video hasn’t changed my opinion about it either. Hopefully, in the next video we’ll see some of the bangers from the album (Indian Timing, Can’t Stop Us.)
What’s your take?
22
Mar
2009
Old School Sunday – Panjabi MC “Laila”
You guys are in for a treat today, because this is some rare stuff.
Back in the 90’s when I was a young lad with no drivers license, I would jump at the chance when anyone was making a trip to Malton. Back then where I was living, Malton was the closest (and best) place to buy the latest UK Bhangra cassettes.
I have been into PMC’s work since “Souled Out” was released, but became in awe of him when I was in the UK in 1996, and “Grass Roots” had just come out, and we all know how Grass Roots pretty much shaped PMC into what he is today.
Summer of 1996 (visiting Malton,) after I had come back from the UK, I was looking into the glass case where all the cassettes were kept in the store, and the above cover caught my eye. I had no clue who Ambi Bilga was, (he is in fact Jazzy B’s UK Manager) or that Sukshinder Shinda produced the album, or even Sardara S. Gill was featured on one of the songs. I saw PMC and Kuldeep Manak and my eyes lit up. Needless to say, I had never coughed up six dollars so fast.
I Grabbed the keys to the car, ripped off the plastic wrapping, and let my ears enjoy the blissful sounds of side A, track 1 – “Laila.”
Probably one of my favourite PMC tracks of all time. Just the right amount of underlying bass blended with a traditional beat to perfection.
This isn’t the first time Panjabi MC has done a track on someone else’s album. In 1995, he also did a “Megamix” on Santara’s “Take It” album, but it wasn’t at the well-crafted-level as this track.
The song was previewed on “Dhol Crusader,” as it was officially to be on Kuldeep Manak’s “Punjab” album, released later that year. One can only imagine, had this track been on “Grass Roots,” and had more people been able to listen to it, what kind of reaction it would have received.
27
Jan
2009
The Great Khali Entrance Music (By Panjabi MC)
A Bhangraw.com first. I’m talking about wrestling!
I haven’t watched wrestling since the days of Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake (Not something I wanted to admit. Why didn’t I say The Ultimate Warrior?) However, I was familiar with the fact that there is a Panjabi wrestler currently in the WWE.
The Great Khali aka Dalip Singh, with the aide of Panjabi MC, is bringing his culture to the WWE circuit with him.
“Land of Five Rivers” is sung by Kulvinder Johal and has got PMC bringing some entrance theme heat. P said he had big things in the pipeline, and this is definitely an accomplishment.
I’ve listened to the song a couple of times, and people have already said that the production is rather simple on the track. I’m digging the song and the production. It’s got the echoey acoustics going on because of where the song will be played, in arenas. The song title is also fantastic. Let people know about the Panjab.
Check out the video for his entrance. The song is on the “Voices – WWE: The Music Vol. 9″ album. Officially releasing today, it can be purchased at the WWE Store.
Edit – WWE took the first Video down. So here is a different one featuring the song.
8
Dec
2008
Thoughts on “Indian Timing”
The fans have spoken up, and the general consensus is that UK Bhangra needs saving. The situation at times seem dire, but then you have a month like November, when two huge acts (Tigerstyle and PMC) each put out an album around the same time, and you think to yourself “We’re saved.”
Panjabi MC hadn’t released an album of original work since “Steel Bangle” in 2005, and whenever the man releases an album, he brings the funk.
He goes on record saying that the album is basically a number of songs he has produced and refined while he was on tour across the world.
“Snake Charmer” has been out for a few years. In fact, you could scope out some YouTube videos of PMC playing it in the clubs to a frenzied reception.
Another story I heard was that “Bhet Ke Roh Len De” came together when “Sharpp,” a U.S. based MC stalked and pleaded with P to put him on the album. PMC complied and coupled him with a tea server he heard singing to himself in India.
Glimpses into stories like that help add to the sentiment that PMC is indeed an elite producer.
Is this Panjabi MC’s best work to date? No. It isn’t close to the level of “Legalised.” I found that while listening to the album, there were quite a few harmonies that had been recycled, as well as a lot of sounds that I was familiar with in his previous recordings. “Aaja Sohniya (Part 1)” has a ridiculous resemblance to “Mirza Part 2.”
Is this album better than 85% of the kitschy stuff released this year? Yes.
But I still find myself questioning the brilliantness of this album.
Do we like the album because the album comes from a person that has generated so many hits for us in the past that almost anything he releases is like the Midas touch so to speak?
Would we have the same feelings towards some of the songs on the album if anyone else’s name was on the cover besides Panjabi MC?
I get stuck at those questions, because I truly believe that PMC hasn’t transcended. He still has his best work still left in him. My only hope is that the industry is still around the next time he decides to release something.
Top 5 Tracks
08. Indian Timing (Jeona Morh)
01. Can’t Stop Us
03. Snake Charmer
07. Kee Lagh Da
14. Boliyan
Buy Indian Timing here
30
Nov
2008
Old School Sunday – Panjabi MC “Mundian To Bach Ke”
In honour of Panjabi MC releasing “Indian Timing” last week, I thought I’d put this up a few weeks later a la my own Indian Timing.
This is one of the biggest tracks the industry has ever produced as well as being off of Panjabi MC’s best album, the song “Mundian To Bach Ke” needs little to be written about it.
Despite the controversy surrounding how the song came about, the story behind the video is much more simple. According to PMC (and I’m paraphrasing here,) he was driving along and he saw the video of the song playing, and he asked himself “Where did that come from?” The label had just slapped together a video to take advantage of the songs popularity.
With vocals provided by Labh Janjua, the original incarnate of what later became a genre crossing sensation, was taken from the album “Legalised” released in 1998.
This song is 10 years old! Unbelievable.
11
Nov
2008
Panjabi MC – “Snake Charmer” Video
PMC’s first video for the upcoming album “Indian Timing.” This song has been out for a couple of years, and now it is the lead single.
The album is set for release on November 17, 2008.
