"It’s always exciting to see different talents coming together."
We have witnessed a remarkable fusion of cultures in this new age of Punjabi music.
More than ever, Western artists and Punjabi singers are coming together to create unique sounds that transcend geographical boundaries.
These collaborations have boosted the popularity of Punjabi music globally and injected new life into it.
From hip-hop to Afrobeats to R&B, Punjabi artists have blended their sound with artists worldwide.
Join DESIblitz as we dive into 10 Punjabi artists who collaborated with Western artists.
Diljit Dosanjh
Diljit Dosanjh has been a trailblazer in the Punjabi music industry, opening many doors for the artists following him.
His work with Western artists has diversified the Punjabi music scene and allowed it to resonate with new audiences.
In 2024, he has released tracks with three different Western artists.
His song ‘Khutti’, featuring American rapper Saweetie, amassed over 30 million streams and created a lot of euphoria due to the unexpected collaboration.
In an interview, Saweetie said: “My favourite collaboration is my Punjabi collaboration.
“What I love about it is that it exposed me to a different culture. There were words I had to pronounce in a certain way.
“I had to learn what they meant. His team was great. He was great, and I appreciate that.”
Diljit also collaborated with Sia, where they made the song ‘Hass Hass’ and NLE Choppa on the song ‘Muhammad Ali.’
These tracks have been very successful and are a testament to Diljit’s universal appeal.
AP Dhillon
AP Dhillon had a very successful 2024, with the release of his EP The Brownprint and The Brownprint India 2024 tour.
His success highlights his ability to mix Eastern and Western influences and create music that appeals to a global audience.
His song ‘Bora Bora’, featuring Nigerian artist Ayra Starr, was one of the standout tracks on The Brownprint.
The song brought the Afrobeat sound to the Indian subcontinent and merged it with the soulful elements of Punjabi music.
Since the song’s release, rumours have circulated that AP Dhillon and Ayra Starr have been dating. They were spotted together at a party in New York.
AP also released the song ‘Problems Over Peace’ with UK star Stormzy.
Stormzy sets the scene for the song when he says: “This is what happens when you mix Punjab Royalty with South London’s finest.”
This song was released just days before his debut Coachella performance and marks the artist’s growing profile and contribution to making Punjabi music popular in Western markets.
Karan Aujla
Karan Aujla has become one of the most prominent figures in the Punjabi music industry.
In 2024, he reached significant milestones, and his It Was All A Dream world tour solidified how his music has captivated global audiences.
His song with American rapper YG, ‘Gangsta’, was released in 2022 as part of his EP, Way Ahead.
The song has over 70 million views on YouTube, and fans have praised the track.
One fan said: “Best composition, fire voice, lyrics always different, back-to-back hits.”
Another said: “This is a new era of the Punjabi music industry called the Aujla era.”
His song with Canadian artist Preston Pablo, ‘Admirin’ You,’ has been among his most successful tracks, gaining over 11 million YouTube views in its first 24 hours.
The song marks a successful fusion of Western sounds with the Punjabi language and is a significant stepping stone in his journey to becoming a global phenomenon.
Guru Randhawa
Guru Randhawa has taken Punjabi music from regional charts to Bollywood chartbusters.
His collaboration with Pitbull in 2019 raised the bar and made him an international sensation.
Their song ‘Slowly Slowly’ was a significant achievement in his career and was one of the first major crossovers between Punjabi pop and international music.
Combining Guru’s smooth vocals and Pitbull’s signature rap style, the song blends Indian and Western musical influences.
Upon its release, it broke records and became one of the fastest Indian music videos to surpass 100 million views on YouTube.
The music video was filmed in Miami and displayed tropical vibes that matched the song’s upbeat rhythm.
Speaking about the collaboration, Guru said: “It’s a dream come true to work with Pitbull.
“Bringing the global culture together with music is something that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Pitbull reflected on the song: “The track has a vibe that connects with everyone, no matter the language.
“It was great working with Guru and exploring new sounds.”
Sidhu Moose Wala
Sidhu Moose Wala left an indelible imprint with his diverse music, which merged hip-hop, reggae, and the traditional Punjabi sound.
His global reach was further propelled through social media, where he culminated millions of followers and often teased new tracks.
This was especially prevalent on his YouTube channel, which became a hub for his fans. His music videos often received millions of views within hours of their release.
The Punjabi diaspora has been instrumental in his success. He frequently spoke about issues that affect Punjabi communities, making him relatable and a beloved figure.
In 2019, he dropped the song ‘47’ with UK artists MIST and Stefflon Don.
Steel Banglez, an artist of Punjabi descent, produced this. It was a passion project to highlight his Asian heritage and its influence on his productions.
MIST has often incorporated Punjabi slang into his music, and Stefflon Don has always been a musical chameleon.
This combination seamlessly united UK rap and Punjabi music.
The song has over 90 million views on YouTube and is a testament to Sidhu’s global stardom.
Yo Yo Honey Singh
Yo Yo Honey Singh has been breaking barriers and providing chartbusters in his career.
He has been a pioneer in bringing hip-hop and rap to Bollywood music.
His energetic style and catchy beats have launched his music globally, making him a household name.
The ‘High Heels’ and ‘Angreji Beat’ singer has composed and written numerous chart-topping songs.
Many of these have featured this blend of rap and Punjabi vocals, bringing a fresh sound to the Indian music scene.
Honey Singh collaborated with US artist Lil Pump, who made the song ‘Casanova.’
The music video was shot in a Dubai nightclub and was a promotional track for the web series 7th Sense.
The song had over £5.4 million invested into it, and the pre-production took over three months.
However, this level of investment paid off, as the song hit Number One on the international charts after its release.
Badshah
Badshah’s big break came with the release of his song ‘Angreji Beat’ with Yo Yo Honey Singh.
He then achieved individual success with his song ‘Kar Gayi Chull’ for the film Kapoor and Sons (2016).
Since then, his career has skyrocketed, and he is renowned for combining Punjabi rhythms with hip-hop and providing catchy songs appealing to a broad audience.
His first collaboration with a Western artist was with electronic music group Major Lazer on the song ‘I Wanna Be Free.’
This was part of Tuborg OPEN – a global collaborative music platform that invites producers to discover music and culture.
Badshah said: “It’s always exciting to see different talents coming together.
“I bring my own sound style, and Major Lazer brings their own sound and style. It’s an experiment.
“It’s also necessary because music is being consumed at such a pace because of easy availability on the internet.”
He also assured fans, “What I have done is entirely Indian. I was very careful not to give into the English and international thing.
“I wanted to represent India, and it was an opportunity to represent my creative identity.”
Mickey Singh
Mickey Singh is an Indo-American artist known for blending R&B, hip-hop and Punjabi music.
His songs became an instant hit, showcasing Mickey’s ability to bridge two worlds.
He collaborated with British artist RIKA on the track ‘Left to Love,’ an electro-pop song with R&B vibes.
Blended with Mickey Singh’s smooth vocals, RIKA’s voice created a soulful track that appeals to a broad audience.
The music video was shot in lockdown and features both artists filming from their houses on iPhones.
RIKA said: “I’m really proud of this music video. Despite the situation, it has pushed us to think outside the box.
“We filmed the video from two separate continents; Mickey resides in the US and myself in the UK.”
Mickey’s unique sound has made him a standout in the Indian music industry, and his impact continues to be felt globally.
Panjabi MC
Panjabi MC is a renowned British-Indian music producer and a pioneer of the Bhangra hip-hop genre.
He has been instrumental in making Punjabi music popular globally, and his contributions have transformed South Asian music is perceived internationally.
His breakthrough came with the release of his single ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’ in 1998.
This track became an international sensation and caught the attention of listeners worldwide.
‘Mundian To Bach Ke’ became such a massive hit that it gained popularity in both the mainstream and South Asian music charts.
Jay-Z remixed it and added a rap verse, boosting its global reach and recognition.
Panjabi MC said: “[Jay-Z] heard the track and liked the bass.
“He felt it was the best Indian music he had ever heard and approached us to do two versions of the track.”
Jay Sean
Jay Sean, born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, is one of the most prominent South Asian artists in mainstream Western music.
His success on the international stage, especially in the United States, has distinguished him from his peers and led to some great collaborations.
His breakthrough came with the release of his debut album, Me Against Myself, which was primarily focused on R&B and hip-hop.
However, his second album, My Own Way, propelled him to global stardom. This album contained his song ‘Down’ featuring the acclaimed rapper Lil Wayne.
The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot 100, making Jay Sean the first South Asian artist to top the American charts.
Jay said: “The Lil Wayne feature was a beautiful moment I will never forget.
“That verse is epic and one of the most famous rap feature verses on any pop song – everybody knows the lyrics.”
These collaborations between Punjabi singers and Western artists play a massive part in shaping the contemporary global music scene.
They have introduced many people to Punjabi music and created innovative tracks blending a range of genres.
The results are memorable and uplifting tracks which are perfect for fans of Punjabi music to listen to.
You will be humming these numbers long after they have ended.
As Punjabi music continues to boom, it is exciting to see what the next musical fusion will sound like and how Punjabi music continues to influence the mainstream music space.
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