Bohemia (musician)

BOHEMIA
Background information
Born	Lahore, Punjab
Genres	Desi Hip Hop / Rap
Years active	2002–present.
Labels	Universal Music Group Pvt. Ltd. India
Associated acts	Akshay Kumar, Pritam, Bally Sagoo, Malkit Singh, Mika Singh, Snoop Dogg
Website	Bohemia's Official Site

Known world wide as the creator of Punjabi rap music, Bohemia is a Pakistani American Punjabi rapper and a music producer from California, Bohemia quickly gained popularity in 2003 with his independent debut album, ‘Vich Pardesan De (In The Foreign Land)’ which hit the Top 10 on BBC Radio 1 UK. The following album, ‘Pesa Nasha Pyar’, became the first full-length Punjabi-rap album released by a major label in history. It brought Bohemia increased popularity, including his recent multi-record deal with music mogul Universal Music Group Pvt. Ltd. India. It also brought his creation of Punjabi rap to mainstream recognition making Bohemia known as pioneer of a new genre of music: Desi-Hip-Hop or Desi-rap. In 2006 ‘Pesa Nasha Pyar’ hits #2 on Maxim magazine’s Top 10 downloads, and #3 on Planet M chart. Bohemia appears in XXL magazine New York. He enters Bollywood in 2009 with the title track for Warner Bros. feature film ‘Chandni Chowk to China’, Bohemia appeared in the film with Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone.. He most recently lends his voice for the film Desi Boyz. Bohemia raps to set the scene for Sanjay Dutt's cameo along with, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangda Singh . ‘Da Rap Star’, his third album receives 4 nominations at the UK Asian music awards and PTC Punjabi music awards, including ‘Best Punjabi Album’ and ‘Best Music Director’. ‘Da Rap Star’ also remains #1 on Planet M chart India for several weeks. Bohemia then went on touring for the rest of 2009 performing all over Europe, Asia and America. He has appeared on many of Universal India’s mega-compilations including "The Chart busters" where he appears on three tracks. Universal called this compilation The biggest hits in Punjabi on one massive album! Bohemia is one of the best-selling artists of the year, making him the flagship artist of Universal Music Group India.

Bohemia was ranked 25th on Desiclub.com’s list of the 50 Coolest Desis. “Ek Tera Pyar”, his second single from ‘Da Rap Star’ entered the B4U Top 10 chart, becoming the first none film track to do so. Bohemia was amongst the top 100 most searched Asian artists on yahoo.com. He has been featured on over 30 major label compilations and collaborations to date.

Bohemia is #3 on the Top 15 Desi Atists of the Decade. "This list is like no other" says Urban Desi radio. The list features artists that came onto the urban Desi scene and changed it forever. He is currently preparing his 4th solo studio album for a release in 2012.

Bohemia Biography

Bohemia performing live Houston,TX USA

Born in Lahore Pakistan, he moved to the United States during his teen years. He started learning music at a very young age from his father. He started writing Punjabi poetry around then as well. After moving to San Francisco Bay Area California, USA at about 14 years of age, Bohemia was introduced to America that was much the opposite of palm trees and green grass. The town was infested with drugs and violence. About a year later being in the states, he lost his mother to cancer. At that time, Bohemia left home and survived as a local musician. He started working as a instrument|keyboard]] player/music arranger while living at local studios with other musicians. After a few years of success, the local group of musicians fell apart and Bohemia left to pursue music on his own. Bohemia soon started putting his poetry to the music he composed and gave birth to a new genre of music. He is now the most successful Punjabi rappers of all time. His music has changed the Desi music scene forever and has spread all over the world. A number of up and coming artists consider Bohemia as there biggest inspiration as they embrace the genre of Urdu/Punjabi Rap. Bohemia has mentioned numerous times in his interview that he does not belong to any cultures, or represent any religions. He considers himself to be someone who came from the streets, struggled with the world, and made it to where most people die before reaching.

Making of a Pioneer

About Bohemia the Punjabi rapper. The term “Bohemia” suggests flouting traditional mores. And rap is all about personal angst or feelings. So what is Bohemia the man all about? “Well, I lost my mom when I was just 14 or 15, and I was quite a momma’s boy. That made me mad and I was kind of pushed into negative things. I have to thank God for music, for that’s what finally made me wake up and gave a reason to live. Dad played the harmonium and I learned the keyboard.”

He goes on, “When we moved to the U.S., and after losing my mom, I left home. I was virtually living in recording studios and sleeping in cars. And when a friend of mine who was also a musician was murdered and replaced by another musician just as easily as if he was a broken instrument, I was mad again. I told the studio engineer that I was through with being a keyboard player who could go into anonymity if he died tomorrow. I wanted to leave my own music behind”.

Bohemia’s first album was Vich Pardesan De 2003, which was about coming to a foreign land. Hip Hop was then limited to the underground. But with this album, he pioneered Punjabi rap. Then came Pesa Nasha Pyar (Money, Intoxication, Love) 2006, the first-ever full-length Desi rap album to be released worldwide on a major music label (Universal Music Group).

Da Rap Star, his new album he says, “is all me, without any samples used other than my tribute track to Malkit Singh. I am showing off how good a producer I am! I have played all the instruments keyboards, drums and did all the sequencing. There are tracks that describe my journey. To sum up, it’s me saying, ‘I’m me! Look, I’m still here!’”

Through his experiences, come raw raps depicting not just California street life, but a life many south Asians lead in America. Bohemia looks up to artists such as late Jagjit Singh and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and rapper's like Nas and KRS-One.

After having burnt up music charts with his Bollywood songs, Bohemia's highly awaited album Da Rap Star has finally released. Da Rap Star, written and produced entirely by Bohemia hit #1 on the Planet M chart India and is nominated as the Best Punjabi Album at the UK Asian music awards.

Bohemia India Tour 2011

A game-changing musician and an impervious artist, Bohemia started his career as a near-novelty, a Desi teenager from California, delivering, hardcore rap music, a style of music which was unheard of at the time. But within a few years he has pretty much reinventing the Desi pop music scene and influenced not only youth to start rhyming Punjabi lyrics to hip-hop beats, but the Bollywood superstars as well. According to press releases and twitter updates, Bohemia is currently visiting India for a month and a half long tour. The tour started March 11th. in Delhi with Bohemia headlining at Amity International University and will take Bohemia through Delhi with events planned in Mumbai and Punjab as well. The tour is being handled by YS Events, Bohemia's official management for the past two years in the South Asian countries.

Bohemia India Tour 2012

"The New year's Eve bash at The Parkland Retreat New Delhi saw a power packed performance by international Punjabi sensation Bohemia, with over 1000 fans who were left asking for more. The crowd, which comprised mostly youngsters was seen grooving to the foot-tapping music at the Magic Moments Remix Night, which went on well into the wee hours with guests in no mood to return". HTC

Bohemia Confilict and Controversy

Bohemia's music shakes Bollywood producers

Anu Malik, Pritam even Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy upset when Bohemia composed music for Chandni Chowk to China. According to Times of India,"... a source said, There is no denying that Bohemia give good music but it is unfair to the music directors of the films if any other group is asked to compose music at the eleventh hour. Anu and Pritam's annoyance is justified. Even Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy were miffed when Bohemia composed music for Chandni Chowk to China, but they let it pass..."

Bohemia and Bally Sagoo

Chandigarh, Nov 28 2010 (IANS) Calling Britain-based musician Bally Sagoo a 'joker', American Punjabi rapper Bohemia Sunday accused him of taking undue advantage of his popularity and making wrong statements in the media.

Bohemia was visibly irritated with the recent statement of Bally in which he had claimed to bring the rapper into the limelight.

'It is wrong to say that Bally Sagoo brought me to the limelight. I am here only because of my own talent and creativity. In fact Bally used me to gain audiences and to create hype during his own shows. He is telling a lie. He is not a musician or a lyricist, he has not even written a single line till date,' said Bohemia, while talking to reporters here Sunday.

'But yes, he brought musicians from different countries to the forefront. Bally had money and he could do this. But I was only 16 when I left my home. I had no money and I was on the streets but today I am charging three times money as compared to Bally for a show.'

Bohemia was in this union territory to perform on the concluding day of the three-day Chandigarh carnival Sunday evening

'Bally is a joker, he wanted to use me as hype. He never made music and people like him are always afraid of me. Initially, I thought all of them were like me but nobody can compare me with them,' Bohemia said.

'I scrapped my relations with Bally during a show in the US. I was just over with my power-packed performance in which I had actually screamed my heart out. Immediately after it, Bali wanted me to go on stage because he was not confident about his own performance. I refused and ended my relationship with him.'

The controversy increased when Bohemia also condemned the Universal Music Group Pvt. Ltd. India.

'Universal music also tells people that they have made Bohemia, it is again wrong. I cannot give any credit to Bally or to Universal. I have 100 percent rights on my music, concept and lyrics; even the graphics and fonts on the CD cover are also decided by me. I only needed them to distribute my music,' Bohemia said.

Bohemia's Albums

• 2002: Vich Pardesian De (In the foreign lands)
• 2006: Pesa Nasha Pyar (Money Addiction Love) UMG India Pvt. Ltd.
• 2009: Da Rap Star UMG India Pvt. Ltd. (Nominated for 4 Int'l Music Awards)

Bohemia in Bollywood

• Chand Chowk to China

Bohemia wrote and produced the title track for Warner Bros. Chandni Chowk to China is a Hindi film directed by Nikhil Advani. Bohemia appears in the film for the title track along with stars Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone. The soundtrack of CC2C was launched by T-Series known as the #1 music company of India.

• 8 x 10 Tasveer

Akshay teams up with Bohemia for a song in 8 x 10 Tasveer of Percept Picture Company, says, "...Bohemia is a very popular rap artist and we are very happy that he has given his music for our film. The Name Of the Song is "I got the picture"8 x 10 Tasveer, starring Julian S. Low, Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore, Javed Jaffrey, and Anant Mahadevan is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. The music for the film 8 x 10 Tasveer is launched by T-Series.

• Speedy Singhs

Speedy Singhs (also known as Breakaway) is an 2011 Sports film directed by Robert Lieberman, starring Vinay Virmani, Russell Peters, Camilla Belle, and Anupam Kher. Akshay Kumar, Drake ,and Ludacris make cameo appearances. The film is produced by Paul Gross and Akshay Kumar.

• Desi Boyz

In Desi Boyz, Bohemia raps to set the scene for Sanjay Dutt's cameo as he walks in the courtroom. Film also stars Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangda Singh. Music by Pritam.

External links

• Official Website
• / Bohemia at Universal Music Group
• Bohemia on Twitter
• Bohemia on Facebook
• Bohemia on Youtube