Beware of PMC

Of course, the hippest names in rap, Twista, Jay Z and 50 Cent have already rapped it up with their own versions. And what bigger accreditation does he need with vocals by one of Bollywood’s biggest divas on his tracks? For those who believe in Kazaa, check out the unreleased Backstabbers featuring Mark Morrison, Daz Dillinger, Snoop Dogg and the inimitable Asha Bhosle.

So how did one Asian DJ make people scream louder for his discs when DJs come dime a dozen? Born Rajinder Rai into a family of cloth merchants, PMC claims he’s been rapping since he was in school, when an Asian rapper was truly unheard of. Nobody wanted to touch him when he released his first single Rootz. Admitting that his sense of timing is his biggest strength—his ears instantly caught a bhangra twist in a track that gave him a taste of Rolling Stone success.

‘‘When I heard Buster Rhymes’ version of Knight Rider, I knew that it had to have a desi cut,’’ he explains. Mundian To Bach Ke spun to life.

Also one of the first Asians to use live desi music while DJing, PMC never lost touch with his roots. In fact, he came down to Ludhiana in 1995 to record vocals by bhangra lords Kuldeep Manak and Surinder Shinda. This was when Hootie and the Blowfish, Boyz II Men and TLC were topping Billboard charts.

We’re talking about a man who’s given Jind Mahi the status of a bhangra national anthem, walked away with some big awards this year including a World Music Award for biggest selling Indian artiste and Best Dance Act at MTV Europe Awards and with the UK Act of the Year— he’s certainly the Sir Mick of bhangra.

But no sexy swagger for our man. PMC is not your typical cool dude. No baggy jeans that beg for support, no spiky, multicoloured hair that’s been gelled to submission, no dog collars that spell his name, no perforated vest or even a skull cap that pass for signature symbols. Just some cool casual wear by Prada and a chunky Finnish Suumto watch, which he bought because tour promoters started tricking him with time and told him to play longer or wind up sooner.

Surprisingly, the Coventry-based 27-year-old hasn’t slipped into the ‘biggest DJ in da house’ groove’. More surprisingly, the Indian media chased boy bands at an awards function, leaving PMC with room to breathe. And unlike the freshly scrubbed, thoroughly recycled boy band members, PMC speaks his mind. ‘‘I don’t think I should be talking about a new label that I will launch next year or Rishi Rich will rip off that too,’’ he says, ‘‘I don’t have anything against him, but just know that he doesn’t know the basic skills of DJing—he’s a fake cut.’’ While Rishi Rich has his own massive fan following with his track Tere Naal Nachna, also featured on Boom’s soundtrack, he’s nowhere close to the PMC phenomenon.

And did you know that the Mundian… singer Iqbal Singh was a BBC cameraman? ‘‘Yeah, I bust some big drug deals,’’ says Singh with a wicked grin. ‘‘But we don’t know anything else about drugs,’’ cuts in PMC with a chuckle. Singh, who also penned the lyrics for Mundian, has been PMC’s associate and A&R man. ‘‘I’ve always taken Iqbal’s advice whenever I wanted to choose vocalists from India,’’ says PMC of the man who was previously a band manager for bands such as Safri Boys.

Bet you didn’t know that a supermarket once served as inspiration. ‘‘Me and my friends used to hang around a supermarket, that we used to call ‘The Tomb’ because it was shaped like a pyramid,’’ says PMC. If you thought that was bizarre, step back—long drives along Coventry have also set those sparks flying. Looking deep he says about his biggest inspirations: ‘‘Stevie sees music, John Brown becomes music, Aretha (Franklin) is music.’’ In typical Brit fashion the conversation turns to weather, and when PMC teams up with Singh the funnies just get better. The Bollywood freak in brought-up-on-Bacardi PMC rises when he admits how he dotes on the legendary Punjab da puttar Dharmendra. ‘‘Though I imitate him only when I’m drunk,’’ he winks.

With seven albums till date, PMC’s all set to release his next under his own label next April. ‘‘I have about 15 tracks ready, but I’d like to work with Ashaji this time around—the last time I didn’t have any money,’’ he says. Another composer that he’d love to work with is Bappi Lahiri. ‘‘I can see us becoming a big force, because we share the same sense of timing. I loved Sharaabi’s music and he has a great vibe,’’ says PMC who also idolises Panchamda. Bappi Lahiri has his own PMC fan club. ‘‘Panjabi MC is happening. I think he’s really talented. I heard Jay Z’s version of Mundian… when I was in Los Angeles and immediately knew he was a big hit. I’m definitely collaborating with him,’’ reacts Lahiri.

He’s pretty chilled out on the dance floor too, while everyone’s bhangra banging. Considering that he’s been touring since he turned 16, it’s now a smooth act that packs in at least 10 gigs a month. ‘‘So when I do holiday, it’s at home,’’ he reveals. Or Rajinder Rai is visiting his parents who also live in Coventry, like a good Punjabi boy. He admits that he’s married ‘‘only to the keyboard.’’ So it’s time to hit some sharp notes. How does a racy, G Minor sound to you?