Pataka Boys' Debut Album Is An Intersection Of Hip-Hop & The Indian Diasporic Experience

Pataka Boys, the unholy alliance of underground UK rap legends PAV4N and Sonnyjim with the Indian producer Kartik, have just dropped their debut album, Thugs From Amritsar, after building up anticipation with some electric single releases prior to this. Apart from being a stand-out hip-hop record, the album is also a full-on cultural collision.

From the jump, Thugs From Amritsar demands attention due to the sheet thought behind its inception. The album is a wild ride through India and the UK, blending hip-hop and the Indian diasporic experience, with Kartik’s beats serving as the perfect soundtrack to the duo’s lyrical acrobatics. He’s cooked up a sonic stew of classic soul samples featuring soundbites from Punjabi cinema as an entre along with bilingual rap verses heavy with metaphors; speaking to the lived experience of Indians.

The album opens with Black Sabbath, a track that pays homage to the iconic heavy metal band from Sonnyjim’s hometown of Birmingham. This song sets the stage for the album’s opulent aesthetic. Bappi Lahiri, one of the first tracks to come out, takes its name from the famous Bollywood musician and features a content-rich guest verse from M.O.N.G.O, a British-Bengali rapper from the cult UK crew Mud Fam. The track list continues with Megaloblast, where both emcees, Sonnyjim and PAV4N, detail their debaucherous escapades. PAV4N also references the late Indian rapper and singer Sidhu Moose Wala in the track. 

Each track on the album showcases the versatility of the production - every artist creates a different ambience and intent. Cheema Kalan merges cinematic elements of Blaxploitation and Bollywood genres, with Kartik’s slick production; amplifying Sonnyjim and PAV4N’s larger-than-life lyrics. Guddi Check maintains a menacing tone with Kartik’s moody instrumental while featuring incendiary guest verses in Hindi from the Indian rap duo Seedhe Maut. Ghosht Stories showcases Kartik’s off-kilter instrumental, providing a dynamic backdrop for PAV4N and M.O.N.G.O’s intricate and witty rhymes.

The artists also push themselves into giving something unexpected to their fans. Punjabi Munde is a landmark track for Sonnyjim, marking the first time he raps in Punjabi, inspired by his visit to India after 30 years. The dreamlike instrumental complements feature artist Sikander Khalon’s engaging verse. The album makes a lot of interesting cultural references. The track Dettwork South Asia reimagines the fabled debut album Dettwork SouthEast by UK hip-hop pioneer Blak Twang. Another track Bud Bud Ding Ding reclaims an old slur directed at the South Asian community in Britain, with Kartik’s morphing instrumental underpinning the rappers’ verses, and Juss Nandhra’s traditional Punjabi folk vocals closing the track on a high note. 

Donny Dakoo features Queens rapper Heems, formerly of Das Racist, on a brief, psychedelic journey where both artists deliver vivid verses reflecting their realities. Brown Sauce sees PAV4N’s choppy, tongue-twisting chorus paired with Sonnyjim’s light-hearted and playful references to classic hip-hop, including the famous Gang Starr lyric, “Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is.” The sentimental Roses features suave verses from Sonnyjim and PAV4N, reflecting on overcoming life’s challenges with grace. Ganaur Lemon Tree offers a contemplative insight into Sonnyjim’s psyche, with a stream-of-consciousness verse over Kartik’s wistful beat. The album concludes with a powerful track called Glassy Junction, an ode to the legendary Southall venue owned by Sonnyjim’s uncle. It begins with an old sound bite of a racist speech; capturing the ignorance of the British Empire and recalling the hardships faced by Indian families during their post-war immigration to the UK.

The album is packed with cameos from some serious heavyweights. M.O.N.G.O, Seedhe Maut, Sikander Khalon, and Heems all drop by to add their flavour, creating a truly international sound. It’s like a global hip-hop summit, and Pataka Boys are the hosts with the most. But Thugs From Amritsar is more than just a party. It’s a celebration of culture and identity. The album is full of nods to Indian and British culture, from references to Bollywood to shoutouts to Birmingham. It’s a record that speaks to the experiences of the South Asian diaspora, but it’s also universal enough to resonate with anyone who loves the storytelling and representative nature of hip-hop music.

Pataka Boys’s debut album is a game-changer. It’s a bold statement, a cultural touchstone, and a damn good listen. Produced on a broken laptop by Kartik he travelled between hospital waiting rooms, taxis and his parents’ home, the album is made by the people and for the people. It’s a sonic chronicle that captures the Indian experience and spirit with just enough throwbacks and references to our collective sound and history to sweeten the pot.

Follow Pataka Boys here and listen to the album below:

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