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{{More footnotes|date=March 2015}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Panjabi MC}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Panjabi MC
|background = solo_singer
|image = London Mela 2010, Panjabi MC crop.jpg
|caption =Panjabi MC performing at [[Boishakhi Mela|London Mela]] in August 2010
|birth_name = Rajveer Singh Dhami
|birth_place = [[Coventry]], England
|birth_date = {{birth_date and age|df=yes|1973|2|14}}
|genre = [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[alternative hip hop]], [[trip hop]], [[Asian Underground]]
|occupation = Musician
|years_active = 1993–present
|label = Superstar Recordings (Germany) [[Urban Records]] PMC Records (UK) [[Universal Records|Universal]] (India) [[Ultra Music]]
|associated_acts = [[Jay-Z]], [[Twista]], [[Snap!]], [[Labh Janjua]], [[Warren G]]
|website ={{url|pmcrecords.com}}
}}

'''Rajveer Dhami''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: ਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ; born 14 February 1973), better known by his stage name '''Panjabi MC''', is a [[United Kingdom|British Indian]] recording artist, rapper, producer and DJ of [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] ethnicity. He is best known for the worldwide [[bhangra (music)|bhangra]] hit "[[Mundian To Bach Ke]]", which sold 10 million copies worldwide, making it [[List of best-selling singles|one of the best-selling singles of all time]]. Among other songs, he gained acclaim with the 2003 release "[[Jogi (Panjabi MC song)|Jogi]]". [[AllMusic]] has called him "one of the most prominent names in bhangra".<ref>{{cite web|author=Andy Kellman |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/panjabi-mc-mn0000004623/biography |title=Panjabi MC | Biography & History |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |date=1973-02-14 |access-date=2016-02-28}}</ref>

==Career==
Rajveer Dhami adopted his stage name from the [[Punjabi language]] he used in the music he plays and [[rapping]].<ref>[http://www.pmcrecords.com/index.php?page=414901]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120190925/http://www.pmcrecords.com/index.php?page=414901|date=20 November 2007}}</ref> "One of [his] main goals is to fuse the two worlds [of [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]] and [[hip-hop]]]."<ref name="VV">{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0327,chadha,45230,1.html|title=Mix This Young South Asians' Love-Hate Relationship with Hip-Hop's New Bengali Beats|work=Village Voice |publisher=Villagevoice.com|access-date=2015-05-30}}</ref>

[[Nachural Records]] signed Panjabi MC following a [[remix]] of [[Kuldeep Manak]]'s "Ghariah Milan De". Although the single was taken off the market, Panjabi MC continued making records. Another successful release was "[[Mundian To Bach Ke]]" ("Beware of the Boys") (1998; it first appeared on the album ''Legalised'') which mixed the [[theme music|theme]] of the TV series ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'' with [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]]. An underground hit on the internet, it was picked up by the German record label Superstar Recordings, and became a [[hit record]] in Germany and across Europe, including the UK. A version of this recording in 2003 featured American rapper [[Jay-Z]] titled "[[Beware of the Boys]]".

His work, particularly the early singles and the "Mundian To Bach Ke" remix with [[Jay-Z]], brought [[bhangra (music)|bhangra]] to a global audience via the [[BBC]]. He continues to produce and remix music. In 2004, he made music called "Mirza" and mixed this song with [[Turkish people|Turkish]] singer [[Mustafa Sandal]]'s "[[Isyankar]]", but they did not release the mixed version.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/nr6_britishasianmusic.pdf |format=PDF |title=Asian Allstars |access-date=28 December 2007 |last=Verma |first=Rahul |publisher=British Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817205455/http://www.britishcouncil.org/nr6_britishasianmusic.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

His album ''Indian Timing'' was released in 2008. His music video "[[Snake Charmer (song)|Snake Charmer]]" was screened at Deejay Ra's music video night in [[Toronto]] at the FILMI festival, [[North America]]'s longest running South Asian film festival.

The remix of "Mundian To Bach Ke" with Jay-Z appears on the soundtrack of the 2021 Netflix film ''[[The White Tiger (2021 film)|The White Tiger]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 27, 2021|title=The White Tiger - 2021 Netflix Movie Features Panjabi MC & JAY-Z|url=http://www.panjabi-mc.com/1/post/2021/01/the-white-tiger-2021-netflix-movie-features-panjabi-mc-jay-z.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Panjabi MC|language=en}}</ref>

==Sampling==
On ''Indian Timing'', Panjabi MC uses vocal samples from [[Ofra Haza]] "[[Im Nin'Alu]]". He used "[[Planet Rock (song)|Planet
Rock]]" ("Pyar Wich (Planet Rock Remix)" on the album ''Legalised'') before [[Afrika Bambaataa]] recorded "Indian Planet Rock". On "''Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee''", Panjabi MC uses the theme music from the TV show ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'' "Mundian To Bach Ke" (along with the subsequent remix version featuring [[Jay Z]], "Beware of the Boys") uses the bassline from the television show ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]''.<ref name="VV"/>

==Television work==
In 2001, Panjabi MC made his Canadian premiere at the Payal Banquet Hall in Mississauga (Ontario). Deejay Ra hosted a TV special covering the event entitled "The Bhangramentary", which was aired on the Asian Television Network (ATN). His single, "Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee", from ''Beware'', was featured on the television show ''[[Heroes (U.S. TV series)|Heroes]]'' (episode 2, ''[[Don't Look Back (Heroes)|Don't Look Back]]'', which aired 2 October 2006). The single "Mundian To Bach Ke" was featured in an episode of ''[[Queer as Folk (North American TV series)|Queer as Folk]]'' and in the 2002 movie ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]''. It also features in the BAFTA-nominated film ''[[The White Tiger (2021 film)|The White Tiger]]'' in 2020. The song "Yaaran Kollon Sikh Kuriye" was featured in the show ''[[Wild Boyz]]'' as a music video. Panjabi MC has appeared on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', from which the video to "[[Mundian To Bach Ke]]" began to appear on music channels across the globe.

Together with [[Sukhwinder Singh]] and [[Sapna Awasthi]], Panjabi MC remixed the popular song "[[Chaiyya Chaiyya]]" from the [[Bollywood]] film, ''[[Dil Se..]]''. This song was used as the background during opening credits for the Hollywood movie ''[[Inside Man]]''. Their song "Land of Five Rivers", used as a theme song for the [[WWE]] wrestler [[The Great Khali]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.desihits.com/blog/article/exclusive-interview-panjabi-mc-20081215|title=Desi Radio, Videos and MP3s, Bollywood Hindi Songs, Bhangra Music and Podcasts|publisher=Desihits.com|access-date=2015-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105090918/http://www.desihits.com/blog/article/exclusive-interview-panjabi-mc-20081215|archive-date=5 November 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> features on ''[[Voices: WWE The Music, Vol. 9]]''.

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
* ''Souled Out'' (1993, Nachural Records)
* ''Another Sell Out'' (1994, Nachural Records)
* ''100% Proof'' (1995, Nachural Records)
* ''Grass Roots'' (1996, Nachural Records)
* ''Magic Desi'' (1996)
* ''Legalised'' (1998, Nachural Records)
* ''Dhol Jageroo Da'' (2001, Moviebox)
* ''Desi'' (2002, Moviebox)
* ''Indian Breaks'' (2003, Compagnia Nuove Indye)
* ''Mundian To Bach Ke'' (2003, Compagnia Nuove Indye)
* ''The Album'' (German version: Superstar/ Warner; Germany) (French version: Scorpio; France) (UK Version: Instant Karma) (2003)
* ''Beware'' (American version of "The Album"; 2003, Sequence)
* ''Steel Bangle'' (2005, Moviebox)
* ''Indian Timing'' (2008, PMC Records)
* ''The Raj'' (2010, PMC Records)
* ''56 Districts'' (2019, PMC Records)

===Compilation albums===
* ''Illegal'' (2006, Nupur Audio)
* ''Sentello II'' (2004, Korsan Cd)

===EPs===
* ''Jatt Ho Gya Sharabi'' (1996, Nachural Records)
* ''Mirza Part Two'' (1997, Nachural Records)
* ''Switchin''' (2000, Moviebox)

=== Singles ===
'''<big>As lead artist</big>'''
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ '''List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name'''
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="13"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]] <ref name="US-singles">{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/panjabi-mc/chart-history/hot-100 | title=Panjabi MC – Chart History: Hot 100 | work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"|[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]] <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/panjabi-mc/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs | title=Panjabi MC – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs | work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"|[[Dance/Electronic Singles Sales|US Dance]] <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/panjabi-mc/chart-history/DSA | title=Panjabi MC – Chart History: Dance Single Sales | work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]] <ref name="AUS">{{cite web | url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Panjabi+MC | title=Discography Panjabi MC | work=australian-charts.com | publisher=Hung Medien | access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Ultratop|BEL]] <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1531/Panjabi-MC-Mundian-to-bach-ke | title=Discography Panjabi MC | work=Ultratop| access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Canadian Hot 100|CAN]]
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Tracklisten|DEN]] <ref>{{cite web | url=https://danishcharts.dk/showperson.asp?name=Panjabi+MC | title=Discography Panjabi MC | work=DanishCharts| access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"|[[GfK Entertainment|GER]] <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche | title=Discography Punjabi MC | work=OfficialGermanCharts | access-date=October 26, 2019}}
* "Mundian to bach ke": {{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-5425|title=Mundian to Bach Ke Chart History|work=OfficialGermanCharts|access-date=26 October 2019}}
* "Jogi": {{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-5623|title=Jogi Chart History|work=OfficialGermanCharts|access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Irish Singles Chart|IRL]] <ref name="IRL">{{cite web|url=http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=Discographie Panjabi MC|publisher=Irish Charts|format=search "Punjabi MC" in Artists search|access-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125210/http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%"|[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]] <ref name="FRA-singles">{{cite web | url=https://lescharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=panjabi+mc&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts | title=Panjabi MC – Chart History: France Singles | work=Billboard | access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|ITA]] <ref name="ITA">{{cite web | url=http://italiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=panjabi+mc| title=Italian Song Chart| access-date=October 26, 2019 |publisher=italiancharts.com}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]] <ref name="SWI">{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/artist/panjabi_mc|title=Discographie Panjabi MC|publisher=Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien | format=select "Charts" tab| access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:90%;"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]] <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/261/panjabi-mc/ | title=Panjabi MC – Official Charts Company | work=OfficialCharts| access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "Ghariah Milan De"
|1995
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
| Non-album single
|-
! scope="row"|"[[Mundian To Bach Ke]]"
| rowspan="2" |1998
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|''Legalised''
|-
! scope="row"|"Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|''Jatt Ho Gya Sharabi''
|-
! scope="row"|"Yaaran Kollon Sikh Kuriye"
|2001
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
| ''The Album''
|-
! scope="row"|"[[Mundian To Bach Ke]]" (featuring [[Jay-Z]])
| rowspan="2" |2003
|33
|21
|3
|12
|3
|10
|5
|2
|14
|15
|1
|4
|5
|
* [[Belgian Entertainment Association|BEA]]: Gold
* [[Bundesverband Musikindustrie|BVMI]]: Gold
* [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece|IFPI Greece]]: Gold
* [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]] SWI: Gold
|''Legalised''
|-
! scope="row"|"[[Jogi (Panjabi MC song)|Jogi]]"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|55
|—
|—
|12
|47
|75
|30
|8
|25
|
|''Jogi EP''
|-
! scope="row"|"Chaiyya Chaiyya"
|2006
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
| rowspan="4"| Non-album singles
|-
! scope="row"|"[[Snake Charmer (song)|Snake Charmer]]"
|2007
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
! scope="row"|"Land of Five Rivers"
|2009
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
! scope="row"|"Moorni (Balle Balle)"
|2010
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
| colspan="17" |"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

==Awards==
*2003: [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] – Best Dance Act – "Panjabi MC"<ref name=2003MTVEMA>{{cite news|title=MTV Europe Music Awards 2003 Winner|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3249000/3249431.stm|publisher=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=7 November 2003|date=7 November 2003}}</ref>
*2003: [[MOBO Awards]] – Best UK Act<ref name=MOBOAWARD>{{cite web|title= MOBO UK Act of the Year 2003 |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2003/0926/50cent.html|publisher=Rte.ie|date=26 September 2003|access-date=2015-05-30}}</ref>
*2003: [[UK Asian Music Awards]] – Best Single Bhangra – "[[Mundian To Bach Ke]]"<ref name=2005brlaunch>{{cite web|title=BRITISH ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS 2004 LAUNCHED |url=http://www.redhotcurry.com/entertainment/music/brama_launch.htm |publisher=Redhotcurry.com |access-date=24 August 2010 |date=7 October 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210200827/http://www.redhotcurry.com/entertainment/music/brama_launch.htm |archive-date=10 February 2010 }}</ref>
*2003: [[World Music Awards]] – World's Best Indian Artist<ref>https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68677/2003-world-music-awards-winners</ref>
*2011: Punjabi Music Awards – Best Sound Recording – "Moorni"{{cn|date=September 2020}}
*2011: [[Brit Asia TV Music Awards]] – Best Single – "Moorni" and Best Asian Music Producer<ref name=BAMA2011>{{cite news |title=Brit Asia TV Music Awards 2011 "AND THE WINNERS ARE..." |url=https://punjab2000.com/brit-asia-tv-music-awards-2011-qand-the-winners-areq/ |access-date=3 September 2020 |work=Punjab2000.com |date=3 October 2011}}</ref>
*2018: Brit Asia TV Music Awards – Outstanding Achievement<ref name=BAMA2018>{{cite news |last1=Anusha |first1=Nava |title=BritAsia TV Music Awards 2018 Winners |url=https://www.desiblitz.com/content/britasia-tv-music-awards-2018-winners |access-date=19 August 2020 |work=www.desiblitz.com |date=11 October 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist }}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040129135854/http://panjabi-mc.com/ Official website]
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Electronic}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panjabi MC}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:British people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British rappers of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Desi musicians]]
[[Category:British hip hop DJs]]
[[Category:English DJs]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:Hip hop record producers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Asian Underground musicians]]
[[Category:English Sikhs]]
[[Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners]]
[[Category:World Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:Musicians from Coventry]]
[[Category:Bhangra (music) musicians]]

Panjabi MC - Revision history

Imteenu at 09:50, 12 March 2026

imported>Narky Blert: Link to DAB page repaired