| Intro | Indian rapper, music producer, singer and film actor | ||
| A.K.A. | Yo! Yo! Honey Singh, Yo Yo Honey Singh | ||
| Is |
Musician Rapper Actor Singer Record producer Composer |
||
| From | India | ||
| Type |
Business Film, TV, Stage & Radio Music |
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| Gender | male | ||
| Birth | 15 March 1983, Jalandhar, Jalandhar district, Punjab, India | ||
| Age: | 37 years | ||
| Family |
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Hirdesh Singh (born 15 March 1983), better known by his stage name Yo Yo Honey Singh or Honey Singh, is an Indian music producer, Pop singer ,film actor and former rapper. He started as a session and recording artist, and became a Bhangra music producer. He has also begun to produce music for Bollywood films, and has become one of the highest-paid music producers in Bollywood.
Early life
Singh was born on 15 March 1983 at Hoshiarpur, Punjab to a Sikh family. His birth name is Hirdesh Singh. He studied music at the Trinity School in the United Kingdom. His family later moved to Delhi.
Personal life
Singh is married to Shalini Talwar Singh, whom he introduced to audiences for the first time on the television show India’s Raw Star.
In late 2014, Singh disappeared from the music scene, before making a comeback the following year, but mostly avoided the media. In March 2016, he attributed his 18 month long absence from the public to his bipolar disorder.
Promotion
Singh and Diljit Dosanjh’s song “Lak 28 Kudi Da” reached No. 1 in the BBC Asian Download Charts in May 2011. The song was released as a promotional track for Diljit Dosanjh’s film Lion of Punjab.
Singh received the ETC award for the best sound in 2006 for his song “Glassi”, the PTC award for the Best Folk Pop Award 2009 for “Rebirth”, and the PTC award for Punjab’s Best Music Director 2011.
It has been reported that he was paid the highest fee ever for a Bollywood song (as of 2012) of ₹7 million (US$100,000) for a song in the films Cocktail and Mastan.
Singh topped the chart of trending videos of 2012. He earned two places on YouTube’s list of top 10 trending videos of 2012. His song “Brown Rang” made it to the top spot. “High Heels”, in collaboration with Jaz Dhami, took the fourth spot.
Career
Singh prefers to sing in Hindi and his native language Punjabi rather than English.
The Punjabi album International Villager was released on 11 November 2011. The track “Gabru” from the album, featuring singer J-Star, topped the Asian music charts, including the official BBC Asian charts.
He has performed at many college festivals, including Ansal Institute of Technology and Ramjas College, Delhi.
He learned DJing from DJ Vishal and stood second in the “War of DJs”.
Bollywood
Singh has become widely popular in Bollywood. He was first noticed after his debut song in the Bollywood film Shakal Pe Mat Ja, featuring Gagan Sidhu. He charged Rs. 7 million for a song in the film Mastan. This is the largest amount paid to a song artist in Bollywood to date, making Singh one of the highest-paid musical artists in Bollywood.
The song “Angreji Beat” from Singh’s album International Villager, featuring Gippy Grewal, was featured in Saif Ali Khan’s film Cocktail.
Singh launched his single “Bring Me Back ft. Spoken Word” at the Video Music Awards India, which aired on MTV India. The award show was packed with many films and independent artists from throughout the world, including India. After the show, his song was premiered on the channel.
He rose to fame and popularity in Bollywood in late 2013, after producing songs in mainstream big-budget films such as Chennai Express and Boss. He has also had popular songs in smaller-budget films such as Mere Dad Ki Maruti, Bajatey Raho and Fugly.
In late 2014, Singh suddenly disappeared from Bollywood and didn’t release any music for months. Many theories rose about his sudden disappearance, but the majority were false. In March 2016 he clarified that he had been suffering from bipolar disorder and had been under medical supervision for 18 months at his Noida based house.
After being absent in the Bollywood music scene around the end of 2014, Singh made a comeback in February 2015 with his first song of the year, “Birthday Bash”, followed by songs in films including Gabbar is Back and Bhaag Johnny.
Acting
Singh made his acting debut with Baljit Singh Deo’s Punjabi film Mirza – The Untold Story (2012), performing the role of Deesha, a mad gangster. Despite only being a cameo appearance, the role went on to win Singh the PTC Punjabi Film Award for Best Male Debut. The following year, Singh appeared in another Punjabi film, this time a comedy by Amit Prasher, Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22, as Rolly, a childish and spoilt brat, alongside Amrinder Gill. This was Singh’s first main role in a film.
Singh then made his debut as an actor in Bollywood cinema with the 2014 musical-thriller film The Xpose, alongside Himesh Reshammiya. The film was released on 16 May 2014, to mixed reviews from critics, though it was a box office flop.
In 2016, Singh is expected to return to acting with the Punjabi action film Zorawar, directed by Vinnil Markan, which is marketed as one of the most expensive Punjabi films to date.
Controversies
In the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, the lyrics to some of his songs, which depict violence against women and rape positively, have caused controversy. A first information report (FIR) was lodged against Singh for his offensive lyrics, and a group of social activists filed an online petition demanding cancellation of his New Year performance at a Gurgaon hotel. After the campaign, Singh’s New Year concert was cancelled by the hotel. Singh denies writing these offensive lyrics.
On 4 July 2013, the Punjab and Haryana High court dismissed all the cases filed against Singh, which said that he has sung the Balatkaari song. The FIR and the public interest litigation (PIL) filed against him were dismissed completely by the court, which stated that there is no proof that he has sung the song and that YouTube is such a medium where any one can upload any content under anyone’s name. In this case also, a derogatory song against women was uploaded on YouTube under Singh’s name by an imposter and then reports were filed against him.
Singh’s song “Party All Night” in Akshay Kumar’s film Boss was at the centre of a controversy. Producers of the movie had to submit a petition in Delhi High Court claiming that they had ‘muted’ an alleged vulgar word in Singh’s song. The court heard a petition filed by lawyer Sanjay Bhatnagar seeking a stay on the film, contending that without the censor board’s approval, the song could not be released with such a vulgar word. The petitioner had sought a stay on the release of the film until either the word or the song was deleted from the film.
His work has been perceived as being vulgar, misogynist, promoting violence against women and a bad influence on youth. There have been reactions in print to Singh, such as from Annie Zaidi, who wrote “An Open Letter to Honey Singh” in January 2013, and Sandipan Sharma, who wrote “Thanks for the crassness: An open letter to Honey Singh from a parent” in July 2014.
Another controversy took place between him and singer Raftaar in 2014. The controversy was about Raftaar not getting credit for lyrics of the song “Yeh Fugly Fugly Kya Hai”. The controversy went away without making a major effect. However, both rappers started targeting each other in their songs. Raftaar’s “Swag Mera Desi” had a line which was already used in Singh’s song “Party With The Bhoothnath”. Singh also replied with the song “Stardom” from his album Desi Kalakaar.
Singh is reportedly in rehab in Chandigarh, says Jasbir Jassi. However, Jasbir denies this.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Artist | Music director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Peshi | Bill Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2006 | The Beat | Ashok Masti | Honey Singh |
| 2006 | Surma | Bopaz | Honey Singh |
| 2008 | Rebirth | Raj Brar | Honey Singh |
| 2009 | The Next Level | Diljit Dosanjh | Honey Singh |
| 2009 | Lock Up | Preet Harpal | Honey Singh |
| 2009 | The Beginning | Resham Singh Anmol | Honey Singh |
| 2010 | The Crown | Raja Baath | Honey Singh |
| 2010 | Dream | Dolly Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2010 | Khalaas – The Pure | Inderjit Nikku | Honey Singh |
| 2010 | The Folkstar | Nishawn Bhullar | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Hard Work | Bai Amarjit | Honey Singh |
| 2010 | The Rising Queen | Rimz J | Honey Singh |
| 2010 | Zanjeer -The Game Changer | Karran Jesbir | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Never Done Before | Balli Riar | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Singing Between the Lines (song: “Jaan Mangdi”) | Jassi Sidhu | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Alfaaz – The Boy Next Door | Alfaaz | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Jatt Soorme | Garry Hothi | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Talwar (song: “Kawan diyan daaran”) | Gippy Grewal | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | International Villager | Various | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | Born This Way | Varinder Brar | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Desi Kalakaar | Honey Singh, Lil Golu | Honey Singh |
Singles
| Year | Track | Artist | Music director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Begani Naar | Badshah | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Lak 28 Kudi Da | Diljit Dosanjh, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Caty Eyes | Diljit Dosanjh | Honey Singh |
| 2011 | Chamak Challo (a remix) | J-Star, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | Chamkila vs Justin Bieber | Alfaaz | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | 15 Saal (half song leaked from Urban Pendu) | Diljit Dosanjh, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | High Heels | Jaz Dhami, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | Siftan | Money Aujla, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | Break Up Party | Leo, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | Satan | Honey Singh, Neha Kakkar | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | This Party Gettin’ Hot | Jazzy B, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2013 | Bring Me Back | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2013 | Bebo | Alfaaz, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2013 | Blue Eyes | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Issey Kehte Hain Hip Hop | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2015 | One Bottle Down | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2015 | Dheere Dheere | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2016 | Rise n Shine | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2016 | Twerk Twerk | Jazzy B, Hard Kaur | Honey Singh |
Film soundtracks
| Year | Movie | Song | Singer | Music director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Punjaban | Miss Pooja | Honey Singh | |
| 2011 | Jihne Mera Dil Luteya | Supna Fukre |
Diljit Dosanjh | Honey Singh, Aman Hayer, Bhinda Aujla & Jatinder Singh-Shah |
| 2011 | Shakal Pe Mat Ja | Title Track | Gagan Sidhu | Honey Singh |
| 2012 | Mirza – The Untold Story | Various | Gippy Grewal | Honey Singh & Jatinder Singh Shah |
| 2012 | Cocktail | Main Sharabi | Honey Singh | Pritam |
| 2012 | Son of Sardaar | Rani Tu Mein Raja | Mika Singh, Bhavya Pandit, Honey Singh | Himesh Reshammiya |
| 2012 | Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana | Kikli Kalerdi | Amit Trivedi, Pinky Maidasani and Honey Singh | Amit Trivedi |
| 2012 | Khiladi 786 | Lonely Lonely | Himesh Reshammiya, Honey Singh and Hamsika Iyer | Himesh Reshammiya |
| 2013 | Race 2 | Party on My Mind | KK, Shefali Alvares, Honey singh | Pritam |
| 2012 | Ethir Neechal | Ethir Neechal | Honey Singh, Hip Hop Tamizha Adhi and Anirudh Ravichander | Anirudh Ravichander |
| 2012 | Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22 | Various | Amrinder Gill | Honey Singh |
| 2013 | Mere Dad Ki Maruti | Punjabiyan Di Battery | Mika Singh, Honey Singh | Sachin Gupta |
| 2013 | Bajatey Raho | Kudi Tu Butter | Yo Yo Honey Singh | Honey Singh & Jaidev Kumar |
| 2013 | Jatt Airways | Fantasy / Various | Alfaaz, Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2013 | Chennai Express | Lungi Dance – The ‘Thalaiva(r)’ Tribute | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2013 | Boss | ‘Boss(Title Track)’ ‘Party All Night’ |
Boss(Title Track) – Yo Yo Honey Singh & Meet Bros Anjjan Party All Night – Yo Yo Honey Singh |
Chirantan Bhatt, Deepak P.A., Anjjan Meet, Sandeep Shirodkar & Yo Yo Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Yaariyan | ABCD Sunny Sunny |
ABCD – Benny Dayal, Shefali Alvares & Honey Singh Sunny Sunny – Honey Singh, Neha Kakkar |
Pritam, Mithoon, Anupam Amod, Honey Singh Arko Pravo Mukherjee |
| 2014 | Dedh Ishqiya | Horn OK Please | Honey Singh, Sukhwinder Singh | Vishal Bhardwaj |
| 2014 | Ragini MMS 2 | Chaar Botal Vodka | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Bhoothnath Returns | Party with the Bhoothnath | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Fugly | Ye Fugly Fugly Kya Hai | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Kick | Yaar Naa Miley | Honey Singh, Jasmine Sandlas | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | Singham Returns | Aata Majhi Satakli | Honey Singh, Mamta Sharma, Nitu Choudhry | Honey Singh |
| 2014 | The Shaukeens | Alcoholic | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2015 | Dilliwali Zaalim Girlfriend | BirthDay Bash | Alfaaz & Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
| 2015 | Gabbar is Back | Aao Raja | Honey Singh, Neha Kakkar | Honey Singh |
| 2015 | Bhaag Johnny | Aankhon Aankhon | Honey Singh | Honey Singh |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Mirza – The Untold Story | Deesha | Punjabi | |
| 2013 | Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22 | Rolly | Punjabi | |
| 2014 | The Xpose | Kenny Damania | Hindi | |
| 2016 | Zorawar | Agent Zorawar Singh | Punjabi | |
| 2017 | Aasha | Roy | Hindi | Currently shooting |
Awards
- ETC award for the Best Sound in 2006 for song “Glassi”
- PTC award for the Best Folk Pop Award 2009 for album Rebirth
- PTC Punjabi Best Music Director 2010 for song “Desi Daroo”
- PTC Punjabi Best Music Director 2011 for album The Folkstar
- PTC Punjabi Best Music Director 2012 for album I.V. (International Villager)
- BritAsia Best International Act 2012
- UK Asian Music Awards Best International Album 2012 for Album album I.V. (International Villager)
- PTC Punjabi Film Award – Best Music Director 2012 for Mirza – The Untold Story
- PTC Punjabi Film Award – Best Debut (Male) for Mirza – The Untold Story
- MTV VMAI Awards – Best Indie Artist (male) 2013 for song “Brown Rang”
- Power Brands Glam 2013 – Power Brand Award 2013
- MTV EMA Awards – Best India Act 2013 for “Bring me Back”
- 2013 BIG Star Entertainment Awards – Singh was co-winner of Most Entertaining Singer (Male), and “Lungi Dance” was nominated as Most Entertaining Song.
- 2014 Global Indian Music Awards – Singh was nominated for Best Music Arranger, and “Lungi Dance” won for Most Popular Song on Radio.
- Zee Cine Awards 2014 for International Icon Male
- PTC Punjabi Music Awards 2010. The Tribune. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- PTC 2011 music award Winners List. Ptcpmusicawards.com. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- PTC Music Awards 2011 List of Awards Winners. Cinepunjab.com (18 November 2011). Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- PTC 2012 music award Winners List Ptcpmusicawards.com. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- BritAsia Music Awards winners The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- Lebara Mobile UK Asian Music Awards (UKAMA 2012) Results chakdey.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ PTC Punjabi Film Award (PTCPFA 2013) Results. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- Yo Yo Honey Singh bagged an award for best Indie Artiste male for Brown Rang. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- Yo Yo Honey Singh wins MTV EMA. Retrieved 14 January 2014
- Rajput, Satender (19 December 2013). “BIG Star Entertainment Award 2013 Nomination and Winners List”. The Filmy Guide. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- “GiMA Awards 2013: 2014 Film Music Nominees”. Global Indian Music Awards. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- Tanna, Amrita (20 January 2014). “Global Indian Music Awards (GiMA) 2014: Winners list”. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- “Zee Cine Awards 2014: Dhanush, Priyanka Chopra, Honey Singh Clinch Trophies; Complete List of Winners – International Business Times”. IB Times. Retrieved 9 February 2014.