After releasing their introductory singles ‘Bappi Lahiri’ and ‘Megaloblast’ earlier this year, Pataka Boys unveil the grandiose and celebratory album Thugs From Amritsar. The album releases via Azadi Records.
What first began as a sparring exercise between PAV4N and Sonnyjim (elder statesmen in the UK rap arena), soon morphed into a groundbreaking exploration of culture, heritage and a truly unique encapsulation of the intersection of hip-hop and the Indian diasporic experience. With the project originating in London, PAV4N and Sonnyjim set voyage across India, cutting records and shooting videos in the executive suite of the Taj Mahal, the jungle in Goa, temples in Amritsar and far beyond. Entirely produced by the previously undiscovered Kartik, Thugs From Amritsar is a marvel of sound, splicing together iconic soul samples, metaphor heavy bilingual raps and soundbites from classic Punjabi cinema and folk records. Woven into the album’s track listing is a plethora of references to the lived experiences of Indians worldwide, giving shout outs to various locations, entertainment icons and colloquial phrases instantly recognisable to anyone of the culture.
