‘Rap is a great way to narrate stories’

Rapper-writer Badshah stepped into the limelight with Proper Patola in 2013. Soon, he went on to chart a successful innings in Bollywood, rapping for movies like Khoobsurat, Baar Baar Dekho, and more recently, Badrinath Ki Dulhania. This time around, Badshah will perform acoustic versions of his rap songs like Kala Chashma and DJ Wale Babu at MTV Unplugged India.

How are you planning to arrange your upbeat, party numbers as unplugged versions?

The arrangement is live, and this lends the kind of energy that you wouldn’t achieve otherwise for the songs. I like the fact that there is no set format that one has to follow — you can play around with the songs.

You are performing a Garhwali folk number with Jubin Nautiyal. Please tell us about the collaboration…

Jubin came up to me and asked me to collaborate with him on the song. He will be singing while I focus on the rap. Indians have a huge misconception when it comes to rap. It isn’t just about heavy beats; it is about poetry. And my collaboration with Jubin will be exactly that.

How influenced have you been by the folk songs from your roots?

Of course, I have been influenced by my Punjabi and Hariyanvi roots. Just like Jubin has his Garhwali influences — since he comes from Uttarakhand — I have been influenced by the folk songs of my region.

You and Honey Singh really brought the concept of the party song to the forefront. How does it feel to be one of the pioneers of the party songs?

I never really thought of myself like that — it’s quite humbling to be called that. I think of myself as a reporter. I just rhyme my reports and give them a beat.

How did you get into rap music to start with?

I got into rap because I can’t sing. If I could sing, I’d be a singer. On a serious note, I like telling stories, and rap is a great tool to narrate stories.