Was Badshah Ever A Member Of 'Mafia Mundeer'? Know All About Hip-Hop Platform Created By Yo Yo Honey Singh

In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Yo Yo Honey Singh revealed the real meaning of ‘Mafia Mundeer’ and if Badshah was ever part of their gang.

Raftaar, Ikka, and Lil' Golu were members of 'Mafia Mundeer', in addition to Honey Singh.

Source : Screengrab from YouTube/Speed Punjabi

Do you recall the earworm melodies and memorable lyrics that swept the Punjabi music industry? There was a period when we couldn't get the lyrics of popular songs like ‘Gabru’, ‘Get Up Jawani’ and ‘Haye Mera Dil’ out of our heads. The Punjabi music landscape was shaken to its foundations by Mafia Mundeer, which was more than a band. This group of gifted musicians, fronted by the legendary Yo Yo Honey Singh, shook up a generation with their new, unabashed sound. By fusing classic Punjabi rhythms with hip-hop elements, Mafia Mundeer ushered in a new musical period that has had and will have lasting effects on musicians and listeners. 

In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Yo Yo Honey Singh revealed the real meaning of ‘Mafia Mundeer’ and if Badshah was ever part of their platform.

What is ‘Mafia Mundeer’?

According to Honey Singh, “Maafi Mundeer was not a group, it was just a platform. I had thought that different artists would come and perform, record and release their songs in this group and no one would be legally bound. Whoever wants to come can come and whoever wants to go can go.”

The band's last performance was in 2012. Raftaar, Ikka, and Lil' Golu were members of 'Mafia Mundeer', in addition to Honey Singh.

How 'Mafia Mundeer' Formed?

In the mid-2000s, when Honey Singh's song ‘Soda Whiskey’ became popular, Mafia Mundeer was formed. Badshah sought out Honey Singh for a possible partnership. At around the same time, Honey Singh connected up with Raftaar, who in turn added Lil Golu and Ikka, two musicians who were already making waves on Orkut. A number of musicians, including Alfaaz, Ninja, Money Aujla, and J-Star, became part of the group as time went on.

Origin Of ‘Mundeer’

In the same interview, Honey Singh provided the context of ‘Mundeer’. He shared, "I was the one who named it, but today, the person who taught me writing, Raj Brar Paaji, is no longer in this world. He gave me the name in 2007 when I was going through a very tough time. He was a very famous singer and writer in Punjab. So, I asked him, 'Paaji, tell me a pure Punjabi word for a gang that's non-violent, like the boys who just stand around in the streets in Delhi. What would you call such boys?'

The singer-rapper added, “So, he gave me the name 'Mundeer Mafia.' It was like an organised platform, similar to a street theater group, where anyone could come, perform, and promote hip-hop. We wanted to talk about real issues, street issues, entertainment—nothing more.”

Badshah Was Never a Member of 'Mafia Mundeer' 

Honey Singh made it clear that the “people who claim to be part of 'Mafia Mundeer' were never actually part of it”. When asked if he was referring to Badshah, the singer clarified, “No, Badshah is the son of a very senior officer. His father gave me money to create the music for Badshah's English album. So, he is not a talent picked up from the streets; he comes from a big family. He is the son of a revered army officer. That’s why he was never a part of Mafia Mundeer. Why would someone who comes from a wealthy family need a small platform like Mafia Mundeer.”

Badshah On 'Mafia Mundeer' 

A year ago, Badshah talked about his split with Honey Singh in an interview with Raj Shamani, saying, "Mafia Mundeer was a thought, and like-minded people got together. Primarily it was just me and Honey. In 2009, there was a break between me and Honey. I used to do a job and I was very scared. Honey was also off my radar and when I tried calling him, he dodged my calls. But till the time we were in Mafia Mundeer, we never met. If we had met, maybe things would have been different."