Pataka Boys ft: M.O.N.G.O - Bappi Lahiri (Official Video)

Cult figures of the underground UK rap scene PAV4N and Sonnyjim have linked up with rising Indian producer Kartik to form Pataka Boys. Their debut single ‘Bappi Lahiri’ releases under Azadi Records, India’s premier label for Hip-Hop which champions voices from the country's diverse underground. Featuring on the track is British/Bengali rapper M.O.N.G.O. The track is accompanied by a dizzying visual that offers an insight into the complex tapestry of daily life in India.

‘Bappi Lahiri’ takes its title from the name of the renowned singer, composer and record producer, known for popularising Disco in India. Kartik’s sample-heavy production on the track calls back to Golden Era instrumentals from the US whilst simultaneously incorporating musical sensibilities from his native land. Both PAV4N and Sonnyjim’s verses are brimming with tales of opulent adventure, particularly leaning into their heritage and experiences in India, with Sonnyjim rapping ‘I push the sheesh in the pitta/ On the back of a rickshaw, sipping an elixir’. M.O.N.G.O, a founding member of legendary UK crew Mud Fam delivers a similarly content-rich guest verse, his gruff vocal tone adding another pleasing textural element to the track.

Decades deep in their careers, PAV4N and Sonnyjim are artists that in their own rights have garnered devoted followings through their diligent work producing authentic, lyrically robust rap music.

PAV4N is a founding member of the critically acclaimed London rap crew Foreign Beggars who since their formation in 2002 were known for exploring a diverse range of sounds and drawing in a truly international audience. Throughout his career, PAV4N has worked with a multitude of producers including Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Knife Party, DJ Vadim, Amp Fiddler and Sez On The Beat. Since the disbanding of Foreign Beggars in 2019, PAV4N is embarking on a new journey as a solo artist.

Sonnyjim is a rapper whose output spans over ten years, having worked with an impressive array of artists including the likes of MF DOOM, Jay Electronica, Westside Gunn, Conway, DJ Premier, Remy Banks, Lord Apex, The Purist, Madlib and more. Known for his unique style of luxury lifestyle rap, Sonnyjim’s stream of consciousness verses are packed in equal measures with larger-than-life images of excess and hilarious sequential vignettes.

Kartik is a young, upcoming producer from India who fuses classic elements of Hip-Hop with sounds that represent his heritage and contemporary life in his homeland, with the likes of Madlib and Flying Lotus being cited as main influences. Linking up with PAV4N and Sonnyjim is sure to expand his audience to an international scale, as the three artists have carved out a unique niche that brings together Hip-Hop lovers and the South Asian diaspora at large.

‘Bappi Lahiri’ is an exciting glimpse into the ‘Pataka Boys’ world and an introduction to what's to come from the group.