Prabh Deep Sagar, gifted with a unique voice that contains traces of traditional Punjabi folk singers, Prabh Deep is widely acknowledged as one of the best hip-hop artists in the country. Besides being a recording artist, Prabh also pushes for and organizes MC Battles in the city.
Born and brought up in Tilak Nagar, Prabh’s music paints a vivid picture of growing up in a locality that’s reeling from high unemployment rates and the recent influx of drugs in the community.
In conversation with Prabh Deep:
1. When did you start rapping and what got you into it?
I started rapping 3-4 years ago when I was a boy, my crew mate Sanjay asked me to write a verse song he was doing, the song was not so good. This way I got the interest to get into Music.
2. What is your musical background?
Musical background like, When I was a kid I used to listen lots of Punjabi MC Musics and also few other UK artists. Before this, I used to listen to Bollywood Music but when I went on listening the Punjabi MC songs and listening to UK artists, I completely left Bollywood and I felt that the vibe is different. It’s like this is what I want and this was the time when I was in my School and had never heard any HipHop and all. After that I heard Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and I was crazy. I got that pirated CD from the near by CD shop. Made me all crazy. That is what my musical background is.
3. Among your Albums released, which one was your favorite and why?
My favorite record which I did was and its still “Feel Me”. Me and Sez created this way back, It was our first day we met and he made that beat, I came back home and wrote the verse, wrote the whole song.
I put my whole heart in this song. It was my first song with Sez and I think it came out naturally. So, I think “Feel Me” is the favorite record of mine.
4. What are your biggest influences and who are your favorite musicians?
My biggest influence, right now is “Kendrick Lamar” because when I was a kid I remember I used to jump on my bed imitating like I am performing for 1000 people but there used to be no one, I was alone in the room acting like I’m performing and then I saw Kendrick’s video where he was performing his records and he was the same boy as in my bedroom. So he is the biggest influence.
My favorite musicians like Kendrick Lamar for sure that is on top. I listen to Ab-Soul as well and also like Anderson Paak and I started listening to George Clinton, I think I am too late now, I liked his idea of music Its very funk and proper.
5.What are the main inspirations for the lyrics that you write so beautifully?
I get inspired by different things like, My mom inspired me a lot to write more, doing regular work and earning bread to survive. So She is the only reason I’m doing music. She is the biggest inspiration.
Other than that, real incidents like something going in my neighbourhood, It depends like on What’s happening around.
I get inspired from negative things also like from real lives of people. It’s like I learn lessons everyday on Social Media especially when you have that dumb people around you.
6.How would you describe your own style?
I still don’t know what my style is but I know what kind of music I like, you know, it’s bouncy. One thing in every song of mine is its bounce either in my flow or beat that’s what me and Sez do.
I keep on switching my styles. Like if you listen to Feel Me then I dropped Kal, these two tracks are different vibes you know. Kal then G Maane. It’s the whole different style I adapted, after G Maane, I dropped future – Kal and that’s the whole another style. So I keep on experimenting with my styles and it’s going well. So that’s what my style is, I keep on switching it.
7.What would be your dream venue where you would like to perform?
My dream venue to perform is Madison Square Garden, New York and I’ll do it one day.
8.What do you want to achieve in the coming 5 years? What are your goals?
I want to be the biggest hip-hop artist in my country in the next 5 years. My goal is to perform at Madison Square Garden. I know some people will laugh on this statement but I’m working on it and will achieve it and Yes Grammy too.
9.At the end, any advice for the other up-and-coming rappers reading this?
Do Music from your heart! Just don’t think what people will think about your song. I think the first thing when you start writing your record, you yourself should like it.
Write it, Sleep on it and then Next Day Read it Again! Just like Re-Read as a whole new person and try to think what you write is right, have you ever done it in your life, is it coming from your true experiences or If you are writing a fiction story as well, you should read it at least 10-15 times back to back and before asking from anybody else you should ask yourself, like what you’re doing is right or not.
