Riar Saab

The music of Tarun Singh Surjeet Singh Riyar—better known as rapper Riar Saab—marries the Punjabi folk he’s trained in with the urban sounds of Mumbai, his adopted hometown. The rapper, who grew up in the village of Dhapai in Kapurthala district, has been a regular fixture in the Mumbai hip-hop scene for many years, often performing as part of the Aavrutti rap crew under the moniker Frenzzy. Signed to rapper DIVINE’s Gully Gang Entertainment, he became a regular feature on the label’s posse cuts, including a scene-stealing cameo on the gully rap pioneer’s 2019 single “Vibe Hai”. In 2022, Riyar broke out on his own, rebranding as Riar Saab and doubling down on his Punjabi roots. That same year, his single “Obsessed”—a pensive, guitar-led collaboration with Abhijay Sharma—catapulted the artist to viral fame, thanks to a cosign by Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal. The handful of singles that he’s released as Riar Saab as of late 2023 incorporate trap, G-funk and Punjabi folk influences, anchored by the musician’s languorous Punjabi flow.