Badshah Essentials

Whether people love him or hate him, no one can deny Badshah’s played a key role in introducing hip-hop to India’s mainstream—peppering Hindi film tunes with his often humorous rhymes. He’s the man movie producers and composers enlist when they want to add some swag to an item number, or put a snazzy spin on a remake of a vintage chart-topper or recent pop smash. His Midas-like touch means that when he features in a guest spot on any soundtrack, it’s almost guaranteed to be a hit. After all, he’s been part of nearly every major party anthem since the early 2010s, as this playlist makes clear.