King questions critics of Punjabi music: ‘Have you listened to Bhojpuri songs?’

Singer-rapper King has weighed in on the ongoing debate around the objectification of women in Punjabi music and hip-hop, saying that music should not be boxed into stereotypes and must be understood as a subjective art form.

In an exclusive interaction with IANS, the Tu Aake Dekhle hitmaker addressed the criticism often directed at Punjabi songs and rap tracks over their portrayal of women.

The rapper said audiences tend to generalise an entire genre based on select songs, adding that music is shaped by personal experiences, surroundings and creative expression rather than a fixed narrative.

Responding to questions about allegations that Punjabi and rap music promote stereotypes, King pushed back by pointing out that such portrayals exist across multiple Indian music industries.

“Have you listened to Bhojpuri songs? Have you listened to Bollywood songs? How much music have people actually heard while growing up? Music is a very subjective thing,” he said.

He stressed that it is unfair to single out one genre while ignoring similar content across others, adding that listeners often overlook context when judging songs.

King further explained that music often reflects an artist’s life journey, emotions, and environment at a particular point in time. According to him, artistic expression is fluid and changes with experience.

“Artists are human beings too. What an artist experienced ten years ago, with certain people or in a certain environment, can show up in their music. Especially in hip-hop, sometimes experiences are exaggerated, sometimes told in a raw way, and sometimes in a poetic manner,” he said.

He also highlighted that both artists and audiences need to evolve in their understanding of music. He emphasised that songs should not always be analysed too deeply or taken out of context.

“I believe every artist should evolve, and every listener should also understand that music is subjective. If we pick one thing and say that this entire community or genre does this, then we are not really understanding art,” he added.

He also noted that many popular tracks succeed simply because of their “vibe” rather than lyrical depth or messaging.

“Sometimes it’s not about words, it’s about the vibe. If you like a peppy number, you will listen to it. People enjoy things. It’s not always about selling or money. We tend to take music way more seriously than it actually is. We need to relax and enjoy the songs instead of putting so much thought to it.”

King has built a strong fanbase with hit tracks such as Maan Meri Jaan, OOPS, and Tu Aake Dekhle, becoming one of the most streamed artists in the Indian independent music scene.

Recently, he also expanded his career into acting with his OTT debut in the drama series Lukkhe, where he shared screen space with actors Palak Tiwari and Raashii Khanna, among others.

With IANS inputs