Prabh Deep

Prabh Deep was born on 26 December 1993 in the West Delhi suburb of Tilak Nagar to a Sikh family. His mother, Jaswinder Kaur, was a small-scale businesswoman. His father, Manmohan Singh, had lost his father and four brothers during a killing spree by angry mobs during the 1984 riots in Nangloi Jat, and developed addictions while struggling with the post-traumatic stress. The family was, therefore, supported by the earnings through the hair salon run by Prabh Deep's mother.{{cite news | last=Kappal | first=Bhanuj | title=What makes Prabh Deep Indian rap’s next big thing | date=1 December 2017 | url=https://www.gqindia.com/content/what-makes-prabh-deep-indian-raps-next-big-thing | publisher=GQ India| access-date=19 July 2021}}

Prabh Deep decided to drop out of high school right before his 12th standard board examination on account of the pointlessness of the Indian education system. His mother supported his decision to quit school to build his own path in music.{{cite news | last=Majumdar | first=Anushree | title=Good Kid in a Mad City: Meet Prabh Deep, a Delhi rapper who has taken the Indian hip-hop scene by storm | date=12 December 2017 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/prabh-deep-sagar-a-delhi-rapper-who-has-taken-the-indian-hip-hop-scene-by-storm-4975720/ | publisher=Indian Express| access-date=24 July 2021}}

The increasing financial troubles of the family, as well as bullying in school, eventually got him involved in a street gang, partaking in streetfights, petty jobs such as selling second-hand phones and motorbikes at a mark-up and acting as a middleman for money lenders. Later on, he also had a short stint as a salesman at a garment shop and as a call centre executive for three years before pursuing a full-time career in music.

Around the summer of 2008, Prabh Deep and his childhood friend Happu witnessed a dance crew performing stunts in a park. Impressed by the urban dance form, he and Happu joined a hip-hop dance group in the neighbouring area of Vikaspuri and spent the next few years practising b-boying. While continuing his jobs as a call centre executive and salesman, Prabh Deep maintained close contact with the Delhi hip-hop circuit while undergoing a slow transition from a dancer to an emcee.

Through rapper Zan Twoshadez and hip-hop culture researcher Jaspal Singh, Prabh Deep was introduced to the open mic nights and similar events in Delhi that laid the foundation of his rapping career. In 2015, Prabh Deep connected with indie music producer Sez on the Beat on Facebook and began co-producing music. Sez signed him to the indie record Azadi Records. The entire debut album of Class-Sikh was produced in Sez's home studio.

Prabh Deep marked his entry in Bollywood with his song Sherni for Anurag Kashyap's 2018 drama Manmarziyaan.{{cite news | last=Ghosh | first=Devarsi | title=Amit Trivedi’s ‘Manmarziyaan’ soundtrack has something for everyone | date=28 September 2018 | url=https://scroll.in/reel/894635/amit-trivedis-manmarziyaan-soundtrack-has-something-for-everyone| publisher=The Scroll| access-date=28 December 2021}} He also wrote and performed the song Toofan Main for the original soundtrack of Amazon Prime crime series Paatal Lok.{{cite web | last=Arora | first=Simran | title=Prabh Deep Decodes His Creative Process, His New EP & Working On Paatal Lok's 'Toofan Main' | date=29 May 2020 | url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/features/76755-prabh-deep-decodes-his-creative-process-his-new-ep-working-on-paatal-loks-toofan-main.html| publisher=MensXP |access-date=28 December 2021}}

In 2019, Prabh Deep released his self-produced EP, K I N G.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-07 |title=On the Cover: Prabh Deep, India's Most Fearless Rapper |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/on-the-cover-prabh-deep-indias-most-fearless-rapper/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}} 2021 marked the release of his sophomore album, Tabia. This became the first Indian hip hop album to be reviewed by Pitchfork.{{Cite web |title=Prabh Deep: Tabia |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/prabh-deep-tabia/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Prabh Deep’s quantum leap forward |url=https://liftedasia.com/id/articles/prabh-deeps-quantum-leap |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=liftedasia.com |language=en-US}} In 2022, he released his third album, Bhram. 2023 marked the release of his collaborative EP with Raftaar, PRAA, as well as that of the deluxe version of Bhram.{{Cite web |last=Britto |first=David |date=2023-03-08 |title=Prabh Deep Releases Deluxe Version of ‘Bhram’ |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/prabh-deep-new-album-bhram-deluxe/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}} He appeared on the 2023 season of Coke Studio Bharat with Taqdeer.

Prabh Deep cites Eminem and Dr. Dre as his idols.{{cite news | last=Varma | first=Aditya | title=Prabh Deep and his musical tryst with West Delhi’s ghettos | date=22 January 2018 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/prabh-deep-and-his-musical-tryst-with-west-delhis-ghettos/article22490753.ece| publisher=The Hindu| access-date=22 January 2018}}

Prabh Deep is described as an innovative lyricist whose music has socially conscious origins. Throughout his album Class-Sikh, his music revolved around the hidden, grimy underbelly scenery of suburbs of Delhi. For his album Class-Sikh, he picked up various bits and pieces from his personal experiences including the story of his childhood friend Abu's fall into drug addiction, crime and eventually murder. His music is described as slang-inflected with bits of Punjabi, Hindi and English.{{cite news | last=Kappal | first=Bhanuj | title=New Delhi rapper Prabh Deep is becoming known for his socially conscious rhymes | date=30 November 2017 | url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/new-delhi-rapper-prabh-deep-is-becoming-known-for-his-socially-conscious-rhymes-1.680157| publisher=The National News| access-date=24 July 2021}} His song Suno narrates the complex and unfortunate education system of India that leads to suicides and drug overdoses by the youth in India. He also discussed issues like 2019–2021 Jammu and Kashmir lockdown in Elaan, violence-instigating politics by the governments of global superpowers including the US and India in King and the violence and brutalities of the hidden underbelly of Delhi in Toofan Main.{{cite news | last=Singh Grewal | first=Amolak | title=Prabh Deep, the Punjabi rapper Punjab doesn’t know | date=10 January 2021 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/prabh-deep-the-punjabi-rapper-punjab-doesnt-know-196459| publisher=The National News| access-date=28 December 2021}} Amar is an introspective track, with him talking about preparing for death and his soul's immortality through his art. Chitta revolves around a character representing Prabh Deep himself, and his interactions in a world ruled by the corrupt, the wealthy and the powerful; as well as the deep-rooted problems in India's neighbourhoods.{{Cite web |title=Prabh Deep: 'Chitta' is based on a character made up in my mind |url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/news/200529-prabhdeep-chitta-based-on-character-made-my |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=www.radioandmusic.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Sharmindrila |date=2020-09-11 |title='Chitta': Prabh Deep's animated music video holds a mirror to drug abuse and power structures of the society |url=https://www.animationxpress.com/animation/chitta-prabh-deeps-animated-music-video-holds-a-mirror-to-drug-abuse-and-power-structures-of-the-society/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=AnimationXpress |language=en-US}} His album Tabia explores the themes of self discovery, spiritual awakening, pride and humility.{{Cite web |author=News9 Staff |date=2021-12-30 |title=Prabh Deep, Mali, Shantanu Pandit: The musicians who delivered 2021's best albums |url=https://www.news9live.com/art-culture/music/prabh-deep-mali-shantanu-pandit-the-musicians-who-delivered-2021s-best-indie-albums-143605 |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=NEWS9LIVE |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|www.prabhdeepmusic.com}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1993 births

Category:Indian singers

Category:Punjabi-language lyricists

Category:Indian singer-songwriters

Category:Rappers from Delhi