Badshah performs at the UAE debut of the Untold Festival 2004

Indian musician Badshah, 38, paid tribute to the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala at The Untold Festival in Dubai. Later in the show, he unfurled the Indian flag, held it up high, and finally wrapped the Tricolour around his shoulders. (File image)

A unique blend of rhythm, rhyme, and raw talent, Badshah, born Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, has managed to find a niche for himself in the ever-evolving landscape of desi music. With a career that is as dynamic as his beats, he has carved a path of his own in both Bollywood as well as the independent music scene.

Recently, the rapper, singer-songwriter made history by becoming the first desi hip hop artiste to be a part of the four-day Untold Festival Dubai 2024 (February 15 to 18) along with international musicians like Armin Van Buuren, Ellie Goulding, Tiesto, Bebe Rexha, Mazor Lazer, Paul Kalkbrenner, Timmy Trumpet and Hardwell.

Badshah headlined Day 2 of the festival, that, according to reports, is ranked #6 in the world in DJ Mag's Top 100. The Untold Festival, considered to be one of the largest electronic music festivals, debuted in the Middle East this month at the Expo City Dubai, UAE.

The 38-year-old music artiste won hearts at the show when he paid tribute to the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and when he flaunted the Indian flag, Tricolour, on the international stage by unfolding it, holding it high and then wrapping it on his shoulders.

From his humble beginnings as a struggling artist on the underground circuit, Badshah's rise to fame has been nothing short of meteoric. With a string of chart-topping hits to his name, including ‘DJ Waley Babu’ and ‘Mercy’, he quickly cemented his status as one of the most influential figures in desi rap. His distinctive style, characterized by witty wordplay and infectious hooks, resonated with audiences across the nation, earning him a legion of devoted fans and countless accolades along the way.

In 2022, Badshah invested in the Mumbai franchise of Ultimate Kho Kho, and in 2023, he mentored rising rap and hip hop talent through The Dharavi Dream Project (TDDP), and

Soon he became known for his Bollywood chartbusters like Kar Gayi Chull (Kapoor & Sons), Kala Chashma (Baar Baar Dekho), Proper Patola (Namaste England), Garmi (Street Dance 3D), Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai (Khoobsurat) and others. And now with another hit international show to his credit, Badshah is rocking it.