Santy Sharma Backs Badshah Amid ‘Tateeree’ Controversy: “Change the Lyrics, Don’t Judge Him”
New Delhi:
Independent hip-hop artist Santy Sharma has come out in support of rapper-singer Badshah following the online backlash against his latest track Tateeree, which has been criticised for allegedly explicit lyrics and visuals.
Santy Sharma Defends Badshah
Sharing a detailed note on Instagram along with a picture of Badshah, Santy Sharma wrote:
“Rap music is a genre where rappers write lines about their competitors as references. A song’s audio can be created long before the video. The video team is separate, and even major artists like Badshah may not even know what their video will be like. A major drawback for Badshah and other artists emerging in India today is the lack of knowledge among listeners in India about this hip-hop art form.”
He added:
“If a lyric in a song is incorrect, the lyrics should be updated or changed, but the way Badshah is being judged without understanding the full story is wrong. Sorry if anyone is hurt by this post, but this is the reality.”
Badshah’s Apology and Explanation
A few days ago, Badshah addressed the controversy in a video on his Instagram handle. Speaking in Hindi, he said:
“Mera gaana Tateeree release hua hain aur main dekh raha hoon ki uske ek hisse mein mere lyrics aur uske visual representation ke vajah se jo message gaya hain usse kayi logon ko, khaas kar mere Haryana ke apne logon ko, unke sentiments ko, thesh pohonchi hain. Sabse pehle main ye kehna chahta hoon ki main khud Haryana se hoon. Jo log mujhe jante hain, jante hain ki meri boli, khan-paan, rehen-sehen, meri pehchaan Haryana se hain. Bahut hi proud Haryanvi hoon.”
He emphasised that he never intended to disrespect women or children and urged fans to understand the context of the song before judging.
Context of the Backlash
Tateeree faced criticism as some listeners took issue with certain lyrics and visuals. Fans questioned the messaging and cultural sensitivity of the song, particularly in Haryana, Badshah’s home state.
Santy Sharma’s defense highlights the unique aspects of hip-hop culture in India, noting that music videos are often produced separately and that artists may not be fully involved in the visual representation of their songs.
By backing Badshah, Santy Sharma has urged listeners to focus on understanding the genre and the creative process rather than hastily judging the rapper for the controversy.
