From Setback To Comeback And Controversies: Tracing The Journey Of Rap Star Yo Yo Honey Singh

Yo Yo Honey Singh! The name needs no introduction.

For most of us, we were first introduced to Honey Singh with X-rated songs that were very popular in college. They were like anthems that caught everyone's attention. Although, Honey Singh, denies writing those dirty songs about women.

He wasn't the first person to introduce rap in India. Singers like Baba Sehgal were ahead of him, but he sure was the man who revolutionized the rap culture and inspired several underground rap artistes.

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How did Honey Singh become a rap sensation?

He started his journey as a recording artiste, and that's how he got popular too. Honey Singh's music group was called Mafia Mundeer. He worked along with Ikka, Badshah, Lil Golu and Raftaar. After they all left, Alfaaz and J-star were brought in.

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Honey Singh shot to fame with the album International Villager that released in 2011. The song Gabru was topping the charts everywhere. Dope Shope, Angreji Beat, Get Up Jawani and Aashke were some of the tracks that made him popular among the youth. His song with Diljit Dosanjh Lak 28 Kudi Da reached No. 1 in the BBC Asian Download Charts in May 2011.

The album is also his ticket to Bollywood. From Cocktail to Chennai Express and Boss, from Mere Dad Ki Maruti to Bajatey Raho and Fugly, he was ruling the market.

From his singles to Bollywood tracks, his songs became a rage that everyone would listen to. From little kids mugging up the lyrics of his songs to every club playing only his music, till two years ago, Honey Singh was a household name. Indeed, the man ruled the music industry like nobody else.

And soon several controversies started kicking in.

Honey Singh's Controversies

Nation-wide protest against Honey Singh in 2013

In 2013, he gave rise to a nationwide protest after the release of the song Main hoon Balatkari. Women demanded his arrest. There was a court case (and FIR and PIL against him). He, however, denied making such a song. He said that someone else was using his name. The investigation couldn't find proof against him.

Honey Singh's tiff with Badshah

It's said that Honey Singh and Badshah were very close friends at one point in time. The friendship took an ugly turn when Singh compared the latter with a Nano car in a press conference of his film Zorawar.

When Honey Singh and Raftaar's friendship turned sour

Honey Singh and Raftaar were friends before they became popular. Raftaar alleges that Singh removed his songs from Fugly and didn't even give him the due credit despite working together.

Feud with Vishal Dadlani

If reports are to be believed, Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani who composed Lungi Dance were unhappy when Shah Rukh Khan roped in Honey Singh to sing the song. It went on to become one of the most popular songs of his career.

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Who is Honey Singh's wife?

No one knew Honey Singh was married until his wife made an appearance on the reality show he was mentoring -- India's Raw Star. She appeared in an episode and it seemed like they have both forever been in love. Who knew Shalini Talwar would one day file a domestic violence case against him.

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In 2014, Honey Singh suddenly vanished into thin air.

He was judging a popular reality show, which he had to leave mid-way, and since then nobody heard of him. A flurry of rumours started to float across. Some said he became an alcoholic and was in rehab. Others said that he had developed the bipolar disease.

"The truth is I was suffering from bipolar disorder. It went on for 18 months, during which I changed four doctors, the medication wasn't working on me and crazy things were happening, I must confess that I was bipolar and an alcoholic, which aggravated the condition," he revealed in an interview later.

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He is now back in the grind, but it's not the same anymore.

Lyrics of his comeback song Makhna also courted controversies. From Dil Chori to Chote Chote Peg and Urvashi, Honey Singh has delivered many hits, but they couldn't create the magic like his older songs.

Now he is once again back in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

Also Read: Yo Yo Honey Singh's Wife Shalini Accuses Him Of Having Sex With Multiple Women