After plenty of teasing and grandiose introductions (including Shah Rukh Khan narrating), Badshah’s new album Ek Tha Raja is out now.
The collab-heavy album – which follows 2023’s 3:00 AM Sessions – has been in the works for more than a year, with the first single “Daaku” featuring Sharvi Yadav and produced by Hiten a few weeks ago.
Flexing all his strength and footing in the music industry after delivering hits for over a decade, Badshah brings in one of the biggest lineups of featured artists and collaborators on Ek Tha Raja. Arijit Singh adds his distinctive singing might on “Soulmate,” a pop and hip-hop crossover that could be Badshah’s next big hit. Karan Aujla joins on the buoyant opening track “God Damn,” while DIVINE links up for “O’Sajna” to turn on the charm in a song that interpolates “Dil Kya Kare” from the 1975 movie Julie, crediting Anand Bakshi and Rajesh Roshan.
Raftaar and Badshah trade bars amid the club-friendly grooves of “Like A Snake.” The release of Ek Tha Raja was shifted from its original 6:30 pm IST release on Spotify to 8 pm and that’s something Badshah blamed on “last minute master changes” on the tunneling, high-energy “Bajenge,” which features New Delhi duo Seedhe Maut. Previously, Badshah appeared on Seedhe Maut’s mixtape Lunch Break in 2023, on the track “Swah!”
Badshah teams up with KR$NA on the Latin-flavored “Hola At Your Boy” and goes solo on songs like “Surma” with producer Hiten. Singer-songwriter Shai adds an easygoing vibe with Badshah on “Red And Blue,” showcasing more pop and hip-hop crossover elements.
Among the more highly anticipated collabs on Ek Tha Raja also included MC Stan, who appears on the hedonistic “Drinks On Me.” Perhaps existing in the same club atmosphere led Badshah to create “Body On Me,” featuring Nora Fatehi and Randy Class.
Badshah brings back Ikka and Dino James for another emo love song “Naraaz,” and the song perhaps also exists in the same thematic universe as their 2022 collaboration “Woh.” There are futuristic vibes on the swerving tune “Kalashnikova” featuring Moroccan artist Draganov and the mood quickly changes for “Alag Hai,” which features fire-breathing bars from Badshah, who matches up with rappers Fotty Seven and Raga.
The album closes with “Daaku” and one of Badshah’s most unsparing, explicit song “G-Yaan.” If Badshah had beef, this is how he would be letting loose.
Although not immediately credited at the time of release, star voices also adding heft to Ek Tha Raja are Aastha Gill, Nikhita Gandhi, Nepalese singer-songwriter Prajina, Punjabi artist Mehar Vaani and more.
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