Prabhdeep Singh (born 26 December 1993), better known by his stage name, Prabh Deep, is an Indian rapper, songwriter and music producer. He gained recognition in the Indian music industry after the release of his debut album Class-Sikh which debuted at number 2 on iTunes India albums chart and quickly ranked up to number 1 by the end of the year.
Early life 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.
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.
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.
Career
2008: Career beginnings 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.
2015-2019: Debut album, Azadi Records and Bollywood 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 entirety of Class-Sikh was produced in Sez's home studio. According to NPR Music, Class-Sikh focused on various themes, including an honest portrayal from a Sikh's perspective of the 1984 riots that followed then- president Indira Gandhi's death. Released on October 16, 2017, it was one of the first Indian hip-hop albums to debut at number 2 on iTunes India albums chart and quickly ranked up to number 1 by the end of the year.
Prabh Deep marked his entry in Bollywood with his song "Sherni" for Anurag Kashyap's 2018 drama Manmarziyaan. The following year, Prabh Deep released his self-produced debut EP, K I N G.
2020-present: Tabia, departure from Azadi Records and further successes He also wrote and performed the song "Toofan Main" for the original soundtrack of the Amazon Prime crime series Paatal Lok.
The year 2021 marked the release of his sophomore album, Tabia. Prabh Deep had been working on the album since 2019, even visiting Karma Studios in Thailand to work on the album. Akshay Kapoor of The Indian Music Diaries describes the album as Prabh's "Bildungsroman" while Sean D of LiFTED Asia described it as a "concept driven album that explores themes of multiplicities within oneself". It also became the first Indian hip-hop album to be reviewed by Pitchfork.
In 2022, he released his third album, Bhram. In 2023, he released his surprise collaborative EP with Raftaar, PRAA, as well as the deluxe version of his third studio album, Bhram, featuring guest appearances from fellow Azadi Records signees Seedhe Maut and Ahmer, and Raftaar, Ikka, and GD-47. This also marked his last release with the label, and soon after, he departed from the label. He also appeared on the 2023 season of Coke Studio Bharat, performing the song "Taqdeer" alongside Rashmeet Kaur, Donn Bhat & Sakur Khan Sufi. In November 2023, he was chosen as a supporting act for American rapper 50 Cent's show in Mumbai, as part of The Final Lap Tour, alongside rappers Divine, Yung Raja and SVDP, however, Divine's performance was canceled at the last minute due to technical difficulties.
In 2024, he released the sequel to his debut EP, KING Returns, and also collaborated with John Jacobs for his new eyewear line, The Turban Edit Collection. In the same year, he released his debut mixtape, DSP, featuring Faris Shafi, Dhanji, GD-47 and Sickflip, among others. He made his screen debut with JioCinema's Khalbali Records, alongside fellow rappers like Ahmer, Agsy, EPR Iyer and Yungsta and also contributed to the soundtrack of the series.
In 2025, he contributed to the soundtrack of the web-series, Do You Wanna Partner, on the track, "Hum Dum". In January 2026, Prabh Deep announced his next project, Santali, under which he aimed to release one track every week for 47 weeks. He cited the difficulties he faced in the past 47 weeks as the core inspiration for the project. The tracks also included collaborations, most notably with Benny Dayal, Fateh and Raga.
Artistry Influences Prabh Deep cites Eminem and Dr. Dre as his idols.
Themes and genres 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. 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". "Amar" is an introspective track, with him talking about preparing for death and his soul's immortality through his art. His critically-acclaimed track "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. His album Tabia explores the themes of self discovery, spiritual awakening, pride and humility.
Discography
Film music +YearFilm / SeriesSongArtist(s)2018ManmarziyaanSherniPrabh Deep2020Paatal LokToofan MainPrabh Deep & Sez on the Beat2024Khalbali RecordsTham JaPrabh DeepMajbur Mazdur2025Do You Wanna PartnerHum DumPrabh Deep, Vasu Raina
Albums and EPs +YearAlbum / EPTrackArtist(s)Produced by2017Class-SikhIntroPrabh Deep & Sez on the BeatSez on the BeatSunoI don't CareAbuClick ClackKal (Future)KalG MaaneBullshitMurderOye OyeClasssikh2019K I N GMayaPrabh Deep ft. Archit Anand & HashbassPrabh DeepKalaPrabh DeepAmarKhatHiraKing2021TabiaTabiaPrabh DeepPrabh DeepQafirPaapiPreetPrabh Deep & Lambo DriveTaqatPrabh Deep & IDEK?AlopePrabh Deep ft. Zan TwoshadezPrabh Deep, Tienas, RaySon4 7 & Zero ChillAntarPrabh DeepRichard CrakerAbaadPrabh Deep ft. SYPSQaabuPrabh DeepPrabh Deep & Lambo DriveHuqumRichard CrakerBaburWaqafPrabh DeepGyaniRichard CrakerSthirPrabh DeepSafar2022BhramPaisaPrabh DeepShauratPrabh Deep & Lambo DriveRishtePrabh DeepNafratPrabh Deep ft. SYPSPrabh Deep & EMi EMiIzzatPrabh DeepPrabh DeepKhayalInayatTajurbaPrabh Deep & Lambo Drive2023PRAAABBURaftaar & Prabh DeepTonybasuBADNAAMLambo DriveHELLOAnywaywellTRAP PRAAUmairBhram (Deluxe)PaisaPrabh DeepPrabh DeepSukoonPrabh Deep ft. GD 47 & Encore ABJShauratPrabh DeepPrabh Deep & Lambo DriveRishtePrabh DeepNafratPrabh Deep ft. SYPSPrabh Deep & EMi EMiIzzatPrabh DeepPrabh DeepSamaajPrabh Deep ft. IkkaShaitaanPrabh Deep ft. CalmKhayalPrabh DeepInayatPrabh Deep ft. AhmerSagarPrabh Deep ft. ScutiTajurbaPrabh Deep ft. RaftaarPrabh Deep, Baajewala & Lambo DriveWapasPrabh DeepPrabh Deep2024KING ReturnsYaadanPrabh DeepPrabh DeepBabajiGirgitDaangEthe RakhBachpanDSPDaang V1Prabh DeepPrabh DeepUstaadiPrabh Deep ft. Faris ShafiScutiZum!!!Prabh Deep ft. Big Calo, SYPSLLoke8-FIGGAAH!Prabh Deep ft. GD47SYPSO.T.MPrabh Deep ft. Alistair Alvin, KAEM, DhanjiPrabh Deep, ScutiRaphaPrabh Deep ft. ScutiScuti, SYPSWajoodScutiHood-RobinVeer-GPrabh Deep ft. SickflipSickflip
Singles and collaborations +YearTrackArtist(s)Produced byNote(s)2015Chi ChiPrabh Deep ft. MC HeamCapital Punishment - New Delhi CypherRaga, Marco, KeepSake, KrazyClip, Slyck, Yungsta & Prabh DeepSez on the BeatFeel MePrabh DeepTime and AgeSlyck TwoshadezPrabh Deep2016Forever GratefulSlyck Twoshadez ft. Prabh DeepFrom the mixtape PharmaSlyck by Slyck TwoshadezLocoPrabh Deep & CalmFrom the New Delhi Mixtape - KhatarnaakHip Hop Is A SchoolPrabh Deep & Sun-j (Agnastik)IlakaMC Heam & Prabh Deep2017Classsikh MautSeedhe Maut, Prabh Deep & Sez on the BeatSez on the BeatFrom the EP 2 Ka Pahada by Seedhe MautSuede GullyDivine, Prabh Deep, Khasi Bloodz & Madurai SouljourPromotional song for Puma2018Class-Sikh Maut, Vol. IIPrabh Deep, Seedhe Maut & Sez on the BeatSez on the BeatVekhi JaPrabh Deep & Sez on the BeatSaucePrabh Deep, Sez on the Beat & Lit Happu2019K.O.Prabh Deep & Sez on the BeatCycloneTienas & Prabh DeepHarmanFrom the album O by TienasElaanAhmer, Sez on the Beat & Prabh DeepSez on the BeatFrom the album Little Kid, Big Dreams by Ahmer & Sez on the BeatCoolieSarathy Korwar ft. Delhi Sultanate & Prabh DeepFrom the album More Arriving by Sarathy KorwarOnly My NameSmokey The Ghost ft. Prabh DeepSez on the BeatTofaPrabh DeepPrabh DeepFlyFeatured in the compilation Vibe Presents: Urban Asia, Vol. 32020PandemicChittaChitta (Remix)Prabh Deep ft. Yung Raja2021AteetPrabh Deep2022Dosh2023TaqdeerPrabh Deep, Rashmeet Kaur, Donn Bhat & Sakur Khan SufiDonn Bhat & Ankur TewariFrom the first season of Coke Studio BharatTHAPPAD!Prabh DeepFantom2024NALLA NERAMYung Raja, Prabh DeepRIIDEM, Flo Moser2025FIZAPrabh DeepScutiDiwani2026Vaade
References
External links