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Karan Aujla shares a wishlist of artists he'd love to collaborate with
Rapper Karan Aujla has emerged as one of the most influential Punjabi artists on the global stage. When it comes to collaborations, the singer-songwriter and hip-hop star believes music is as much about chemistry as craft. “I love meeting people and spending time with them before I make music. For me, it starts with who I can really get along with,” he says in an exclusive conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India.
His list of dream collaborations spans Punjab, India, and beyond. Asked if he could manifest some of these, he responds, “In Punjab, I would say the late Soni Pabla. If I was around back then, or if he was around now, I would love to work on songs with him.”
Closer to Bollywood, Aujla’s first choice is Arijit Singh. “His genre of music is crazy, and the way he sings… I would love to see what we could create together.”
On a global scale, his wishlist is equally thrilling. “I have always wanted to bring one of the female rappers in America — Cardi B or Nicki Minaj — and have them feature on an Indian song. Imagine them in Indian dresses, vibing on a Punjabi track.”
He also dreams of studio sessions with Jay-Z, J. Cole, 50 Cent, or even Snoop Dogg. “Snoop would be sick — he’s funny, real, and I feel like we would actually be good friends,” he says.
Aujla's star has only risen in recent years, with the 2024 earworm ‘Tauba Tauba’ breaking out globally. His latest album, P-Pop Culture, which fuses fiery Punjabi hip-hop with the glitter and swing of modern pop, is now out. As he prepares for his ‘It Was All A Dream’ India tour — which has already expanded to 11 shows across eight cities — Aujla is pushing his vision of Punjabi pop-culture forward.
Watch our full interview with Karan Aujla, out on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel.