He is a proud ‘west Delhi boy’, who in his own way popularized hip-hop as a genre to a generation. Sporting a salt & pepper look that his parents don’t approve of, Yo Yo Honey Singh now plans to re-establish himself.

“Jab main kamyab hua, maine nashe kiye, maine woh likha. Maine aiyashi kari toh visuals mein dikhayi. Mera dil toota toh woh gaaya… par maine apne logon se kuch nahi chhupaya. I don’t regret anything and I am in a good mood after a long time,” he says.

Does he regret anything? “Nahi yaar, galtiyaan bahut kari par regret nahi karta, kyunki galti ka realisation ho gaya ki yeh galtiyaan kari aur nahi karni chahiye thi. So I am blessed. Kuch log saari zindagi galti regret karne ke baad bhi usko apne system se correct nahi kar paate aur phir se wahi galti karte hain... uss loop mein fasey rehte hain. Galtiyaan hui par regret nahi hai kisi cheez ko leke,” says Honey.

Honey Singh, who had to take a break in 2014 for 18 months due to his mental health battles and substance abuse, points out that he never hid anything from his fans. “I am still on medication. I want to be associated with an organization through which I can support people dealing with issues related to mental health. Mujhe kabhi rehab nahi leke jaya gaya. Maine apni marzi se hashish aur daaru chodhi in 2014. Ab 2021 se badhiya chal raha hai,” he says.

Through his new work, Honey, who has hits like Desi Kalakar, Blue Eyes, Brown Rang to his name, plans to re-establish himself. “I’m in a good mood after a very long time. Peechle teen saal se main bimari se recover kar chuka hoon, kaafi badhiya chal raha hai. Mera confidence itna achcha nahi tha, dheere dheere develop ho raha hai. Honey 3.0 (2023) mein main dara hua tha, tab maine khud produce nahi ki woh album,” he says.

“Woh fear isliye tha kyunki 6-7 saal kaam nahi kiya toh craft nikal gaya,” admits Honey, adding, “Meri sabse badi ladayi khud ke saath hai kyunki maine Angreji Beat banaya, Party All Night banaya, Lungi Dance, Blue Eyes, Sunny Sunny, Chaar Botal Vodka, Aata Majhi Satakli, Yaar Naa Miley banaya toh yeh sab milestones thay. Kuch bhi kisi chiz se match nahi karti thi toh mere liye sabse bada challenge tha ki mera kaam pehle ke kaam se match na kare. People shouldn’t say that Honey Singh came back after so many years and he is doing the same thing. Aur mere saath ulta hua. Log uss waqt aware thay ki yeh aadmi har baar kuch alag karega (when he was working), people knew that this guy is insane and he is dropping something new every time. But mera music jab nahi aaya toh woh bhul gaye ki Honey Singh toh shuru se alag karta tha.”

While Honey’s songs were always a hit, his lyrics have often been termed as objectionable and misogynistic. Ask him about his opinion on this and he says, “I don’t give a s*** but I think I should answer this. Gulzar sahab likh rahe hain. ‘Beedi jalaile jigar se piya, jigar mein badi aag hai’, jigar kahan hota hai aurat ka? This is misogynistic for me. ‘Zuban pe laga namak ishq ka’, why is he talking about the tongue of a woman...main yeh sab sunke bada hua hoon. Sirf main hi kyun galat hoon? Main pehle bolta nahi tha, aaj bol raha hoon yeh baatein. Main pehle jawab nahi deta tha toh log kehte thay easy target hai, issi ke baare mein bolo. Iski na koi PR hai nahi jo iski image clean karegi, yeh leta rahega.”

Does he think his lyrics objectify women? “I am not objectifying women, aise thodi na hota hai. Pehle kaise kaise gaaane hote thay, woh ganon ki tarah liye jaate thay. Main Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai jaise controversial ganon ki toh baat hi nahi karta... par Honey Singh ko hi kyun gaali di jaati hai aur unko aap legend bolte ho? Main bhi bolta hoon. Hum dual personalities leke chal rahe hain aaj ke daur mein. Modernize bhi ho rahe hain par backward bhi soch rahe hain,” he says.

‘Proud to be from Karampura’ Honey, who is from Karampura in West Delhi, says, “Karampura hai ek refugee area. Mere bhi great grandfather Lahore se aaye thay. Woh lower middle class area tha lekin uske saath hai Punjabi Bagh – jahan bachhon ke paas gaadiyan thi, paisa tha. Toh woh (mera) inspiration tha. Hamare pita ji ne hum dono bhai behen ko kisi tarah karke Punjabi Bagh ke badhiya school mein dala. Mere liye initially ek inferiority complex tha ki kisi ko pata na chale ki main Karampura rehta hoon. Today I am proud that I am from Karampura. Main world mein kahin ghoomta hoon toh mujhe koi na koi West Delhi se mil jaata hai. They say, ‘Paaji, West Delhi for life.’”