About 15 years ago, a rapper from a humble background stepped into the hip-hop music scene and completely transformed it with his unique style.
His songs were heard everywhere, from weddings to clubs. Tracks about partying, drugs, and romance echoed from roadside tea stalls to grand celebrations. His music brought joy, excitement, and a sense of escape to listeners.
But just when he was at the peak of his career, he suddenly disappeared. For seven years, Yo Yo Honey Singh stayed away from the limelight. Now, he has made a comeback with a new album and is touring once again.
After battling drug addiction and mental health struggles, he now says he has transformed himself and is ready for a fresh start.
In the Netflix documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, music journalist Bhanuj Kappal describes the 41-year-old singer and producer as one of India’s biggest music stars, someone who “pioneered the cultural influence of hip-hop music.”
However, alongside his fame, Honey Singh was often caught in controversies. He himself admits that he was an “aggressive and reckless person.” His music was frequently criticized for promoting obscenity, adultery, and violence.
Many people accused his songs of glorifying violence and even encouraging harm against women.
His public image took another hit when his childhood sweetheart and ex-wife filed for divorce, accusing him of domestic violence. However, Singh denied these allegations.
Seven years later, Honey Singh is no longer the same chart-topping hitmaker who once dominated the music industry with his energetic and provocative songs.
The music scene, including Indian hip-hop, has changed significantly in recent years. It has evolved, and many artists who once looked up to him have now moved ahead in their own directions.
Honey Singh’s style has also transformed. Once calling himself the “omniscient Guru of the universe,” he now identifies as a God-fearing person—someone who believes in faith, life’s ups and downs, and even “scientific astrologers.”
He claims his music has become more thoughtful and deep, moving away from themes of intoxication. However, his fans have mixed reactions. Many feel he has lost his signature style, and his new songs no longer have the same impact as before.
But Honey Singh is not ready to give up just yet.
Instead of hiding or defending his struggles with fame and drug addiction, he has made them the core of his comeback story.
He openly acknowledges his past addiction and mental health battles. “Drugs completely destroyed me,” he admitted in an interview with a digital news platform. “I ruined myself for fame, money, and women. I was like a devil, a complete devil.”
Despite his turbulent past, he now appears more composed and even humorous in his interviews. He acknowledges that he was once a victim of his own vices but now speaks with clarity, believing he has found the truth after facing his inner demons.
Recently, he reflected on his journey, saying, “You reap what you sow. It took me some time to get out of the place I was stuck in, but I am back now.”
Yo Yo Honey Singh, originally named Hirdesh Singh, was born in Punjab but grew up in a tough neighborhood in Delhi. It was here that he shaped his musical style, and the influence of those early years can still be seen in his work today.
He often reminisces, saying, “This colony was my home, my area, and it will always remain so.”
Singh always knew he wanted a career in music. He started as a college DJ and later transitioned into full-time music production. “I never wanted to sing or write; I always wanted to work on beats and music,” he recalls.
After spending years as a small-time music producer in Punjab, he realized he needed more. “My voice was too urban for that place. People couldn’t understand it. To grow, I had to move out of Punjab,” he explains.
Honey Singh released his breakthrough solo album, The International Villager, in 2011. By blending Punjabi dhol and string beats with hip-hop, he created something entirely new.
At first, the album seemed to struggle, with little success in the first three months. Then, everything changed overnight. His songs went viral, topped the charts, won awards, and eventually landed him a spot in Bollywood.
One of his biggest hits, “Brown Rang,” a song about a brown man’s global ambitions, became YouTube’s most-watched video of 2012. Shot in Dubai with a million-dollar budget, the video featured flashy cars, oversized clothes, diamond-studded watches, and gold chains—bringing hip-hop’s signature luxury to Indian audiences.
Despite growing criticism for his lyrics, which some felt were anti-women, Singh continued to fill stadiums and deliver back-to-back hits. He even worked with Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.
Reflecting on his past work, he admitted in an interview, “Many times, the lyrics of my songs were bad—I knew that. But people still listened because the music was fresh and exciting.”
With Honey Singh’s rise to fame came his personal downfall.
“I was deep into drugs and alcohol, smoking 12-15 joints a day and drinking entire bottles. I lost control and even distanced myself from my family. Once, I was so drunk that I bit a friend’s stomach eight times,” he revealed.
His breaking point came in 2017 during a tour. A single moment shook him completely, leading him to quit music and substance abuse. He returned to Delhi, where he sought treatment under the care of world-class doctors.
“I told my family that I was mentally unwell and couldn’t do anything until I recovered,” Singh recalls.
Now, he claims he has stayed away from alcohol for the last seven years, except for the occasional beer.
“I’ve been to hell and back. Even now, I wake up feeling hazy in the morning because of the medications,” he shares in the Netflix documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous.
Singh’s fans appreciate his honesty and his efforts to overcome his struggles, including his battle with suicidal thoughts.
“Nobody is perfect, but at least Singh is trying to be better. He may have stepped away from the music world for a while, but his music never truly stopped,” says Nandini Gupta, a student from Delhi.
However, not everyone is convinced. Some feel his comeback lacks originality. “His music feels weaker now. It still objectifies women and revolves around money and fame,” says listener Bushra Nayazi.
Regardless of opinions, Honey Singh’s return challenges his fans to accept his past and give his music another chance.
With confidence in his resurgence, he recently declared, “I was away for seven years, but in the next seven, I will enchant everyone again. I’m back, and I want the same love I received before.”
YO YO Honey Singh Latest Song.
