On January 1, a historic event took place in New York City with Punjabi Canadian rapper Babbulicous playing a notable role. Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim and Indian Ugandan mayor, was inaugurated on New Year’s Day, becoming the 112th mayor of New York City.
Babbulicious, also known as Babbu Beard, concluded the ceremony by performing a revamped version of his 2022 song “Gaddi Red Challenger.” The track has gained significant popularity over the past three years, amassing nearly 30 million Spotify streams and 14 million YouTube views.
In a behind-the-scenes video shared on his Instagram, the Brampton, Ont. rapper and comedian expressed his mix of nervousness and excitement about participating in the inauguration. He credited Zohran’s speech for igniting his passion.
“Gaddi Red Challenger” is a confident and boastful track, highlighting themes of respect and admiration. The rapper collaborated with producer J Statik, known for his work with prominent artists such as Karan Aujla, Diljit Dosanjh, and the late Sidhu Moose Wala.
The song’s fusion of bhangra and hip hop, coupled with its witty lyrics, caught the attention of Mamdani’s team, leading to Babbulicious’ performance at the event.
During an interview with BBC Asian Network, Babbulicious recounted how he was invited to perform at the inauguration through an Instagram message. He revamped the song to infuse more energy and relevance, modifying the lyrics to pay tribute to New York City and Zohran Mamdani.
The rapper also personalized the chorus by incorporating the names of New York City’s five boroughs. Reflecting on the positive feedback received, Babbulicious emphasized the significance of representation for the South Asian community on a global platform, alongside Mayor Mamdani.