Yo Yo Honey Singh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yo Yo Honey Singh
Shah Rukh Khan (left), Singh (right) in SLAM The Tour concert in US (2014)
Background information
Birth name	Hirdesh Singh
Born	(1983-03-15) 15 March 1983 (age 42) Karampura, Delhi, India
Origin	Punjab, India
Genres	Hip hop rap pop EDM bhangra pop rap R&B
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer record producer songwriter actor
Years active	2003–present
Labels	T-Series Zee Music Company Speed Records

Hirdesh Singh (born 15 March 1983), known professionally as Yo Yo Honey Singh or simply Honey Singh, is an Indian rapper, singer, music producer and actor. He commenced his career as a hip-hop music producer in 2003, working as a session and recording artist within the underground music scene until the release of his debut studio album, International Villager.

Early life

Hirdesh Singh was born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India on 15 March 1983 into a Punjabi family to parents Sardaar Sarabjit Singh and Bhupinder Kaur. Hirdesh has a sister, Sneha Singh. His family moved to Delhi in his childhood and he graduated from Guru Nanak Public School in the Pitampura neighbourhood of Punjabi Bagh, North West Delhi.

Career

Music

Singh, known for his fusion of Punjabi and Hindi music, prefers to sing in his native languages rather than in English. He made his mark on the music scene with the release of his Punjabi album International Villager on 11 November 2011. The album's hit track "Gabru", featuring J-Star, quickly climbed to the top of the Asian music charts, including the official BBC Asian charts.

During the early 2010s, Singh became popular in the Indian music industry, performing at numerous college festivals such as Ansal Institute of Technology and Ramjas College in Delhi. His collaborations with prominent artists, like Diljit Dosanjh, further cemented his position. Their song "Lak 28 Kudi Da" reached number one on the BBC Asian Download Charts in May 2011, serving as a promotional track for Dosanjh's film Lion of Punjab.

By 2012, Singh had set a record for the highest fee ever paid to an artist for a Bollywood song, reportedly receiving ₹7 million rupees (US$84,000) for tracks in the movies Cocktail and Mastan. His popularity surged on YouTube with two of his videos— "Brown Rang" and "High Heels" (a collaboration with Jaz Dhami)—ranking among the top trending videos that year. Following the success of "Brown Rang", Singh released "Angreji Beat" in collaboration with Gippy Grewal. This track further solidified his presence in the music industry, becoming a party anthem across India. In 2013, Singh dropped another chartbuster, "Blue Eyes". The song, known for its sleek production and catchy hook, became an instant hit, showcasing his versatility in blending Hindi and English lyrics with an international sound. In 2014, Singh released "Desi Kalakaar", featuring Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha. The song and its accompanying music video were a huge success, with Singh adopting a more cinematic approach to his music. The song's success was followed by other popular tracks such as "Love Dose" and "Birthday Bash", which continued to top charts across the country.

Despite facing health issues that forced him to take a break from his career, Singh continued to contribute to the music industry. During this period, he wrote the hit track "Dheere Dheere" in 2015, a recreation of the iconic song from the movie Aashiqui. The track featured Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor in the music video and went on to become a massive hit, breaking numerous records on YouTube. It was the first Indian song to exceed 200 million views on YouTube alone.

Bollywood

His debut song in Bollywood films was "Shakal Pe Mat Ja", featuring Gagan Sidhu. Singh charged Rs. 7 million for a song in the film Mastan. This was the largest amount paid to a song artist in Bollywood to date, making Singh one of the highest-paid musical artists in Bollywood.

In February 2015 he released the songs "Birthday Bash" with Alfaaz, followed by songs in films including Gabbar Is Back and Bhaag Johnny.

Mumbai Saga's first song "Shor Machega", was released on 28 February 2021. It was composed by Singh, with lyrics and vocals by Singh and Hommie Dilliwala.

Acting

Singh made his acting debut with Baljit Singh Deo's Punjabi film Mirza - The Untold Story (2012), performing the role of Deesha, a mad gangster. Despite only being a cameo appearance, the role went on to win Singh the PTC Punjabi Film Award for Best Male Debut. The following year, Singh appeared in another Punjabi film, this time a comedy by Amit Prasher, Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22, as Rolly, a childish and spoilt brat, alongside Amrinder Gill. This was Singh's first main role in a film.

In 2016, Singh starred in the Punjabi action film Zorawar, directed by Vinnil Markan, which was marketed as one of the most expensive Punjabi films to date. The film was critically acclaimed.

Personal life

Singh comes from a Sikh family and has two siblings. He was influenced by various musical genres, including hip-hop, Punjabi folk, and Indian classical music, which shaped his unique style. His early career included producing music for Bollywood films and independent albums, which gained him significant popularity.

On 23 January 2011, Singh married Shalini Talwar, a longtime friend. In November 2023, the couple were divorced.

Comeback

After overcoming significant health challenges, Singh made a comeback in 2018 with the track "Makhna", which re-established him as a prominent figure in the Indian music scene. The song was well-received, showcasing his ability to blend contemporary sounds with vibrant visuals. Following this, Singh released Urvashi later that same year, featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani.

In 2019, he collaborated with Malkit Singh on "Gur Nalo Ishq Mitha - The YOYO Remake", demonstrating his versatility. The year 2020 marked a significant milestone with the release of "Loca", featuring Simar Kaur, and "Moscow Mashuka", featuring Neha Kakkar, both of which garnered substantial popularity. He also featured in "Billo Tu Agg Ae", a track by Singsta, and "Jingle Bell", expanding his musical repertoire.

Continuing his momentum, Singh released "First Kiss" in 2021, featuring Ipsitaa Khullar, followed by "Saiyaan Ji", a collaboration with Neha Kakkar, which became a hit. That same year, he was also part of "Kanta Laga", featuring Tony Kakkar and Neha Kakkar, and "Boom Boom", showcasing his ongoing presence in the music industry.

In 2023, Singh released "Kala Star", which broke multiple streaming records and was well-received by audiences. He continued to build on his success with tracks like "Ka Kha Ga", "Designer", and "Casanova".

Later in 2023, Singh released several tracks as part of his album Honey 3.0, including "Naagan", "Pankhudi (The Ride Song)", and "Kuley Kuley".

In 2024, Singh launched his album Glory, featuring 18 tracks, including "Millionaire", "Rap God", and "JATT MEHKMA". This album marked a significant milestone in his career and received widespread acclaim, with multiple songs trending on music streaming platforms.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Appearances on film soundtracks

Production discography

Filmography

Movies

Documentary

Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous (2024) {Netflix}

Television

Awards

• 2010 PTC Punjabi Best Music Director 2010 for the song "Desi Daroo"
• 2011 PTC Punjabi Best Music Director 2011 for album The Folkstar
• 2012 PTC Punjabi Best Music Director 2012 for album I.V. (International Villager)
• 2012 BritAsia TV Music Awards 2012 – Best International Act
• 2012 UK Asian Music Awards Best International Album 2012 for Album album I.V. (International Villager)
• 2012 PTC Punjabi Film Award – Best Music Director 2012 for Mirza – The Untold Story
• 2012 PTC Punjabi Film Award – Best Debut (Male) for Mirza – The Untold Story
• 2013 MTV VMAI Awards – Best Indie Artist (male) 2013 for the song "Brown Rang"
• 2013 MTV EMA Awards – Best India Act 2013 for "Bring me Back"
• 2013 BIG Star Entertainment Awards – Singh was co-winner of Most Entertaining Singer (Male), and "Lungi Dance" was nominated as Most Entertaining Song.
• 2014 Zee Cine Awards 2014 for International Icon Male
• 2014 Stardust Awards – Best Music Director for Yaariyan
• 2016 Hindustan Times India's Most Stylish Awards – Most Stylish Singer
• 2018 Mirchi Music Awards – Listener's Choice Album of the Year for Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and Listener's Choice Song of the Year for "Dil Chori"
• 2019 IIFA Award for Best Music Director for Best Performance by a music director for Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety

See also

• Desi Kalakaar
• An Open Letter to Honey Singh