The first Hindi rap album in India was Thanda Thanda Pani by Harjeet Singh Sehgal, popularly known as Baba Sehgal. Released in the early 1990s, the album was a Hindi adaptation of Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby and went on to become a massive success, selling over 30,000 copies. This groundbreaking release marked the beginning of rap and hip-hop in the Indian music industry, earning Baba Sehgal the title of India’s first rap star. His distinct blend of humor, rhythm, and catchy lyrics introduced a new genre to Indian audiences.

Baba Sehgal, an engineer by qualification, began his musical career with the album Dilruba in 1990, followed by Alibaba in 1991. Thanda Thanda Pani, his third album, catapulted him to national fame. His music video Dil Dhadke was notably the first Indian music video to be aired on MTV Asia, signaling the arrival of Indipop on the global stage. Beyond music, Baba Sehgal has also ventured into films, playing the lead in Miss 420 and composing music for movies like Dance Party and Bhoot Uncle. His contributions continue to influence India’s pop and rap culture.