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I’ve occasionally groused about how bad I think a lot of Bollywood music is today, so it seems only fair to say a little about a soundtrack I actually like, Singh is Kinng. I picked up the CD in New Jersey recently, along with Dr. Zeus’s “Welcome 2 Da Club,” a CD I would also recommend, for those who like hip hop mixed with bollywood hits.

First, I should admit that after Googling the film’s title quickly, I still can’t quite figure out why there are two n’s in “Kinng.” (Does anyone know? Is it some astrology/numerology thing?)

The standout track is of course the title, with the O.G. westside signature synth sound, and a contribution of a rap from Snoop Dogg. Alongside Wyclef Jean (who had some great lines in his contribution to DJ Rekha’s “Basement Bhangra Anthem”), American hip hop suddenly seems to have gotten a lot more interested in directly participating in Indian pop music (not just via remix or sampling anymore). My favorite lines from Snoop are the following:

Ferraris, Bugattis, and Maseratis
Snoop D O double G, the life of the party
Lay back, stay back, i’m in the Maybach
This aint James Brown, but it’s the big payback
Watch me zoom by, make it boom by
What up to all the ladies hanging out in Mumbai
Cheese make dollars, east west masala
Singh is the king, so you all have to follow

(Not that there is anything that exciting to rapping about expensive cars. But I do like the way he pronounces “Moombai.”)

The British Bhangra/remix group RDB produced the album (and they appeared alongside Akshay Kumar at the IIFA awards a few weeks ago); this is by far their biggest mainstream Indian release — good for them. Tigerstyle (whose “Nachna Onda Nei” was used in a recent dance number on “Britain’s Got Talent”) are also involved with some solid remix tracks on the album. It’s also cool to see Hard Kaur in action again in Bas Ek Kinng, though once again it seems like it’s all about the punchy way she uses her voice — there’s not much going on in the lyrics.

Finally, Daler Mehndi is solid with “Bhootni Ke,” a catchy wedding number. I always like it when DM gets to really work the power in his voice.

Not that every track is memorable. If you’re buying tracks off of ITunes, I would recommend tracks 1-4, and the Daler Mehndi track (#10).