Mumbai: Despite a public apology and the immediate removal of his latest track Tateeree from all platforms, the backlash against singer-rapper Badshah continues to intensify.
However, amidst the waves of online criticism and legal pressure, fellow artist Santy Sharma has stepped forward to defend the hip-hop star, blaming a "lack of knowledge" among Indian listeners for the disproportionate outrage.
Santy Sharma took to Instagram to share a photo of Badshah, accompanied by a lengthy defense of the rapper's creative process. Sharma argued that the public is judging Badshah without understanding the technicalities of music production or the culture of the genre.
"Rap music is a genre where rappers write lines about their competitors as references. A song's audio can be created long before the video. The video team is separate, and even major artists like Badshah may not even know their video will be like this," Sharma wrote.
He further criticized the audience's perception of Indian hip-hop, stating, "A major drawback to Badshah and other artists emerging in India today is the lack of knowledge among listeners in India about this hip-hop art form. If a lyric in a song is incorrect, the lyrics should be updated or changed, but the way Badshah is being judged without understanding the full story is wrong. Sorry, if anyone hurted from this post but this is the reality."
The uproar began shortly after Tateeree was released on March 1, 2026. Listeners quickly flagged the song for its "double-meaning" and "obscene" lyrics.
The situation escalated when the music video featured dancers in school uniforms. Critics and cultural groups in Haryana argued that the visuals were predatory and highly offensive, leading to a police complaint. Following the complaint, reports emerged that a lookout notice had been issued against the rapper.
Attempting to douse the fire, Badshah posted a video message before scrubbing the song from the internet. In the clip, he leaned heavily on his roots to express his regret to the people of Haryana.
While Badshah has remained silent since the apology, the debate sparked by Santy Sharma's defense suggests a widening divide between traditional sensibilities and the evolving "rap culture" in India.