AP Dhillon explained

AP Dhillon
Birth Name:Amritpal Singh Dhillon
Birth Place:Mullianwal, Punjab, India
Years Active:2019–present
Module:
Embed:yes
Instrument:Vocals
Background:solo_singer
Current Member Of:Run-Up

Amritpal Singh Dhillon, known professionally as AP Dhillon, is an Indo-Canadian[1] [2] [3] rapper, singer and record producer associated with Punjabi music.[4] Five of his singles have peaked on the Official Charts Company UK Asian and Punjabi charts, while "Majhail" and "Brown Munde" have topped Billboard charts. Dhillon, alongside his label-mates Gurinder Gill, Shinda Kahlon and Gminxr, work as group under their label Run-Up Records.[5] [6]

Early life

Amritpal Singh Dhillon was born into a Sikh family in Mullianwal in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India.[7] He studied at the Little Flower Convent School and completed his graduation in Civil Engineering from Baba Kuma Singh Ji Engineering College in Amritsar. Dhillon pursued a Diploma in Business Administration and Management from Camosun College in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. He briefly worked at Best Buy before pivoting to music.[8]

Career

Dhillon started in 2019 with single track "Fake" with Shinda Kahlon under their own independent label Run-Up Records. Later he appeared on the video, and credited as producer, of the track "Faraar" by Gurinder Gill and Shinda Kahlon.

In 2020, his single "Deadly" with producer Gminxr, entered UK Asian chart published by the Official Charts Company, and peaked at number 11.[9] Also, the song entered top 5 on UK Punjabi chart. His next single "Droptop" with Gurinder Gill also appeared on both UK Asian and UK Punjabi chart. In June 2020, he collaborated with Gurinder Gill and Manni Sandhu for single "Majhail", which topped both the UK Asian and Punjabi chart, and became their best performance till date. In July 2020, he and Gurinder Gill appeared in "Excuses" by Intense, which peaked at number 3 on UK Asian and topped the UK Punjabi chart. In September 2020, he released "Brown Munde" with Gurinder Gill, Gminxr, and Shinda Kahlon. Nav, Sidhu Moose Wala, Money Musik, Anmol Dalwani and Steel Banglez appeared in its music video.[10] The song entered Apple Music chart in Canada.[11] The song debuted at number one on the UK Asian chart, became his second number one on the chart.

In 2020, AP Dhillon released his first Collaborative EP, Not by Chance with Gurinder Gill and Money Musik. All seven tracks from the EP charted on the NZ charts and peaked at top five of the Official Punjabi Music chart in the UK.

In 2021, AP Dhillon and his team performed a live concert for the first time as part of the "Over The Top – The Takeover Tour" in major 6 cities in India.[12] [13] Dhillon partners with Boat for brand association.[14] Dhillon released a collaborative EP "Hidden Gems" with Gurinder Gill and Gminxr in fall 2021.

In 2022, Dhillon collaborated with Amazon Prime Video for the promotion of The Boys (season 3) under which he cues an exclusive version of his track ‘Insane’ in the trailer.[15]

In 2023, Dhillon was the first Punjabi language artist to perform at the 2023 Juno Awards in Edmonton, Canada with his hit song "Summer High".[16]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
CAN
[18]
Hidden Gems
(with Gurinder Gill, Gminxr and Shinda Kahlon)
  • Released: November 21, 2021
  • Label: Run-Up
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Two Hearts Never
Break the Same
  • Released: October 7, 2022
  • Label: Run-Up
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
53
First of a Kind (Amazon original series)
  • Released: September 8, 2024
  • Labels: Mass Appeal India, Run-Up
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsMusicAlbum
CAN
[19]
NZ
Hot

[20]
INDUK
[21]
UK
Asian

[22]
UK
Punjabi
WW
[23]
WW Excl. US
[24]
"Fake"
(with Gminxr)
2019Gminxrrowspan="14"
"Top Boy"AP Dhillon
"Arrogant"
2020Gminxr
"Feels"
"Most Wanted"
(with Gurinder Gill and Gminxr)
"Hustlin'"
"Deadly"
(with Gminxr)
11 4[25]
"Kirsaan"
Gminxr & S-Kay
"Droptop"
28 8 Gminxr
"Majhail"
1[26] 1 Manni Sandhu
"Excuses"
4 3 1[27] 172Intense
"Free Smoke"
Manu
"Brown Munde"
(with Gurinder Gill, Gminxr & Shinda Kahlon)
1 1 Gminxr
"Toxic"
3 3 Intense
"Foreigns"
2[28] 6 Money MusikNot by Chance
"Saada Pyaar"
(with Money Musik)
20 1[29] 2
"Fate"
33 5
"Drip"
17
"Takeover"
28 10
"Chances"
29 4
"Goat"
21 3
"Idol"
(featuring Straight Bank)
2021J-Statikrowspan="3"
"Insane"
10 1 1 Gminxr & Pvli
"Ma Belle"
27 3 3 AP Dhillon
"Against All Odds"
7[30] GminxrHidden Gems
"Majhe Aale"
32[31] 5
"Spaceship"
8[32] 4
"Tere Te"
30 3 3 AP Dhillon
"Desires"
22 2 2
"War"
8 Manu
"Summer High" 202279 15 13 1[33] 1[34] Pvli & SachTwo Hearts Never Break the Same
"Dil Nu"
16[35] 7 Rebbel
"All Night"
7 5
"Hills" 6 Chris Beats
"Wo Noor" 39 4 3 Pvli
"Final Thoughts"
9 Gminxr & Osrs
"True Stories"
202381 14 4 2 Gore Oceanrowspan="2"
"Sleepless"35 5 3 Castello Beats
"With You"41 14 2 1 1 137 Rebbel First of a Kind (from Amazon Original Series)
"Lifestyle"
(with Shinda Kahlon)
39 11 Yogic Beats
"Scars"36 20 9 Fantom
"Real Talk"
(with Shinda Kahlon)
202411 6 AP Dhillon, Manu, Muddy, La+chrowspan="2"
"Problems Over Peace"
(with Stormzy)
34 1 1
"Old Money"53 17 3 3 The Brownprint

Production discography

Title! scope="col"
YearArtistsAlbum
"Faraar" 2019Gurinder Gill, Shinda Kahlonrowspan="3"
"Top Boy"AP Dhillon
"Ma Belle"2021AP Dhillon, Amari
"Desires"AP Dhillon, Gurinder GillHidden Gems
"Tere Te"

Filmography

Web series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hendriques . Princia . July 12, 2022 . AP Dhillon And 'The Boys 3' Crossover Makes The Internet Go 'Bawaal'; Rapper Drops Special Version Of 'Insane' . September 15, 2022 . Mashable India . en-in.
  2. News: India-Canada tensions: Punjabi hip-hop stars hit by row over Sikh separatism . November 13, 2023 . BBC News . October 4, 2023.
  3. News: Watch: Dutch Singer Recreates AP Dhillon's Hit Song 'Excuses' . May 26, 2022 . NDTV . May 3, 2022.
  4. Web site: Khosla . Varuni . November 19, 2021 . Boat ties up with Punjabi singer AP Dhillon for brand association . January 31, 2023 . mint . en.
  5. Web site: Punjabi Wave: How Diasporic Canadian Artists Are Redefining Global Music Billboard Canada . November 13, 2023 . ca.billboard.com . en.
  6. Web site: Punjabi Wave: Why AP Dhillon Is Betting On Himself Billboard Canada . November 13, 2023 . ca.billboard.com . en.
  7. Harshleen Anand. Old Clips Of AP Dhillon Singing During His College Days Just Raised 'Saada Pyaar' For Him. MensXP. December 14, 2021.
  8. Web site: August 18, 2023 . AP Dhillon: You Know His Music, Now Know The Man; Everything About The 'Brown Munde' Singer . August 19, 2023 . English Jagran . en.
  9. AP Dhillon Chart history:https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/61523/ap-dhillon

    AP Dhillon/ Shinda Kahlon:https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/61602/ap-dhillon-shinda-kahlon/

    Kahlon/Dhillon/Gill/Gminxr:https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/58654/kahlon-gill-gminxr-dhillon/

    Singles on UK Asian Music Chart:

  10. Web site: Kumari. Priyanca. September 18, 2020. Breaking Boundaries: Sidhu Moose Wala and Steel Banglez Cameo in 'Brown Munde'. September 19, 2020. BritAsia TV. en-GB.
  11. Web site: Top 100: Canada. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919131834/https://music.apple.com/in/playlist/top-100-canada/pl.79bac9045a2540e0b195e983df8ba569. September 19, 2020. September 19, 2020. Apple Music. en-gb.
  12. Web site: Over The Top – AP Dhillon The Takeover Tour India. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028083648/https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/ap-dhillon-the-takeover-tour/ET00316876 . October 28, 2021.
  13. Erin LeBlanc. Meet the Toronto woman behind the unique mansion that has hosted stars like The Weeknd and Belly. The Star. April 16, 2022.
  14. Web site: boAt partners with AP Dhillon for #LiveTheSound campaign . January 31, 2023 . Financialexpress . November 18, 2021 . en.
  15. Web site: July 12, 2022 . Amazon Prime Video collaborates with A.P. Dhillon post a fantastic The Boys Season 3 finale . September 14, 2022 . Firstpost . en.
  16. Web site: Juno Awards 2023: AP Dhillon Makes History with First Punjabi Performance at the Show . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314005648/https://etcanada.com/news/976572/juno-awards-2023-ap-dhillon-makes-history-with-first-punjabi-performance-at-the-show/ . dead . March 14, 2023 . March 13, 2023 .
  17. Peaks of EPs in Canada:
  18. Peaks of EPs in Canada:
  19. Canadian Hot 100: Week of October 22, 2022. Billboard. October 18, 2022.
  20. Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
  21. Web site: August 31, 2023 . AP DHILLON . November 20, 2023 . Official Charts . en.
  22. Billboard Global 200: Week of September 2, 2023. Billboard. August 29, 2023. subscription.
  23. Intense | Biography, Music & News . .
  24. Web site: Official Punjabi Music Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company. August 10, 2020. www.officialcharts.com. en.
  25. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . December 2, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  26. Web site: Official Punjabi Music Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company. August 10, 2020. www.officialcharts.com. en.
  27. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . December 6, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  28. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . December 6, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  29. Web site: Official Punjabi Music Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company . December 8, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  30. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . December 8, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  31. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . December 8, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  32. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . October 19, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  33. Web site: Official Punjabi Music Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company . October 19, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  34. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company . December 4, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  35. News: August 18, 2023 . AP Dhillon: First Of A Kind Season 1 . The Times of India . October 6, 2023 . 0971-8257.