Emiway Bantai
Emiway Bantai | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mohd. Bilal Shaikh |
| Born | November 13, 1995 Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Genres | Hip-hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Mohd. Bilal Shaikh (born 13 November 1995), professionally known as Emiway Bantai, is an Indian rapper, singer, songwriter, and music composer. He is best known for his tracks such as "GRIND," "Company," "Machayenge,", "Aur Bantai" and "Khatam Hue Waande".[1][2]
Early Life
Shaikh was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, into a middle-class Muslim family with ancestral roots in Karnataka. At the age of three, his family moved to Antop Hill, Mumbai, where he was raised. He attended Lakshdham High School in Mumbai. During his school years, he developed an interest in hip hop after being introduced to artists such as Eminem and Lil Wayne, particularly inspired by Eminem's song "Not Afraid". The stage name "Emiway" is a blend of "Eminem" and "Lil Wayne".[3]
Personal Life
In January 2025, Emiway Bantai married actress and model Swaalina (Halina Kuchey).[4]
Career
Emiway began his music career in 2013 with the release of his first track, "Glint Lock," which was performed in English. He subsequently transitioned to rapping in Hindi, gaining initial recognition with tracks such as "Aur Bantai" (2014) and "Maal Wali Aunty" (2015), both of which achieved viral popularity on YouTube.[5] Between 2017 and 2019, He released a series of tracks including "Bantai," "Khatam," and "Machayenge," each amassing millions of views online and contributing to his growing presence in the Indian independent music scene. In 2018, he was involved in a widely publicized rap feud with fellow rapper Raftaar, which attracted significant media attention and sparked debate.[6] In 2019, Emiway received the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Indian Act for his track "Freeverse FEAST".[7] In 2021, He collaborated with West Indies cricketer and musician Chris Gayle on the track "Jamaica to India."[8] That same year, he released his debut album, Malum Hai Na. The title track, initially released as a single in 2019, became one of his most recognized songs. [9] In May 2022, He released his second studio album, 8 Saal, featuring nine tracks, through his independent label, Bantai Studios. His third studio album, King of Streets, was released in 2023. The 17-track album explores themes of street life, ambition, and resilience. The track "Company" from the album achieved notable chart success, and by mid-2025, the album had accumulated over 83 million streams on Spotify.[10] In 2024, He released two additional albums, Wholeheartedly and Northern Nights. Wholeheartedly, released in March 2024, marked a shift towards melodic rap and featured collaborations with emerging artists from his Bantai label.[11] In 2025, He released the single "Badshah," which sampled a song from the 1999 Bollywood film Baadshah and garnered over 10 million views within 24 hours of release. He also released a tribute song dedicated to the late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, which was positively received by both fans and critics.[12][13] In May 2025, media reports indicated that Emiway received death threats and a ₹1 crore ransom demand from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang following the release of his tribute to Sidhu Moose Wala.[14]
Awards and Recognition
● Best Indian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards (2020)[15] ● Best Hip Hop Artist (People’s Choice) Award at Radio City Freedom Awards. (2017, 2018, 2019)[16] ● Best Indian Act - MTV Europe Music Awards for Freeverse Feast. (2019)[17] ● Best Song - Radio City Freedom Award for Aisa Kuch Shot Nahi Hai. (2016)[18]
References
- ↑ "Who Is 'Aur Bantai' Fame Hip-Hop Artist, Emiway Bantai? Flunked 12th, Has A Net Worth Of Rs. 60 Cr". BollywoodShaadis. 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "As hip-hop turns 50, here's a look at India's favourite hip-hop artists - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Chaudhury, Shreshtha (2025-01-26). "When Emiway Bantai Explored His Passion For Rap Music From Grade 10: Exploring The Rapper's Love For Eminem, 50 Crore+ Net Worth & Love Life!". Koimoi. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Is Rapper Emiway Bantai Married To Swaalina? Netizens Wonder After 'Wedding' Pics". Times Now. 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "The Creative Questionnaire with Emiway Bantai, Mumbai rapper". Red Bull. 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Xalxo, Jessica (2021-10-22). "COVER STORY: The Rise and Rise of Emiway Bantai". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Melvin, V. (2019-11-04). "Hip-hop artiste Emiway Bantai wins Best Indian Act at MTV Europe Music Awards". Indulgexpress. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Chris Gayle: Winning a Grammy someday has been a dream". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Bantai Records is the next big thing in the Indian hip-hop scene: Emiway Bantai". The Indian Express. 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "YouTube's top 15 most viewed music videos of 2023: Vicky Kaushal's Tere Vaste to Rajinikanth's Kaavaalaa". The indian express. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Tagat, Anurag (2024-03-15). "The Rish on Working with Emiway on 'Aksar' and Rock Roots". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Emiway Bantai's new single 'Badshah' has THIS Shah Rukh Khan connection". The Times of India. 2025-02-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Tagat, Anurag (2025-05-29). "Emiway Bantai's New Track Pays Tribute to Sidhu Moose Wala". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Rapper Emiway Bantai receives death threat after Sidhu Moosewala tribute song". India Today. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Mumbai's Emiway Bantai scores big at Europe Music Awards". The Times of India. 2019-11-08. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ riasia_admin (2019-03-29). "Radio City Freedom Awards 6 winners announced". RadioInfo Asia. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "THESE ARE THE BIG WINNERS AT THE 2019 MTV EMA". www.mtvema.com. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Indie". Radiocity. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
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