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AP Dhillon: Punjabi Pop's Global Rise, From Punjab to the World

Amritpal Singh "AP" Dhillon, born 10 January 1993 in Mulianwali village, Punjab, India, is an Indo-Canadian singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer associated with Punjabi music. Five of his singles have peaked on the Official Charts Company's UK Asian and Punjabi charts, while "Majhail" and "Brown Munde" have topped Billboard charts. Working with his label-mates under Run-Up Records, he helped define a new global sound for Punjabi pop.

Early Life and the Move to Canada

Dhillon studied at Little Flower Convent School and completed a degree in Civil Engineering from Baba Kuma Singh Ji Engineering College in Amritsar. In 2015, he moved to Vancouver Island in Canada, where he pursued a Diploma in Business Administration and Management from Camosun College in British Columbia. He briefly worked at Best Buy before pivoting to music, and has spoken about the struggles of adjusting to life in a new country, arriving not knowing anyone or the language.

The Run-Up Records Breakthrough

Dhillon's music career began in 2019 with the release of "Fake" with Shinda Kahlon, under his independent label Run-Up Records. Early on, he also appeared in the music video for "Faraar" by Gurinder Gill and Shinda Kahlon and is credited as a producer on the track. In September 2020, he and Run-Up rose to fame with "Brown Munde," a global anthem celebrating the work ethic of South Asian men. The momentum continued with hits such as "Excuses," "Insane," "Summer High," "With You," and "Majhail," blending Punjabi lyrics with modern hip-hop, R&B, and trap production.

Milestones and Recognition

In 2023, in Edmonton, Dhillon became the first Punjabi Canadian to perform at the Juno Awards. The same year, the Amazon Prime docuseries AP Dhillon: First of a Kind brought his story to a wider mainstream audience. In 2024, his album The Brownprint ranked number 26 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Beyond his own releases, he works as a producer and label figure, shaping the careers of his collaborators.

Legacy

AP Dhillon's trajectory is frequently cited as a turning point in how Punjabi pop reaches worldwide audiences: independent release, global distribution, and diaspora-first branding, built from scratch abroad. His music has shown that Punjabi songs can top charts in Canada, the UK, and beyond without compromising their identity.

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