With nearly a million views since its release a week ago on YouTube, singer-composer Badal’s new song “This Is Haryana” has all the makings of an anthem, but he says it’s not his place to claim so.

The artist says modestly that the “destiny of this song lies solely in the hands of the audience” and not his or his label TM Music. He adds, “Although our aim was for it to become a Haryana anthem, it ultimately depends on how the audience receives it.”

From the fonts and aesthetics inspired by open world video game Grand Theft Auto, the video for “This Is Haryana” also uses a bit of artificial intelligence morphing to show parallels between Badal as a Haryanvi rapper and how he’s influenced by West Coast Hip-Hop. That is, if it’s not apparent enough the beat by Yeah Proof. Badal says about the production, “As a devoted admirer of Tupac and hip-hop, I found inspiration for this song with an old-school beat already playing in the back of my mind […] We knew the direction I wanted to take – embracing that classic, timeless essence with the beats and overall feel of the track.”

While Badal has often sung about his roots before and told listeners stories from his time being raised in Safidon, “This Is Haryana” was written in 2019 as a way of being a “heartfelt” contribution to his city and state. The song’s message, to put it broadly, is about how the rapper feels that Haryana is unparalleled and the people remain affable as ever. “When you watch the music video, you’ll notice that I took great care to showcase various aspects of Safidon, such as my school, small lanes, its people, roads, and the city’s inherent beauty,” he adds.

Amid typically buoyant and glitzy West Coast hip-hop beats, dancers and hype crews, Badal makes it a point to switch up his flow, even incorporating English bars. In the context of the song, the rapper counts it as one of his favorite verses, in which he addresses big town boys and makes sure he explains himself in a way they might understand – with a bit of English. Badal smashes the point home about stereotypes around how “small town” minds need changing. He adds, “It challenges the stereotype that Haryanvi people may not be fluent in English or hold traditional beliefs. By incorporating English lyrics, I aimed to demonstrate that I remain deeply connected to my roots while embracing modernity and knowledge.”

Up next, Badal has his sights on releasing an album in 2023, which includes collaborations that he’s not yet ready to divulge. “Additionally, we are also amid planning tours to accompany the album release. Fingers crossed for a successful and fulfilling journey ahead,” he adds.

Watch the video for “This Is Haryana” below.