There is a lot of pressure on this guy to deliver one of the greatest Punjabi albums of all time. Of course, I’m sure the pressure doesn’t really compare to what Roberto Luongo is going through right now, but it’s still there. Billed as a savior by the believers and a Jazzy B clone by the ignorant haters, JK has the whole Bhangra world eagerly awaiting his debut, which is perhaps the most anticipated Punjabi album of my generation. Now will it live up to the hype?

Yeah, it definitely will.

First of all, JK is consistent. All four of his singles have been bangers and he’s got the best producer working in Bhangra behind the boards. Tru-Skool’s track record is amazing. Word is Born, Repazent and Raw as Folk are all solid records and even his remix album had some highlights. Also, there is no other producer that can amalgamate samples of Kuldeep Manak, KS Kooner and Surinder Shinda and mash them up harmoniously with Onyx, Brand Nubian, Pharcyde and the Wu-Tang Clan while adding his own unique and brilliant instrumentation. He’s the only producer with an immaculate discography and he’s my generation’s Charanjit Ahuja, but you can also throw in a little DJ Premier because he’s a cross between the HMV Folk Era of the late 70’s and 80’s and the New York Hip-Hop Renaissance of the mid 90’s. JK might be the savior on the vocalist side of things and he’s definitely my favorite Bhangra singer working today, but it’s Tru-Skool that is really going to help this kid knock it out of the park. My prediction is that this album is going to rank up there with Gurdas Maan’s Masti, Surinder Shinda’s Jeona Morh and Amar Singh Chamkila’s Sharbat Wangoo Ghut Bhar Lan as one of Punjabi music’s masterpieces. Good luck to JK and Tru-Skool with the record. I’m expecting nothing less than a vocal clinic and the best Punjabi beats of 2011.

Preorder Gabru Panjab Dha from iTunes

Wow, I think that’s Jasjot Singh Ghuman at the start of “Pat Liyah.” I always thought that Tru-Skool produced “Vaisakhi Mela” and I guess that’s proof. That was easily my #1 track from 2010.