Sonnyjim

Sonnyjim is an English rapper and hip-hop record producer. Since first releasing music in 2006 he has steadily built an underground following. Reviewers have noted his laid back delivery and lyrics of luxury and excess, alongside his consistent collaborations with prominent hip-hop artists from the US and UK.

Throughout his career he has rapped with and produced for various noted US hip-hop artists, including MF Doom, Jay Electronica, DJ Premier, Madlib, Roc Marciano and Buckwild. He has been involved with labels like Daupe! and Blah Records as well as collaborations with artists on Griselda Records like Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn.

His 2016 album Mud in My Malbec, and the 2022 release White Girl Wasted with producer The Purist, brought Sonnyjim significantly wider attention.

Early life and career Sonnyjim is from Birmingham, England, and is of Indian heritage. Reviewers have noted Sonnyjim's laid back and nonchalant vocal delivery, with intricate lyrics and themes of luxury and indulgence. His early influences include UK rappers like Skinnyman and U.S. east coast hip hop like Jay-Z, Nas and Roc Marciano.

2006–2016: Early releases and Mud in My Malbec He started rapping in the mid-2000s UK hip-hop scene, appearing on mixtapes alongside British artists like Stig of the Dump and Jehst. Over the years he slowly built up an underground following, with releases like 2013's Psychonaut and the Purple Patch series, as well as founding his own label EatGood Records. In 2008, he released Trading Standards featuring collaborations with prominent UK hip-hop artists such as Jehst, Stig of the Dump, and Soweto Kinch.

His 2016 release Mud in My Malbec, including features with New York rappers Westside Gunn and Heems, gained considerable underground attention. The song title was inspired by the cartoon character Bart Simpson, the rapper David Bars and the saxophonist Gary Bartz.

In 2023, Sonnyjim made an appearance for a freestyle session on New York radio's Hot 97 show Real Late with Peter Rosenberg. That year, he also released his first album on Blah Records - Ortolan and Armagnac, with Blah founder Lee Scott, and featured on Indian hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut's mixtape Lunch Break.

In 2024, Sonnyjim, Foreign Beggars member PAV4N and Indian producer Kartik, formed the rap group Pataka Boys and released their debut album Thugs from Amritsar. Sonny and PAV4N travelled to India to work with Kartik, visiting the city of Amritsar after which the project was named. It also featured guest appearances from Indian rappers like Seedhe Maut and Sikander Kahlon. Thugs From Amritsar made The Guardian’s list of Five Albums You May Have Missed in 2024. Reviewers called the album “colourful, thrilling and explosive,” and “ridiculously entertaining”, noting the cultural and lyrical shifts between English and Punjabi raps and the globally influenced soundscapes.

Discography

EPs Sources: Soul Trader E.P. (2005) Trading Standards CD (2008) The Purple Patch (2010) The Psychonaut EP (2011) The Executive Branch (2012) with Wizard How To Tame Lions (2014) with Leaf Dog Death by Misadventure (2018) with Conway the Machine Money Green Leather Sofa (2018) with Camouflage Monk Spencer for Higher (2018) with Vic Spencer Spencer for Higher 2 (2019) with Vic Spencer No Visible Means Of Income (2020) with Giallo Point The Chemistry Must Be Respected (2020) with Illinformed Tailor Made Ostrich (2020) with Must Volkoff A Joint Venture (2021) with Kev Brown Coke Le Roc (2021) with Buckwild Polo Palace (2021) with Juganaut and Da Flyy Hooligan Porridge (2021) with Robert and The Purist The Real Bobby Dazzler (2021) New Phone Who Dis (2021) with Machacha Spencer for Higher 4 (2021) with Vic Spencer No Visible Means of Income 2 (2022) with Giallo Point Ortolan and Armagnac (2023) with Lee Scott Exotic Peng Collection (2024) Effortless, Almost Dead (2024) with Kong The Artisan

Singles

Barz Simpson (2022) – Featuring MF Doom & Jay Electronica Dude, Where’s My Car? (2023) with Lee Scott Life Is Great (2023) Chun King (2024) with Statik Selektah Bappi Lahiri (2024) as Pataka Boys Megaloblast (2024) as Pataka Boys Triple Beams (2024)