Through the Rishi Rich Project, he was responsible for launching
British Asian talents who would later gain mainstream success, such as
Jay Sean,
Juggy D,
Veronica Mehta, and
Mumzy Stranger. In addition, Rishi Rich has launched the singing career of Canadian artist, Jasmine K Kara, as the two collaborated in 2022 to release "The Ishq (Rishi Rich Remix)."[1] Jasmine K Kara has mentioned being a "huge fan" of the Rishi Rich Project's debut single, "Dance with You" (Nachna Tere Naal),[2] and refers to the experience of working with Rishi Rich as a "dream come true."[3]
He has also released his own solo albums, Simply Rich in 2002 with Ishq Records and The Project in 2006 with
2point9 Records and his produced songs have appeared in a number of Bollywood films. He now runs Rishi Rich Productions with contracts with a number of British Asian artists including
H-Dhami, Mumzy Stranger, Veronica Mehta, Tasha Tah and
Abbas Hasan.
The Rishi Rich Project
Rishi Rich worked in the UK with a number of
Asian artists and co-produced a number of Asian music albums. In January 2003, he signed a management contract with
2Point9 Records. Soon after, he formed the Rishi Rich Project; the objective of which was to showcase up-and-coming talent. The Rishi Rich releases quickly became famous in the
Asian Underground scene, being pioneers of
contemporary R&B-
bhangra fusion. They subsequently found success in India and helped popularise Asian-R&B
fusion sounds in both the Asian underground scene and in
Indian pop music.[4]
"
Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)", released on 8 September 2003, was the debut single by the Rishi Rich Project produced by Richi Rich and featuring Jay Sean (singing in English) and Juggy D (in
Punjabi). It was an
Asian Underground song with the music video set at a
block party in a London neighbourhood. The song peaked at No. 12 on the
UK Singles Chart and No. 2 on the
Dutch Top 40. It also won "Best Single R&B" at the 2003
UK Asian Music Awards.[2] It is considered Jay Sean's first successful single and was later included on his debut album Me Against Myself (2004), produced by Rishi Rich himself, as well as on Rich's album, Rishi Rich Project. The song was also included on the soundtrack for the 2003
Bollywood film Boom.[5]
On 27 April 2007, Rich announced that he was parting with his record company 2Point9 Records,[6] marking the end of the Rishi Rich Project. After their departures from the project,
Jay Sean subsequently went on to become one of the most successful groundbreaking international Asian artists (prestigiously topping the US Hot 100 in 2009),[7] while
Juggy D became one of the most successful British artists in the mainstream Indian market.[8]
In 2015, Rishi Rich, Jay Sean and Juggy D reunited as the Rishi Rich Project and released the single "Freak".
Solo career
Rishi Rich released his first solo album Simply Rich fuses urban music and bhangra. The album was a big success in the Asian pop charts that resulted in a number of singles, including "Nahin Jeena" with vocals by Don D and Juggy D, and "Nahin Tere Jeha Hor Disda" with vocals by Pakistani
Qawwali singer
Javed Bashir (based on
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Kiven Mukhre Ton Nazran Hatawan") with the music video featuring cameo appearances by
Bally Sagoo, Juggy D, Jay Sean and
Veronica Mehta.
His second solo release, The Project, in 2006 included the single "Push It Up (Aaja Kuriye)" featuring Juggy D and Jay Sean,[9] peaking at No 1 on the
BBCAsian Network Chart.
Rishi released his third album, The Lost Beats, in 2014.
Rishi Rich won "Best Producer" at the
UK Asian Music Awards in 2003[2] and also in 2009 for producing
H-Dhami's debut album Sadke Java.[13] At the 2009 event he also won a special "Commitment to the Scene" award.[13]
Filmography
Rishi Rich expanded also into Indian film and many of his produced songs appeared in various Bollywood films:
Hum Tum (2004): Rishi produced a track U'n'I for the first ever release from the Yash Raj music label, which featured in the film.
Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005): The track "One Night", produced by Rishi and sung by
Jay Sean, was taken from Jay Sean's album Me Against Myself and was included in the 2005 film Kyaa Kool Hai Hum. However, the version on this soundtrack was entitled "Dil Mera (One Night)" and included vocals by
Veronica as well as Jay Sean.
In September 2011, he married Manrina Rhode, a dentist. They are now divorced as of 2019.[15]
In February 2014, Rishi signed to TRMG Teddy Riley Music group and moved to Atlanta in April 2014 to work alongside
Teddy Riley after acquiring OnlyChild Records from Manchester-based producer, SP.