AR Paisley
AR Paisley is a Canadian hip-hop artist whose recent forays into the Punjabi music scene have catapulted him to multinational prominence.
The Mississuaga native’s Indo-Canadian heritage has helped give him an appreciation for both the flourishing hip-hop scene in the city of his birth and the rapidly growing and ever-evolving style of music popular amongst the Punjabi community around the world. His ability to bring the two together into near-seamless harmony has led to enormously successful collaborations with Punjabi and other South Asian artists in Canada and India, culminating in a recent nomination for a prestigious Juno Award.
Fresh after signing with 91 North Records, AR Paisley released his latest EP, Unfinished Business. With a full-length album in the works and an expansion to his eponymous Paisley fashion brand imminent, it feels like 2025 is set to be a big year for AR Paisley. We spoke to him about his approach to blending cultures, his dreams of collaborating with Drake, and, of course, his FAULTs…
FAULT: Your streaming numbers exploded since you started collaborating with artists who expressly identify as Punjabi – notably Canada-based Chani Nattan and Inderpal Moga, and Sidhu Moose Wala in India. Those artists are often seen as standard bearers for the Punjabi community (in diaspora or in India, or both).
Your approach has been very different, with early singles like ‘Wayne Gretzky’ and ‘Trudeau’ identifying you as, first and foremost, a Canadian rapper. As such, it feels like you’re bringing something quite unique to those collaborations: Canadian hip-hop with an appreciation for Punjabi music that’s rooted in cultural understanding. Is that a fair assessment? And is that how those collaborations (culminating in 2024’s East to West) came about?
AR Paisley: I was already seeing solid streaming numbers before these collaborations, but working with Punjabi artists significantly expanded my reach, particularly within the Punjabi music scene. It opened doors to a whole new audience and helped push my numbers to another level. My relationship with Sidhu Moose Wala was organic; we connected early in his career when he was just starting out. We became close friends, and he invited me on his first tour. That experience solidified our bond, and from there, our collaborations grew naturally. East to West was a culmination of those years of cultural exchange and mutual respect between my style of hip-hop and Punjabi music.
You’ve recently signed with 91 North Records, a collaboration between Warner Bros Canada and Warner Bros India. The label was formed in consideration of the significant South Asian diaspora in Canada and the huge growth in Canadian Punjabi music. Do you see your musical style changing to incorporate a greater Punjabi influence as a result?
My core musical style remains the same, but this partnership provides an even bigger platform to showcase our music to a wider audience. It’s about amplifying what we’ve already been doing rather than changing it.
I’ve always been open to blending different sounds and cultures, and 91 North gives us the resources to bring that vision to life on a much larger scale.
Name some of your key inspirations, musical and/or otherwise?
Ludacris has been a huge influence on my music, especially in terms of his delivery and charisma. Beyond music, my family has always been my biggest inspiration. Their support and the values they instilled in me continue to drive me forward.
You were recently nominated for a Juno Award – which is huge, by the way, congratulations! – in the category of Breakthrough Artist of the Year. On the one hand, that’s a huge endorsement of what you’re doing now, but is there any part of you that feels like being nominated in that particular category represents a bit of a snub to your earlier work?
Thank you! I don’t see it as a snub at all. I believe everything happens at the right time. Earlier in my career, I was still developing as an artist, and I don’t think I was quite ready for that level of recognition. Last year, I put in the extra work because I felt like it was time. Getting that nomination was validation that the grind paid off. Big shoutout to the Junos for recognizing what we’re building.
Tell us a little about your Paisley fashion brand and your plans for it going forward?
Paisley is a brand I launched in 2019 as a way to connect with my fans beyond music. I grew up admiring artists who built brands that reflected their identity, and I wanted to do the same. It started as a way to show appreciation to my supporters, and it’s grown into something much bigger. Moving forward, I plan to expand the line with new designs and collaborations that reflect my journey and the culture I represent.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
One of the biggest highlights has been traveling the world and performing in front of audiences from completely different backgrounds. Seeing people from different walks of life, in different countries, rapping my lyrics back to me is an indescribable feeling. It’s a reminder that music truly connects people, no matter where they’re from.
Who would you most like to collaborate with and why?
Drake. We’re both from the same city, and I think our styles would complement each other in a way that showcases a lot of talent. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it, and collaborating with him would be a full-circle moment for me.
The Unfinished Business EP has only just come out, but what can we expect from AR Paisley in the near future? Is there an album in the works? Anything else you’re particularly looking forward to?
Right now, I’m focused on releasing singles over the next few months, experimenting with different sounds, and just having fun with the music. I’ve released four EPs so far, but I definitely want to put out my first full-length album in the near future. When the time is right, I’ll make sure it’s something special. Until then, I’m just going to keep working, growing, and connecting with the fans.
What is your FAULT?
I think my biggest fault is that I’m a perfectionist. Sometimes, I get so caught up in ensuring everything is right that I overthink things. But at the same time, that attention to detail is what makes my work stand out. It’s a balance I’m still learning to navigate.