Q. ‘Moscow Mashuka’ has just the kind of surprise we once associated with your music. Do you feel this song marks a return to form?

I had a lot of hope for ‘Moscow Mashuka’. There weren’t any parties happening during the lockdown, so I wanted to release a song that was perfect for music systems. You could call this my comeback song, but in my mind, I had never left. Even when I was not working, my songs were being played. A comeback is a process, and all the songs I’ve released, ‘Makhna’, ‘Loca’, are a part of that journey.

Q. The song has some Russian lyrics. What was the inspiration behind that?

I am friends with a Russian DJ, Ekaterina Sizova, who is based in Dubai. A while back, we were jamming, and I suddenly thought about this white fixation that a lot of North Indian boys have. While I only like promoting Indian girls in my songs and videos, I thought it might be fun to write a tune in which an Indian guy and a Russian woman were each complimenting themselves, keeping their own swag intact.

Q. You’ve been working on your muscles during this lockdown. What else has kept you busy?

Apart from weight-training, kickboxing and cardio exercises, I’m writing and recording new songs in my studio, while also jamming with other artists online and on WhatsApp.

Q. During your hiatus, there were a lot of other rappers who became popular. Did this ever make you feel insecure?

So many artists came up during that gap, and they have done some great work. In fact, I only ever blended hip-hop and pop, keeping things commercial, but now you get to hear proper mainstream hip-hop. After Gully Boy, audiences are enjoying a hip-hop that’s contemporary and lyrical. I love it.