“We’ve all fallen in love at some point in our lives,” Jani explains. His new EP Emotional baggage guides us through the process.
Karachi rapper Muhammad Ali Khan, popularly known as Jani, collaborated with famous hip hop producer Jokhay for Emotional baggage, and is currently working on another album scheduled for release in the first half of 2026. The new EP includes four new tracks and features Karachi artist Shareh.
Break down the album to The Express PK Press Clubsaid Jani in the song Miracles he wrote about the loss of self in love. “…the experience of love without ego or self-regard can sometimes be detrimental to us.”
This brings us to the second step, The two of us, in which Jani talks about self-esteem and raps about realizing one’s worth despite suffering deep down.
In Nazna, he thinks about the bigger picture, the lessons that love leaves us no matter how it ends. “Kahin nazar nahi aana mujhe ab tum,” he raps nonchalantly.
The last piece, Fall apart, brings the protagonist home. Or rather, beyond, with a deeper understanding of being in love, of falling out of love, of being apart, and yet in love with what once was. The song is like a waypoint, as if the protagonist has undertaken an arduous journey and is now enjoying the view from the top. The track also addresses the blessings and limitations of poetic expression.
Jani’s current monthly listeners on Spotify exceed 365,000 and her stream count stands at 73 million. In this album, he creates a captivating character arc, one that many can relate to, and complemented well by Jokhay’s moody, nocturnal trap production.
The rapper’s creative universe is rooted in the local language and street culture of Karachi. His music is brought to life through nuanced storytelling and visual flair.
Miracles is the flagship track of this EP. Jokhay gives us a wavy jersey club style beat mixed with emotional vocal samples and rolling his hats. “The bar count on Jersey club beats is slightly different, the flow switches sound very smooth on instrumentals in this style,” explains Jani. “Miracles is awesome, but my favorite song on the EP would probably be Nazna.”
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The rapper’s chemistry with Johkay is undeniable in this album. Drums, hi-hats, and background melodies often transition as Jani’s flow changes. Each instrument seems suited to the lyrical composition of the record.
“There were no hip hop producers before [Johkay] he opened the door to everyone in Pakistan,” says Jani. “Umair, Superdupersultan, he taught them all how to produce. He is a mentor to everyone in the industry, I myself have learned a lot from him.”
When asked if he can branch out into different genres, styles and other languages, Jani says he is considering adding Punjabi lyrics in his new album, even though it is not his native language.
Jani prefers to keep her creative process as authentic as possible. “Often I leave the lyrics unfinished before going into the studio,” he says. “It helps me keep the bars raw, honest and unfiltered. It makes people relate to it more anyway.”
Overthinking or spending too much time on an idea can get in the way of this, says Jani, emphasizing that you need to let your creativity and ideas flow. Preserving authenticity is crucial for both audiences and artists, he adds.
Reflecting on his early days in the Karachi music scene, Jani recalled that he never shied away from experimenting. “In my early days, people doubted me because I used autotune. “Now look around, everyone in Pakistan uses it,” Jani says proudly.
New artists must be patient and persistent, the rapper said. They should focus on their craft and making connections instead of chasing financial success if they want to make their way in today’s music scene, he said.
The Express PK Press Club asked Jani a few quick questions.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Justice by Justin Bieber
What is your favorite song these days?
Saturday morning by Cordae and Lil Wayne
What is your biggest musical inspiration?
Probably Juice Wrld, but from a business standpoint I’d say Drake.
Who is the artist you listen to the most these days?
I’ve been listening to a lot of ghazals lately, apart from that I also listen to a lot of Silk Sonic music.
