Rabbi's father was a Sikh preacher and his mother, a college principal. When still very young, Rabbi was “very, very influenced” by Sikh literature and grew up reading Gyani Gyan Singh, Kabir's dohas, Shiv Bata. A graduate from Delhi’s Khalsa College, Rabbi was a part of the local hard-rock music scene in his graduation days. His inspirations –Jimmy Page & Joe Perry Soon Rabbi started writing his own songs and made a few demos. He almost struck his first deal when Sony Music expressed interest in signing him for an album and even tied him up with producer K J Singh. The deal never materialized, but Rabbi came to the notice of Minty Tejpal (brother of Tehelka chief Tarun Tejpal). Rabbi almost came within the inches of cutting an album but, unfortunately for him, Tehelka went through financial crisis in those days and his album was left unfinished. But Rabbi’s demo eventually reached Anand Surapur of Phat Phish records, who signed him for what became Rabbi’s first album and that too a hit.
