TRIBUTE TO THE LEGEND

ome people leave a mark on the world that lives on forever. One such person who brought S “So High” in 2018 which made him a global name. His debut album PBX1 ranked 66th on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart and his the Punjabi community into the limelight hit single 47’ was ranked on the UK singles and made them feel proud about being a chart. His track “Bambiha Bole” also entered Punjabi, no matter where they live, was Sidhu the top 5 list on the global YouTube music Moosewala. Sidhu Moosewala is a self-made chart. The Moosetape tracks released in 2021 legend who was brutally killed at the age also garnered global popularity. Moosewala of 28 on May 29, 2022, while driving near also later officially launched his record label - his native village of Moosa in India’s Punjab 5911 records and most of his songs highlightstate in a car with two associates. “Ni Ehda ed the Jatt Sikh Community. He made sense Uthuga Jawani Ch Janaja Mithiya” which of the chaos faced through his songs which translates to the funeral will happen in youth, formed a deep connection between him & was a line from his song - The Last Ride, that his fans. He made it big in every sense. Sidhu was released in May, just before his death. It Moosewala was one of the first people who gathered over 90 million views since then and showed their unwavering support for the it features the iconic crime scene where Amer- farmer’s protest which highlighted agitation ican rapper Tupac was murdered in his BMW against three farm laws on September 25, in 1996. Shockingly, he met the same fate on 2020. He even participated in the bandh May 20, 2022 which left millions across the in Mansa village. His unwavering support world in shock and disbelief. In his last music motivated other Punjabi singers to join the video - The Last Ride, he stated that - “Many Farmer’s protest and support it. With a career hated him, and many died wanting him... that lasted for just four years, Sidhu Mossewaeverything is revealed in the eyes of the young la has become one of the most influential and boy”, which seems like a truth being spoken prominent faces of Punjab’s blooming hipabout himself. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, who hop scene. From Delhi’s flamboyant parties is popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, to radios at tea stalls in rural India as well as hailed from a farmer’s family from Mansa every radio channel in Punjab to stereos on district’s Moosa village in Punjab. He was an the streets of Canada, you can hear his songs electrical engineer who graduated from Ludhi- blare and bring in a sense of belonging for ana’s Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Punjabis around the world. He has released in 2016 and later moved to Toronto where he three albums and more than 60 singles since pursued higher studies and released his first 2017, with his latest track - SYL released after song “G Wagon” in 2017. His father, Balkaur his death. He used to write, sing and compose Singh, is a retired government employee and at least one song a week. He had become a a farmer, while mother Charan Kaur is the household name in Punjab and among Sikhs DARPAN TMJULY | AUGUST 2022 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle74 sarpanch or head of the Moosa village. He gained immense popularity with his track living across the world. His music was heavily influenced by the genre of gangster rap that featured guns and fancy cars and showed that he was making sense of the life around him. With an unpolished commentary on the dark underbelly of rural Punjab that is influenced by drugs, crime and corruption, his lyrics struck a chord with the general audience, making him one of their own. Rap music as a genre often has lyrical expressions of revenge which has been captured in his songs too. One such example is stated in his hit track - Jatt da Muqabla where he says “Don’t flutter so high, you birds, for if I want, I can buy the sky.” Sidhu Moosewala has not been a stranger to controversies. He has been criticized for promoting gun culture through his songs and his affinity for it can be seen in his Instagram posts too. He has never been afraid of stating things as they are and bringing the grim realities to the forefront. Since his death, fans and celebrities alike have paid their tribute and expressed their grief through social media. Drake paid a tribute to him by playing his songs 295 and G-Shit during his debut as a radio host for his show Table for One. Diljit Dosanjh, a celebrity singer and actor, paid an emotional tribute to late singer Sidhu Moosewala during his Vancouver show where he said “It is impossible to erase his name from heart”. Kapil Sharma, the famous comedian and actor also paid an emotional tribute to him during his show in Vancouver by singing his songs and having his visuals played in the background. Sidhu Moosewala recently got a special tribute at New York’s iconic Times Square. Huge billboards played clips of his song as fans stopped by to cheer for him.

For many fans across the world, this news came as a shock and it broke their hearts. “It feels more like a personal loss. He made us feel proud to be Punjabis and had carved a path for us in the world. His lyrics were hard-hitting and he brought a sense of belonging and oneness to the community”, says Dania Kaur, a medical student in Florence, Alabama. Sahiba Kaur Sangha, a writer and TedX speaker emotionally quoted, “I haven’t been able to eat, I haven’t been able to sleep. I kept trying my best to be normal but my mind keeps wandering toward Sidhu, will I ever be able to hear his songs with the same vibe again? I’ve never met him but he always felt like a family member. I never thought I’d never get a chance to meet him and I’ve never felt this love for any other actor or celebrity. He felt like a universal brother. His songs are my goto to face any situation in life. His songs helped me battle depression and gave me confidence. No one can ever replace him.” Her sister was the only girl among 200 students who did his famous “Thappi” at her graduation ceremony. Thappi is something that is traditionally done by men but she did it as a tribute as Sidhu said “My parents never limited my ability as a girl, instead they empowered me with respect and confidence to use my strength in any form necessary equal to a man”, in one of his songs. Another fan, Simran Sandhu, an HR professional from Canada penned down her tribute for Sidhu Moosewala stating “To say that you had a great flair with words is an understatement. To say that you were a legend who inspired millions is an understatement. To say that you came out of nowhere and shook the world with “So High” is an understatement. But to say that “I’m okay” when your passing has truly affected me both mentally and emotionally is the biggest understatement. You’ve left a void that can never be filled.” As they say, legends never die. Sidhu Moosewala will always be alive through his music and the impact he has created. The love from his fans and celebrities alike will keep his legacy going.