Sidhu Moose Wala

Sidhu Moose Wala was an Indian singer, rapper and songwriter from Punjab who built his career from a base in Canada, becoming one of the defining voices of modern Punjabi music. He first made his mark as a songwriter, penning the lyrics for Ninja's «License», before stepping out as a performer himself with «G Wagon» featuring Gurlez Akhtar, an immediate hit that announced his arrival.

His rise to prominence took an unconventional path: an unreleased album of nine songs leaked gradually online, and tracks from it, including «Lifestyle», «Shelby (8-Cylinder)» and «Mustang», spread widely and built intense anticipation before he had even released music through official channels. Once his professionally produced material followed, songs like «So High», «Just Listen», «Issa Jatt» and «Tochan» confirmed him as a top-tier talent in Punjabi music.

Moose Wala's sound bridged Punjabi folk instrumentation with hip-hop-influenced production and blunt, often confrontational lyricism, touching on themes of rural Punjabi identity, gang culture and defiance. His catalogue, including later tracks such as «295», «Legend», «Levels» and «Dear Mama», left a lasting mark on Punjabi and diaspora hip-hop, and he remains one of the genre's most influential and widely mourned figures following his death in 2022.