Sidhu Moose Wala was a renowned Indian rapper, singer, and songwriter, known for his contributions to Punjabi-language music and cinema. Considered one of the greatest Punjabi artists of his generation and a key figure in mainstream Punjabi music, Moose Wala achieved significant recognition and success throughout his career. In 2020, he was featured among The Guardian's list of 50 up-and-coming artists and became the first Punjabi and Indian singer to perform at the Wireless Festival. He also garnered four awards at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards. Moose Wala gained mainstream popularity with his track "So High" and his debut album PBX 1 reached number 66 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. His singles "47" and "Mera Na" made it to the UK Singles Chart. Born in Moosa, Mansa district, Moose Wala began as a songwriter and later emerged as a lead artist with collaborations and chart-topping tracks. Despite his success, his lyrics and themes were often controversial, with accusations of promoting gun culture and hurting religious sentiments. Moose Wala tragically lost his life when he was shot dead by unidentified assailants on 29 May 2022, allegedly due to inter-gang rivalry. His first posthumous single, "SYL," was released on 23 June 2022.
Sidhu Moose Wala was a rapper, singer, and songwriter who was considered one of the greatest Punjabi artists of his generation. He gained mainstream popularity with hits like "So High" and his album PBX 1. He faced controversy for his lyrics and themes but remained influential in the industry. Tragically, he was shot dead on 29 May 2022, allegedly due to inter-gang rivalry. His first posthumous single, "SYL," was released on 23 June 2022.
Sidhu Moose Wala, originally named Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was born on June 11, 1993, in Moosa, Mansa, Punjab, India. Coming from a Sikh religious family, he held Indian nationality and belonged to the Indian-Asian ethnicity. Celebrating his 28th birthday in 2021, Sidhu Moose Wala's zodiac sign was Gemini. His father, Balkaur Singh, and mother, Charan Kaur, raised him, alongside his brother Gurpreet Sidhu. He was very attached to his grandmother. He kept his hair at the behest of his grandmother, which was very important in Sikhism because his father could not keep his hair due to an accident. Sidhu pursued his education at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College in Ludhiana, where he completed his electrical engineering degree in 2016. During his formative years, he developed a profound admiration for rapper Tupac Shakur, whose influence shaped his musical journey. Sidhu Moose Wala's interest in hip-hop music began in the sixth grade, and he received musical training from Harvinder Bittu in Ludhiana. He adopted the stage name "Sidhu Moose Wala," paying homage to his hometown of Moosa. Following his graduation, she moved to Brampton, Ontario, Canada, as an international student. While residing there, he pursued further studies at Humber College.
Residing in Brampton, Ontario, Sidhu Moose Wala made his entry into the music scene in 2017 with the release of his first song, "G Wagon." However, it was the song "So High" that truly propelled him to fame that same year. Collaborating with music producer Byg Byrd, Sidhu Moose Wala's gangster rap track garnered widespread acclaim and earned him the Best Lyricist award at the 2017 Brit Asia TV Music Awards. Subsequently, he joined Brown Boys Records alongside Sunny Malton and Byg Byrd. From 2018 onwards, Sidhu Moose Wala embarked on live performances in India and Canada, solidifying his growing popularity. His singles such as "Issa Jatt," "It's All About You," and "Just Listen" continued to resonate with audiences. Notably, his track "Famous" even reached the Top 40 UK Asian Charts. Recognitions followed, with a nomination for the Best New Age Sensation award at the 2018 PTC Punjabi Music Awards for "Issa Jatt." Furthermore, Sidhu Moose Wala delved into film soundtracks, releasing "Dollar" for the movie Dakuaan Da Munda in August 2018. Exhibiting his independence as an artist, he released the diss track "Warning Shots" as a response to Karan Aujla's "Lafaafe" in 2018. In October of the same year, Sidhu Moose Wala unveiled his debut album, PBX 1, under T-Series, which encompassed elements of pop and hip-hop. The album not only charted on the Canadian Albums Chart but also earned him the coveted Best Album Award at the 2019 Brit Asia TV Music Awards.
Continuing his musical journey, he made notable releases and collaborations in 2019. In February, he unveiled "Legend," a track released under his own record label, which went on to win him the Britasia TV Kuflink Best Track of the Year Award. During the same month, he also released "Chosen" and "Outlaw." In April, Sidhu Moose Wala treated fans to "East Side Flow" and collaborated with Aman Hayer for "Mafia Style." However, in June, his concert at the Surrey Music Festival was canceled due to past violent incidents associated with his performances. Undeterred, he continued to make waves in the industry. In August, Sidhu Moose Wala joined forces with Bohemia for the track "Same Beef." September saw the release of two film soundtrack songs: "Dogar" for Teri Meri Jodi and "Jatti Jeone Morh Wargi," featuring Sonam Bajwa, for Ardab Mutiyaran. Building on his success, in October, he released "47" featuring Mist and Stefflon Don, which achieved a place in the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart and even made its mark on the New Zealand Hot 40 singles chart. Sidhu Moose Wala's popularity soared in 2019, earning him a spot on Spotify's list of the most popular artists in Punjab alongside Maninder Buttar and Karan Aujla.
In January 2020, Sidhu collaborated with Nseeb on Prem Dhillon's track "Old Skool." The following release was "Tibeyan Da Putt," which achieved remarkable success, topping the iTunes charts and reaching number 8 on the Apple Music charts in India. Sidhu Moose Wala's second studio album, "Snitches Get Stitches," was released under his own label in May 2020. In that same month, he released the single "Dear Mama" as a tribute to his mother on her birthday. In June 2020, he joined forces with Amrit Maan for the song "Bambiha Bole," garnering immense popularity with over ten million views on its music video within 24 hours. The song topped charts in India, entered the top 50 in Canada and New Zealand on the Apple Music chart, and secured top positions on the UK Asian charts and Global YouTube charts. On August 31, 2020, Sidhu Moose Wala launched his own record label, 5911 Records. In September 2020, he released "Game" with Shooter Kahlon, which became his first song to chart on the Canadian Hot 100 by Billboard. In May 2021, Sidhu Moose Wala released his third studio album, "Moosetape," which charted on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The singles from the album also charted on various international charts, including the Billboard Global 200, Canada Hot 100, and New Zealand Hot Singles chart. In September 2021, he made history as the first Indian singer to perform at the Wireless Festival in London. In April 2022, Sidhu Moose Wala released the EP "No Name," featuring AR Paisley, Mr. Capone-E, and Sunny Malton, which debuted at No. 73 on the Billboard Top Canadian Albums chart. His songs "The Last Ride," "Levels," "Never Fold," and "295" entered the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart, with "The Last Ride" peaking at No. 26. Additionally, three of his songs charted on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart. In June 2022, his posthumously released single "SYL" achieved notable success, peaking at various positions on charts such as Canadian Hot 100, Australia, India, and the Global Excl. US chart.
Sidhu Moose Wala ventured into Punjabi cinema with his debut film "Yes I Am Student," produced under his own production company, Jatt Life Studios. Directed by Tarnvir Singh Jagpal and written by Gill Raunta, the film marked his entry into the world of acting. In 2019, he made an appearance in the film "Teri Meri Jodi." Demonstrating his commitment to the film industry, Moose Wala announced another movie titled "Gunah" in June 2020. Building anticipation, he released the teaser of his upcoming film "Moosa Jatt" on August 22, 2021, featuring Sweetaj Brar and directed by Tru Makers. Notably, on August 24, 2021, he also announced his new film "Jattan Da Munda Gaun Lagya," directed by Amberdeep Singh, with a scheduled release date of March 18, 2022. Sidhu Moose Wala's foray into Punjabi cinema showcased his versatility as an artist, expanding his creative horizons beyond music.
As a politician, Moose Wala actively supported his mother, Charan Kaur, during her successful campaign for the sarpanch election from Moosa village in December 2018. However, his own political journey took a different turn in December 2021 when he joined the Indian National Congress to contest the Punjab Legislative Assembly election in 2022. Although facing opposition from Congress MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia, Moose Wala secured 20.52% of the votes but ultimately lost to the Aam Aadmi Party's Vijay Singla by a significant margin. During the election, Moose Wala faced a case under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violating the election code of conduct by conducting a door-to-door campaign after the permitted campaign duration had ended. In response to his electoral defeat, he released a song called "Scapegoat" in April 2022, expressing his disappointment. The song drew criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party, who interpreted it as implying that the voters of Punjab were "traitors" for electing their party. Moose Wala's political foray had mixed results, but his activism and participation in the political process left an impact in the local elections and garnered attention from various political parties in Punjab.
Sidhu Moose Wala, the renowned singer, was unmarried during his lifetime. He was known for keeping his personal life private, which made it difficult to find substantial information about his relationships or girlfriend. However, it is widely acknowledged that he remained unmarried throughout his life and did not have a wife. As a result, there was no possibility of him having gone through a divorce. While details about his romantic interests are scarce, it is known that Sidhu Moose Wala identified as straight, indicating his sexual orientation. He was assumed to be single at the time of his demise.
On May 29, 2022, Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead by unidentified assailants while driving his black Mahindra Thar SUV in Jawaharke village, Mansa district. Initially, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder in an unverified Facebook post, although Bishnoi denied making the statement. However, as of June 2022, he is being held by the Punjab Police and is considered the "mastermind" behind the murder. Moose Wala had left his house with his cousin and neighbor and was driving to his aunt's house when two cars intercepted and blocked his SUV in Jawaharke village. A shootout ensued, with approximately 30 rounds fired, resulting in Moose Wala and two others being injured. Moose Wala fired back at the attackers before they fled the scene. Despite being rushed to the civil hospital in Mansa, he was declared dead. It is worth noting that Moose Wala's security had been reduced the day before, leaving him with only two commandos, as part of security preparations for the anniversary of Operation Blue Star, and he chose to travel in his private car instead of the bullet-proof vehicle with police commandos due to space constraints.
According to the police, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for killing Sidhu Moose Wala as revenge for the murder of Akali leader Vicky Middukhera in 2021, alleging Moose Wala's aide's involvement, although there is no legal evidence to support this. A Canadian gangster named Satinder Singh alias Goldy Brar, a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility on behalf of his "Punjab Module" gang. Both Brar and Bishnoi have criminal cases against them in India, and the Punjab police later confirmed Bishnoi's involvement. Moose Wala's father revealed in the FIR that Moose Wala had been receiving death threats from gangsters for extortion purposes, a claim supported by singer Mika Singh. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the murder, ordered an investigation into the reduction of Moose Wala's security, and established a judicial commission to investigate the killing. Bullets from an AN-94 Russian assault rifle and a pistol were found at the crime scene, and six suspects were detained in Uttarakhand. Moose Wala's autopsy confirmed 19 bullet injuries causing his death within 15 minutes. His cremation took place in his ancestral village, and Lawrence Bishnoi admitted to his involvement in the murder, citing a rivalry with Moose Wala. Several ceremonies and arrests related to the case followed in the subsequent weeks and months.
Sidhu Moose Wala, a multi-talented individual, had amassed a considerable fortune during his lifetime, with a net worth of $5 million at the time of his unfortunate passing. Known for his exceptional skills in the music industry, he commanded a per-song salary ranging from 6 to 8 lakh rupees, which he charged film producers for his contributions. Undoubtedly ambitious, he continuously pushed himself to surpass his goals, working tirelessly to achieve them. His annual earnings reached an impressive sum of around $1 million, primarily derived from his diverse careers as a singer, rapper, actor, and politician, making him a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment and political spheres. He lived his life to the fullest.
Sidhu Moosewala initially embarked on his career as a songwriter, but it was through his remarkable singing talent that he soared to fame. With chart-topping hits such as 'Issa Jatt', 'So High', 'Warning', 'Famous', 'Legend', 'Shots', 'Bambiha Bole', 'Game', and 'Tibeyan Da Putt', among others, Moosewala swiftly established himself as a global sensation in just five years in the music industry. His infectious music resonated with audiences worldwide, propelling him to the top of the charts in Canada, the UK, Asia, and beyond.
In his early days, Sidhu Moosewala relocated to Canada for educational purposes. It was during this time that he released his debut song, 'G-Wagon,' which marked the beginning of his career. Collaborating with gangster rap artists, Moosewala gained considerable fame but also faced controversy due to the portrayal of violence and gun culture in his music, which stirred debates and concerns. Additionally, his lyrics were criticized for hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
In addition to his prowess in singing and rapping, Sidhu Moosewala also ventured into the world of acting, demonstrating his talent on the silver screen. He showcased his acting skills in two movies released in 2021, namely 'Moosa Jatt' and 'Yes I Am Student.' Through these cinematic endeavors, Moosewala expanded his creative repertoire, further captivating audiences with his versatile talents.
Following his debut song, Sidhu Moosewala went on to collaborate with the musical group Brown Boys for several soundtracks. These collaborative efforts were released under the label Humble Music, showcasing Moosewala's ability to seamlessly blend his style with the group's unique sound. Together, they delivered captivating music that resonated with audiences and further solidified Moosewala's reputation as a versatile and collaborative artist.
Sidhu Moose Wala, taking a step towards creative independence, established his own production house called "Jatt Life Solutions." With this venture, Moose Wala ventured into film production and made his mark by producing his maiden movie titled "Yes I Am Student." Through Jatt Life Solutions, Moose Wala embraced the role of a producer, bringing his creative vision to life and further expanding his influence in the entertainment industry.