The late Punjabi-Canadian music icon's viral new track with The Kidd and Sweetaj Brar his debuted at No. 36, breaking through the deluge of holiday music on the charts.
Sidhu Moose Wala continues to make waves on the Canadian charts, even after his death.
This week, the late Punjabi artist hits the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, dated Dec. 13, with his latest posthumous release, “Barota,” debuting at No. 36. On the track, the former Brampton, Ontario native appears with frequent collaborator and producer The Kidd and singer Sweetaj Brar.
Loosely translated, “Barota” is a nickname for a type of small, edible berry or fruit, often associated with sweetness and nature.
“Barota” finds the late icon assertively rapping over a crisp trap beat and a heavy string section that carries the track throughout its five-minute run. Through The Kidd’s steady production, the song blends traditional Punjabi elements with modern hip-hop and rap sensibilities, a signature of Moose Wala's influential style.
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The song’s music video features a mix of archival footage of Moose Wala with clips that some fans have theorized may be A.I. generated. Since the video’s release in late November, it has racked up 49 million views.
“I Hope” is a fresh, anthemic ballad that showcases Tedy’s raw, emotionally charged storytelling and soaring vocals. “It’s a diary,” he says of his sound. “That’s what my music is. If you want to keep up with me, just listen. You’ll hear exactly where I was and where I am now.”
Recently, a flurry of Christmas tracks has hit the Canadian Hot 100. This week, Gene Autry’s “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” arrives at No. 42, while 13 festive bops re-enter the chart, including Chuck Berry’s rendition of “Run Run Rudolph ” (No. 34), Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas,” (No. 37), John and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (No. 41) and “Christmastime Is Here” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (No. 46) — to name a few.
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While Mariah Carey’s seasonal juggernaut “All I Want For Christmas” has surged back to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it’s just shy of the top spot in Canada, which is still dominated by Taylor Swift’s “The Life of Ophelia,” which sits at No. 1 for the ninth week in a row. The track is on Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, which struck a chord with Canadians, and is spending its ninth week at No.1, too.
