Sidhu Moose Wala Surges Onto the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 With Latest Posthumous Hit ‘Barota’
The late Punjabi-Canadian music icon's viral new track with The Kidd and Sweetaj Brar 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.
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.
It marks the most recent belated release for Moose Wala, who has continued to make his mark on Punjabi music — and its rise in Canada — even after his assassination in 2022. Earlier this year, he charted at No. 54 with The Kidd collab “Lock,” following up multiple placements on last year’s chart, including “Attach” with producer Steel Banglez and U.K. rapper Fredo at No. 40, and his Brampton-boasting collab with Sunny Malton, "410,” at No. 42.
Making a re-entry on this week’s charts is Montreal singer Tedy, with “I Hope,” at No. 92.
After debuting on the Nov. 1 chart at No. 99, the rising pop artist is continuing his descent on the country’s bubbling music scene. Earlier this year, “I Hope” became a triumphant Billboard Canada Airplay chart hit, ranking on the AC, CHR/Top 40, Hot AC and most recently All-Format charts.
“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.
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.
