Indian police are investigating the murder of a popular Punjabi rapper who mixed hip-hop, rap and folk music the day after his shooting, officials said on Monday.
Shubhidip Singh Sidhu, known worldwide by his stage name Sidhu Moose Wala, was killed Sunday night while driving in Mansa, a district in the northern Indian state of Punjab. Mus Vala, 28, was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Punjab State Police Chief VK Bhawra said an initial investigation established that the murder was a gang rivalry.
The day before the attack, the Punjab government removed security guards from more than 400 people, including Mus Vala, to reduce VIP culture, local media reported.
Moose Wala began writing songs before accelerating his singing career in 2017, making him well-known in the Indian and Punjabi diaspora in countries such as the UK and Canada.
Most of their singles have English titles, although most of the songs were sung in Punjabi. His brilliant music videos were best known for their rap lyrics and often focused on macho culture. Her debut album in 2018 made it to Billboard’s Canadian Albums chart.
Moose Wala was a controversial figure, in part due to his lyrical style. In 2020, he was charged by police under India’s gun law with one of his songs promoting gun culture.
His latest song “The Last Ride” was released earlier this month. The rapper joined the Indian Congress Party last year and ran unsuccessfully in the State Assembly elections.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said “no culprit will be dissolved” and that he was deeply shocked and saddened by the killing.
Senior Congressional Leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to express his grief over the assassination. “Deeply shocked and saddened by the assassination of a Congressional leader and up-and-coming talented artist,” he said.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
