Sidhu Moose Wala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, first broke through in 2017 with his single “So High,” recorded while he was an international student in Brampton.
Four years after Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead, the Punjabi rapper is hitting the stage again — as a hologram.
The late artist’s team says the Signed to God hologram world tour will kick off in Toronto.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment says the show is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Scotiabank Arena.
The tour promises a digital resurrection of the late rapper, featuring “3D holographic projections synced with his original vocals, cinematic visuals, and stage effects,” according to the artist’s official website.
Moose Wala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, first broke through in 2017 with his single “So High,” recorded while he was an international student in Brampton.
His unique sound — a synthesis of bhangra and hip-hop — drew a massive following, including among the large Punjabi diasporas in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Moose Wala was shot 19 times while driving his car in Punjab, India on May 29, 2022, and died shortly after. He was 28. Indian police traced the killing to an escalating inter-gang rivalry.
The City of Brampton commissioned a memorial mural to Moose Wala, which is located on an exterior wall at the Susan Fennell Sportsplex.
The rapper was a polarizing figure, due largely to the sometimes violent imagery in his lyrics. In 2020, Indian authorities charged him under the Arms Act, accusing him of glorifying gun use in one of his songs.
In 2021, Moose Wala dove into politics. He joined India’s Congress Party and unsuccessfully ran in the state’s assembly elections.
His music has continued to crack Canadian music charts after his death. Last year, Moose Wala’s posthumous single “Barota,” featuring Punjabi producer The Kidd and singer Sweetaj Brar, debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard Canada Hot 100 chart.
In 2024, his single “Drippy,” boasting a verse by Toronto rapper AR Paisley, debuted at No. 9.
The Signed to God world tour’s website promises shows in Punjab, London and Los Angeles, though those dates have not been revealed yet.
Organizers say tickets for the Toronto concert go on presale Aug. 25, followed by a general public release on Aug. 26.
The website bills it as a “first-ever hologram tour,” though Canada has seen some shows featuring digital avatars in the past.
In 2019, hologram versions of Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly brought their Rock n’ Roll Dream Tour to Hamilton and Toronto. The shows featured remastered audio from the late American singer-songwriters, as well as a live band and backup singers.
Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace’s 2022 tour, dubbed the Wonderful Future Theatrical Experience, featured some holographic elements, including a monologue by a digital rendering of futurist Ray Kurzweil.
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
– With files from INsauga.com
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