Shub Karman was out for a recent walk in Calgary, when he passed a car full of kids singing along to the music of his favourite Punjabi rapper.

鈥淭he car was buzzing, the bass was on and there were all sorts of people sitting inside who were jamming to Sidhu Moose Wala,鈥� said Karman, a 30-year-old Punjabi-Canadian.

鈥淲hen I approached the car, I learned they werepeople who had no idea about Punjabi culture (and) what the song means for our culture.

鈥淏ut they were vibing to it.

鈥淚 felt a sense of pride.鈥�

Since then, Karman said he has also heard Moose Wala鈥檚 catchy beats and English and Punjabi lyrics in nightclubs and bars on the Prairies.

He said Moose Wala鈥檚 legacy has only grown since he was shot dead in an ambush in India on May 29, 2022. He was 28.

Fans worldwide are expected to remember and honour Moose Wala 鈥� for his music and politics 鈥� on the second anniversary of his death on Wednesday.

鈥淎t first, he was India鈥檚 response to one of the most dominant musical forms 鈥� hip hop 鈥� and it was something very new. He was raw. He was authentic,鈥� Karman said.

鈥淎fter his death, he and his music are considered revolutionary among the Punjabi youth because people all over the world, and those not from the Punjabi community, are now singing his songs. They are learning about Punjabi culture.鈥�

Calgarian Preet Sidhu said the music helps her family stay connected to their heritage.

鈥�(Moose Wala) raps about spirituality. He was advocating for respecting your parents and elders, hard work, courage, having a turban on and for speaking up for the things that matter,鈥� said the 36-year-old mother of two boys.

鈥淗e was bigger than just music.

鈥淗e was a way of being.鈥�

Moose Wala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, first garnered recognition when he released his song 鈥淪o High鈥� in 2017 as a 24-year-old international student in Brampton, Ont.

His appeal grew not only in Canada but also in the United Kingdom, with its large Punjabi diaspora.

In 2018, his debut album made it to the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. He eventually charted 13 songs on the Canadian Hot 100, some of them after his death.

Moose Wala鈥檚 popularity paved a path for a new generation of Punjabi artists in Canada, fusing traditional Punjabi folk tunes and the language with hip-hop and trap beats, including AP Dhillon. Dhillon made history at last year鈥檚 Juno Awards with its first Punjabi musical performance.

On May 29, 2022, Moose Wala was shot while driving his car in northern India鈥檚 Punjab state. His car was cut off by two other vehicles, and he was killed in a hail of bullets.

Indian police blamed the killing on an inter-gang rivalry.

A day earlier, media reported the Punjab government was ending security for more than 400 people, including Moose Wala, in a bid to clamp down on VIP culture.

A year earlier, Moose Wala had jumped into politics. He joined India鈥檚 Congress Party and unsuccessfully ran in the state鈥檚 assembly elections, courting controversy along the way.

鈥淗e was criticized in the beginning for promoting gun violence,鈥� Karman said.

鈥淭hen he evolved. He began bringing in the history of Punjab into his music, the core issues affecting Punjab.鈥� Karman said Moose Wala fought for farmers鈥� rights and denounced how they were forced to sell crops to the government at a regulated price.

鈥淗is critique of the government struck a chord with everyone,鈥� Karman said.

That鈥檚 also why some supporters argue his death may be politically motivated, Karman added.

Rishi Nagar, who hosts a daily Punjabi radio show in Calgary, said fans still want justice for Moose Wala, but Wednesday will be about remembering him mainly as an artist.

鈥淢ost of our music programs will be dedicated to his memories,鈥� he said.

鈥淔ans are also holding a candlelight vigil at a local park. He has touched the pulse of the youth. He energized them.

鈥淧eople love his songs.鈥�

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鈥� With files from David Friend in Toronto and The Associated Press

Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press