Released: 2024
Features: Sunny Malton, Offgrid
In the Punjabi-Canadian hip-hop track “410” by Sidhu Moose Wala, featuring Sunny Malton and Offgrid, the artists convey a feeling of success, defiance, and ambition. The song leans heavily into the artists’ Punjabi heritage, Brampton roots, and struggle roadway to stardom, while also throwing digs at the police and detractors.
Starting off with “It’s 4:10, I’m on the 410”, the reference to 410 is a nod to Highway 410, the major artery that connects Brampton, a city with a significant South Asian population, to the Greater Toronto Area. The repeated phrase is used as a metaphor for the journey they’ve taken from their humble beginnings to their current success.
The expression “Me and my dawg just made a fortune” exudes the sense of accomplishment the artists feel, having made it big in the industry. The use of “dawg” here is colloquial slang for close friend or confidant, highlighting the importance of loyalty and camaraderie in their journey.
Another key line in the lyrics, “I been on road for the cheese, I love dairy,” uses the slang “cheese” as a stand-in for money, indicating the hard work and commitment they’ve put in to achieve financial success.
When they say “Brampton ch gunda” and “Malton da munda,” they are making a direct reference to their Punjabi roots, as ‘gunda’ and ‘munda’ translate to ‘boy’ in English. It’s a declaration of their identity – they’re proudly representing their hometowns of Brampton and Malton.
Lyrics like “I don’t listen to you peasants, man, I do what I wanna” and “Jatt kaim aa, Sadda time aa!” underscore the artists’ defiance and self-assuredness. In Punjabi culture, ‘Jatt’ is often used to imply a person of high status or esteem – a sentiment they’ve carried into these lyrics.
The line “Hun oh dekh sippin’ champagne like I know Drake” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to fellow Canadian superstar, Drake. It’s a celebratory statement that they’ve risen to a level of success comparable to such global icons.
By the closing, when they appeal “You know what I mean, Rest in peace to the motherfuckin’ GOAT, baby”, the flippant mention of ‘GOAT’, an acronym for Greatest Of All Time, further underscores their self-confidence and perhaps pays homage to fellow artists that inspired them.
Overall, “410” is a testament of shared struggles, cultural identity, and the triumphant rise of Sidhu Moose Wala, Sunny Malton, and Offgrid on the music scene, representing Punjabi pop on an international platform.
