Fresh off the momentum of his critically acclaimed album TIGRAY FUNK, Sideshow has returned with a new standalone single and music video titled “EXPERIMENTAL RAP (BLACK CROSS+).” Produced by Dylvinci and Mesa D, the track arrives ahead of the Tigrayan artist’s upcoming P.A.I.N. US Tour, which launches this June with headline dates across major cities including Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
Accompanied by a striking visual directed by Language Is Important, the video places Sideshow alongside frequent collaborators El Cousteau and Falamoun behind the counter of a busy kitchen, creating a surreal yet grounded atmosphere that mirrors the track’s raw and fragmented energy. The setting feels intentionally chaotic, reinforcing the experimental tone that continues defining Sideshow’s evolving artistic identity.
“EXPERIMENTAL RAP (BLACK CROSS+)” builds on the creative world introduced through TIGRAY FUNK, released earlier this year to widespread acclaim. The project marked a major moment in Sideshow’s ascent, earning praise from outlets including Pitchfork, The FADER, Pigeons & Planes, and HotNewHipHop, with Pitchfork naming the album Best New Album. The release also coincided with Sideshow’s first-ever interview with the publication, signaling his growing recognition as one of underground rap’s most singular voices.
Blending abstract lyricism, unconventional structure, and deeply textured production, Sideshow’s music continues to resist easy categorization. His sound pulls equally from experimental hip-hop, jazz-influenced rhythms, underground rap traditions, and emotionally fragmented storytelling, creating records that feel immersive and intentionally unpredictable.
Born in Tigray, Ethiopia, and later spending formative years between the DMV area and Los Angeles, Sideshow’s artistic perspective was shaped through a collision of cultural influences. Immersing himself in American music, film, fashion, and visual art after moving to the United States, he developed a fluid, deeply expressive rap style that reflects both personal displacement and artistic curiosity.
That evolution has unfolded steadily over the past several years. In 2020, Sideshow introduced himself through a trilogy of EPs — Farley, Ginger Shot, and Asked Amlak to Wash My Hands — before refining his full-length debut, 2021’s Wicked Man’s Reprise. The project featured collaborations with artists including MAVI, Na-Kel Smith, and Navy Blue, helping establish him as a respected presence within underground rap circles.
Since then, he has continued expanding his catalog with increasingly adventurous releases, including the collaborative 2023 album JAM alongside Alexander Spit, followed by 2024’s F.U.N. T.O.Y. and this year’s TIGRAY FUNK, both of which further cemented his reputation for pushing rap into emotionally and sonically unconventional territory.
Most recently, Sideshow joined Earl Sweatshirt for a run of dates on the European leg of the 3LWorldTour, exposing his music to wider international audiences while reinforcing his growing status within the global experimental hip-hop landscape.
With “EXPERIMENTAL RAP (BLACK CROSS+),” Sideshow continues embracing the restless creativity and unpredictability that have made him one of underground rap’s most compelling voices. As the P.A.I.N. US Tour approaches, the new single feels less like a standalone release and more like another fragment of a larger artistic world still unfolding in real time.
Sideshow: Instagram