From Addis to the West: A Rapper’s Journey and Message

"HaileMariam Kassa, who calls himself Sideshow, grew up in Addis Ababa’s Arat Kilo area where he and his friends chased bikes and marbles, not music. He saw church chants and romantic pop songs as adult stuff and felt detached from them. When his family moved to the United States because of his mother’s journalistic work, he began to explore hip‑hop while living in Arlington and later Los Angeles. He learned to write lyrics that talk about modern problems like prescription drugs and semi‑legal weapons, treating them as ongoing evils. His newest album, TIGRAY FUNK, blends his Ethiopian roots with the G‑funk sound he loved in California. The record is split into four discs and tells a story about a tiger, a dog, and the early sins of violence. Sideshow credits MIKE’s label 10k Global for giving him a platform and thanks Niontay for showing him how to record alone, which helped the album’s unique feel. In a track called “LOOK WHAT OUR STOMACHS MADE US DO, ” he highlights global suffering and says that people outside a certain privileged group feel ignored.He explains that his music isn’t meant to preach but to examine why violence feels normal and how religious ideas of being “chosen” fuel conflict. Sideshow talks about his early exposure to music through a sister’s iPod, his love of creating fake album covers as a kid, and how he used art as a way to understand himself. He says that when you’re young you just want to hear your own voice, but as you grow up you realize art is a tool to spread ideas. He stresses that no one is “chosen” and that the belief in a special group creates division. He also discusses how violence is rooted in history and feels real when it’s part of someone’s daily life. Sideshow shares his thoughts on drug use, saying drugs are bad but can also be a form of escape. He explains his recording process: he prefers rough, imperfect beats and enjoys the freedom of working alone. Finally, he reflects on how being part of a tight underground rap community gives him growth and support. His message urges listeners to rethink violence, religion, and the idea of being special. "