Sido

Biography

Paul Hartmut Würdig (born 30 November 1980), better known as Sido, is a German rapper. He interprets his stage name as "super-intelligentes Drogenopfer" (super-intelligent drug victim). It originally stood for "Scheiße in dein Ohr" (shit into your ear), a line from his track "Terroarr".
Sido is known for his provocative and aggressive lyrics. After gaining prominence with his debut album Maske×Maske26 April 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Interview2:172Aus’m Weg4:243Steig ein!3:374Mein Block4:095Maske3:296Mama ist stolz4:187Sido und die Drogen1:378Endlich Wochenende3:4593 Leben4:3510Knast5:2311Taxi3:0712Fuffies im Club3:4713Was hat er?4:1014Glas hoch!4:5915Die Sekte5:0416Ghettoloch3:5817Sido aus’m Block1:22 in 2004, he became recognisable for wearing a silver skull mask. However, he stopped wearing the mask in 2005.[3]
Würdig's career began in 1997 as one half of the duo Royal TS (now A.i.d.S) with B-Tight. Both were initially signed to the Berlin hip hop label Royal Bunker before joining Aggro Berlin in 2001. As of 2009, Sido has been signed to Urban/Universal Music Group.

Early life

Würdig was born to a German father and a Sinti mother. At the age of eight, he and his younger sister were raised by their mother in East Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood. In 1988, the family relocated to West Berlin, initially living in emergency accommodation in Wedding alongside many asylum seekers. They later moved to Märkisches Viertel, a high-rise residential area in the Berlin borough of Reinickendorf. During his childhood and youth, Märkisches Viertel had a significant proportion of migrants and low-income families. He attended the Bettina-von-Arnim-Oberschule and subsequently began an apprenticeship as an educator, which he did not complete.

1997–2002: Early career

Sido has been active in the music industry since 1997. Together with his best friend B-Tight, he released several EPs and demos under the name Royal TS, which were never officially published, through the Berlin underground hip hop label Royal Bunker. Sido had a long-standing friendship with DJ Tomekk. The two created a dubplate from Arschficksong, which DJ Tomekk played in clubs across Germany, introducing Sido to a broader audience for the first time. At the time, Specter, who later co-founded Aggro Berlin, was the art director for DJ Tomekk. During a concert, the duo caught the attention of Halil, Specter, and Spaiche—the eventual founders of the Aggro Berlin label.

2003–2004: First successes and Maske

Sido's solo career began in 2002 with the "Arschficksong×Arschficksong9 August 2004 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Arschficksong (original)3:302Arschficksong (original instrumental)3:303Arschficksong (a cappella)3:224Arschficksong (Beattight remix)4:105Arschficksong (Bommers Aua Aua remix)3:186Arschficksong (Relax remix)4:26" ("Ass-fuck song") on the sampler Aggro Ansage Nr. 1 and the "Weihnachtssong×Weihnachtssong1 December 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Weihnachtssong3:202Weihnachtssong (remix)4:07" ("Christmas song") on Aggro Ansage Nr. 3.
In 2004, Sido released his debut album Maske×Maske26 April 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Interview2:172Aus’m Weg4:243Steig ein!3:374Mein Block4:095Maske3:296Mama ist stolz4:187Sido und die Drogen1:378Endlich Wochenende3:4593 Leben4:3510Knast5:2311Taxi3:0712Fuffies im Club3:4713Was hat er?4:1014Glas hoch!4:5915Die Sekte5:0416Ghettoloch3:5817Sido aus’m Block1:22, which reached No. 3 on the German charts and has sold more than 180,000 copies to date, achieving gold status. The lead single, "Mein Block×Mein Block5 April 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Mein Block (radio)4:112Mein Block (instrumental)4:123Mein Block (Beathoavenz Video remix)5:014Mein Block (Tomekk remix)3:535Mein Block (Gegenüber remix)4:326Steig ein! (original)3:387Berlin, Berlin4:16" ("My hood"), reached No. 13 on the German charts, while the second single, "Fuffies im Club×Fuffies im Club2 August 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Fuffies im Club (original)3:472Fuffies im Club (radio)3:473Fuffies im Club (remix)3:164Fuffies im Club (Derezon remix)3:255Glashoch4:596Glashoch (DJ Ron remix)5:037Glashoch (Bommer remix)5:168Yeah3:13" ("€50 notes in the club"), peaked at No. 18, and the third single, "Mama ist stolz×Mama ist stolz17 January 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Mama ist stolz (original)4:182Mama ist stolz (instrumental)4:193Mama ist stolz (Fuego remix)4:144Mama ist stolz (Don Tone remix)3:355G mein Weg4:20" ("Mum is proud"), reached No. 25. The original album was banned due to the song "Endlich Wochenende" ("Finally weekend"), which the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons claimed glorified drug use. The album was later rereleased under the name Maske X, with "Arschficksong" replacing "Endlich Wochenende". The song was also released as a single for the first time, with the accompanying video slightly censored.
In September of the same year, Sido won a prestigious German music award for "Best Newcomer". The best-known track from the album, "Mein Block", depicts life from a resident's perspective in the Märkisches Viertel, a low-income neighbourhood of Berlin, detailing issues such as the narcotics trade, alcoholism, interactions with police, and poverty in Sido's Block, or building.

2005–2006: Other projects and Ich

After this debut album, together with his label colleagues B-Tight and Fler, he released two label samplers: Aggro Ansage Nr. 4 and Aggro Ansage Nr. 5, which featured the new label artists Tony D and G-Hot.
In 2005, Sido performed with Brainless Wankers and represented Berlin in the Bundesvision Song Contest 2005 with the song "Mama ist stolz×Mama ist stolz17 January 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Mama ist stolz (original)4:182Mama ist stolz (instrumental)4:193Mama ist stolz (Fuego remix)4:144Mama ist stolz (Don Tone remix)3:355G mein Weg4:20." He placed third, earning 113 points.
Later, he collaborated with rapper Harris as the rap duo Deine Lieblings Rapper ("Your Favorite Rappers"). In 2005, they released their debut album Dein Lieblings Album ("Your Favorite Album"), featuring "Steh wieder auf" ("Get Up Again") as the only single.
In December 2006, Sido released his second album, Ich, which reached No. 4 on the German album charts. Three singles—"Strassenjunge," "Ein Teil von mir×Ein Teil von mir2 February 2007 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Ein Teil von mir (original)3:352Ein Teil von mir3:453Ein Teil von mir (Tai Jason remix)3:404Kein Gott4:345Schlechtes Vorbild (Traxtar remix)3:286Ein Teil von mir (instrumental)3:36," and "Schlechtes Vorbild×Schlechtes Vorbild1 June 2007 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Schlechtes Vorbild3:282Schlechtes Vorbild (Tai Jason remix)4:243Schlechtes Vorbild (Electro remix)3:584Schlechtes Vorbild (80’s remix)3:545Bonzenbankett4:026Schlechtes Vorbild (instrumental)3:27"—were released. The album achieved gold status.

2007: Sektenmuzik

In 2007, Sido and B-Tight (alias A.i.d.S.) founded their label Sektenmuzik and established a rap crew named Die Sekte alongside Rhymin Simon and Vokalmatador. Tony D joined the group later.

2008: Ich und meine Maske and Popstars

Sido's third album, Ich und meine Maske×Ich und meine Maske30 May 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 30 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Intro1:022Wieder zurück3:503Halt dein Maul3:204Peilerman und Flow Teil 51:095Ich und meine Maske3:576Pack schlägt sich3:107Peilerman und Flow Teil 60:548Augen auf3:499Herz4:2610Peilerman und Flow Teil 70:4411Strip für mich4:1912Carmen3:4513Peilerman und Flow Teil 80:3814Scheiss drauf4:2415Unser Leben4:3016Nein!4:0317Schule3:4918Jeder kriegt, was er verdient2:4319Danke4:4520Aggrokalypse4:30Disc 21Mario Barth Intro1:372Ich bin so gaga4:123Tage4:594Beweg dein Arsch3:285Wenn die Bosse reden4:516Ich und meine Katze3:267Deine Eltern4:388Kanacks und Hools4:459Meine Gang4:0210Halt dein Maul (remix)3:21, was released at the end of May 2008 and reached No. 1 on the German album charts. The singles "Augen auf×Augen auf16 May 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Augen auf (original)3:512Augen auf (instrumental)3:50"/"Halt dein Maul," "Carmen×Carmen2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Carmen3:492Carmen (radio version)3:493Carmen (Goofiesmackerz remix)4:114Carmen (instrumental)3:49," "Herz," "Nein!" and "Beweg dein Arsch" achieved chart success.
In August 2008, Sido joined the seventh season of Popstars, titled "Just 4 Girls," as a jury member alongside Detlef D! Soost and Loona. Many were surprised by his participation, questioning why Sido, known for his provocative and aggressive lyrics, would join a mainstream TV show like Popstars.
At the conclusion of Popstars, the band Queensberry was formed.

2009: Aggro Berlin

On 1 April 2009, the label Aggro Berlin was closed. Sido subsequently signed with Urban Records, a division of Universal Music Germany.
On 30 October 2009, Sido released his fourth studio album, Aggro Berlin×Aggro Berlin30 August 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Intro1:302Sido4:413Hey Du!4:134Geburtstag4:495Skit 10:296Der Tanz3:337Wenn das alles ist4:058Marie & Jana4:079Skit 20:2510Ich bereue nichts3:5411Sicher3:2512Skit 30:4613Seniorenstatus4:0714Siggy & Harry4:1715Ruf mich3:5616Schlampen von Gestern4:2917Skit 41:0218Sie bleibt4:0619Für jeden4:032010 Jahre3:4521Outro4:42. The lead single, "Hey du×Hey Du16 October 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hey Du4:11!", reached No. 4 on the German charts. In this song, Sido reflects on his upbringing in East Germany and his later life in West Berlin. He revealed that he had concealed his East Berlin origins for a long time due to fear of bullying.

2013: "Best of" compilation

In 2013, Sido released a "best of" compilation including four new songs, of which 2012's "Bilder im Kopf×Bilder im Kopf11 January 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Bilder im Kopf4:002Meine Jordans3:28" showed him moving towards pop-rap.

Personal life

Würdig has a son, whose name and date of birth are not publicly known, but he references him in the songs "Aggro Gold" and "2010", among others.
He began dating former Nu Pagadi lead singer Doreen Steinert in mid-2005, and on 14 February 2010, they became engaged. However, in April 2012, they broke off their engagement. A few weeks later, in early May 2012, Würdig confirmed rumors that he had begun dating German TV presenter Charlotte Engelhardt. Würdig had a second son with Engelhardt in 2013.
Würdig is the second cousin of German DSDS participant Menowin Fröhlich.

Controversy

The perceived rebellious tendencies of Sido's label affiliates B-Tight, Fler, and G-Hot, whose personas emphasize embittered racial or class standpoints, have generated additional discussion in widely circulated publications.

MTV HipHop Open

In July 2004, Sido performed live in Stuttgart at the MTV HipHop Open festival. During his performance, he insulted Frankfurt rapper Azad's mother, saying: "If we had a bed right here, I'd bang Azad's mother." A week later, Sido and Azad met backstage, and after a brief dispute, it escalated into a brawl involving the artists of Aggro Berlin and Bozz Music. Security and the police arrived to stop the conflict, but Azad and his crew had already fled.

Antisemitism and conspiracy theories

Sido has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories. In a 2020 video with rapper Ali Bumaye, Sido appeared to endorse the QAnon conspiracy theory. Sido has also faced criticism for comments alleged to be antisemitic. Journalist Eliran Kendi claimed that Sido "reaches into the anti-Semitic bag of tricks" and "specifically triggers the audience in the direction of the Jewish world conspiracy." However, Sido has distanced himself from the antisemitic conspiracy theorists Attila Hildmann and KenFM.

Awards and certifications

2004: Bravo Otto in Gold in the category "National rapper"
2004: Comet in the category "National Newcomer"
2006: Bravo Otto in Silver in the category "Best Rapper National" (Sido)
2006: Juice-Awards: 1st place in the category "Album National" for "Ich"
2007: Golden Tape for 15 No. 1 rankings "Strassenjunge" in the video on MTV's TRL
2007: Bravo Otto in Silver in the category "National Hip-Hop"
2009: Swiss Music Award in the category "Best Urban Album International"
2009: Comet in the category "Best Song"
2010: Echo in the category "Best Video" for "Hey Du×Hey Du16 October 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hey Du4:11"!
2010: Comet in the category "Best Song"
2010: MTV Europe Music Award in the category Best German Act
2011: Comet in the category "Best Artist"
2012: Echo-winner in the category Bestes Video National for So mach ich es with Bushido

Literature

Lars Marcel Feige and Sido (2006), Ich will mein Lied zurück (in German), Berlin: Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf Verlag, ISBN 978-3-89602-733-7