Sideshow’s new album, TIGRAY FUNK, confronts the intersection of addiction and artistic creation head-on with the track “YARDBIRD,” opening with a direct discussion of heroin use and its potential impact on jazz musicians. A voice within the song poses the question, “Do you think it made guys more creative?” to which another responds, “The concentration of a heroin addict is very strong.”
The lyrical content positions Sideshow’s perform within a lineage of artists whose lives and work have been intertwined with substance use, specifically referencing Charlie Parker, a legendary jazz saxophonist known for his struggles with heroin addiction. The song draws a parallel between the “sealed pints of today” and the “poppy fields of yore,” suggesting a continuous thread of drug use throughout artistic history. This exploration is underscored by “billowing synths” that create a “cozy fuzz,” according to reporting on the track.
Within the broader context of TIGRAY FUNK, Sideshow utilizes themes of indulgence – encompassing drugs, sex, and violence – to ground his artistic persona in tangible realities. “YARDBIRD” is described as a microcosm of the rapper’s self-perception, with lyrics like “All I necessitate is a digi scale, n***a I can’t fail,” and a defiant stance against imitation: “Let em start faking, n***a we gon take it there.” This lyrical content conveys a sense of superiority and dominance over those he perceives as rivals or imitators.
Sideshow’s latest album, his first in two years, was previewed in reports leading up to its release. The album’s title, TIGRAY FUNK, suggests a potential connection to the Tigray region of Ethiopia, though the specific nature of this connection remains unexplored in available reporting. The release of “YARDBIRD” has been noted as a particularly “grimy” offering from the album, highlighting its unflinching exploration of dark themes.
