About Xidus Pain
Multi Award Winning International Music Artist / Music Practitioner / Mentor / Hip Hop Educator/ Hip Hop Spokesman
As a Rap artist and MC, I have had the privilege of being mentored by some of the most influential figures in music history, including the pioneering members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Melle Mel, and the legendary BAFTA Award-winning poet, author, actor, musician, and professor, Dr. Benjamin Zephaniah. My career has garnered international recognition, with features on radio stations worldwide and performances at prestigious venues across Europe. These include renowned locations such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Great Escape Festival, The Junction, Jazz Café, O2 Empire, Alexandra Palace, and Funk and Soul Weekender. I also had the unique opportunity to be part of the iconic Vans Warped Tour. Notably, I am the first and only rap artist to perform in Peterborough Cathedral in its 900-year history, a significant cultural milestone given the cathedral’s historical association as the burial site of Catherine of Aragon.
I am a frequent contributor to BBC radio, where I have delivered live, improvised freestyle rap performances for major national and global events, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the World Cup, and the Olympic Games. My experience also extends to participating in masterclasses at some of the world’s most renowned recording studios, such as Abbey Road Studios, Angel One Recording Studios, and BBC Maida Vale Studios. In these settings, I have collaborated with world-class musicians, record producers, artists, and sound engineers, honing my craft alongside industry leaders.
In 2023, I was commissioned to write and perform a piece for internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui at his exhibition "TimeSpace" held at the October Gallery in London. Additionally, I was invited to a private viewing of his Hyundai-commissioned exhibition at Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, titled "Behind the Red Moon." This commission highlights my growing role in interdisciplinary collaborations that merge music and the visual arts.
Over the course of 40 consecutive months, I released a new music project each month, producing between 7 to 21 songs per project. This dedication to prolific output earned me the reputation of being "one of the hardest working people in the music business," as noted by Nick Carter of BBC Radio. Some of these projects have been archived in the British Library, ensuring that my contributions to music will be preserved for future generations.
My music is deeply rooted in the foundational elements of Hip-Hop, emphasizing themes of equality, social consciousness, and enjoyment, while paying homage to the often-overlooked element of knowledge within the genre. As an artist, I am committed to exploring diverse musical genres, a reflection of my broad artistic influences and collaborative experiences. This openness to various musical styles has led to a wide range of collaborations, with both established and emerging artists across different genres.
• Morris Pleasure: Composer (Earth,Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles)
• J. Rawls: Hip Hop musician, Producer, DJ, Educator, and Speaker (US)
• Chita Zaima: Youngest girl Drummer World Champion (George Clinton, Aphex Twin )
• Ray Angry: Composer (The Roots, Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo, Q-Tip, Mark Ronson, Mick Jagger)
• Mirrah Reflects: Musician, Hip Hop Educator (Australia)
• Benzel Baltimore: Drummer (Mos Def, Erykah Badu, TPain, P Funk, Robert Glasper)
• Maya Jupiter: Mexican-born Australian rapper, songwriter, MC and radio personality
• Peter Spacey: Beat maker, DJ and producer (Tel Aviv)
• Aref Durvesh: (Tabla player for Sting, Nitin Sawhney and Joss Stone),
• Special Ed: Brooklyn Rap legend / Record Producer
• Brain Humphries: Audio Engineer (Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Stevie Wonder)
• Chuck D: MC,Producer. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer & Grammy Award winner (Public Enemy)
• The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Abiodun Oyewole: (The Last Poets)
• Kamau: Rap Artist (São Paulo Brazil)
• El da sensei: (Artifacts) US NJ Rap Artist
• Aloe Blacc: singer, songwriter and rapper (US)
• Street Sounds Records
• Michael Mcdonald: Musician singer, song writer 5 time Grammy Award winner
• Exile: DNB DJ / Producer / Tutor (UK)
• Sheena Easton: Scottish singer and actress two-time Grammy winner
• Lil Dee Rapper: (Coney Island, NY)
• Dumi Right: Performing artist, MC & Cultural Ambassador (Zimbabwe Legit)
• Peabo Bryson: Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter
• Lloyd Bradley: (Music journalist and Author)
• Hip Hop Psych: (Dr Becky Inkster and Dr Akeem Sule)
• Sylvia Massy: Sound Engineer/ Producer (Prince, Rick Rubin, Johnny Cash, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
Music Practitioner:
As a multi-disciplinary Music Practitioner, I possess extensive expertise across a diverse range of musical genres. For over 15 years, I have facilitated lyric-writing workshops aimed at fostering artist development and building confidence. My work spans a variety of educational and community environments, including primary and secondary schools, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), universities, prisons, youth clubs, and international community settings. Throughout these engagements, I have worked with individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, genders, age groups, and sexual orientations, as well as individuals with additional learning needs. I am fully qualified to deliver all levels of the Arts Award certification (bronze, silver, and gold).
The workshops I deliver are designed to promote inclusive learning, integrating functional skills while simultaneously supporting well-being and self-expression. My collaborations include esteemed institutions such as the BBC, National Health Service (NHS), National Grid, Peterborough City Council, Lincolnshire Music Service, Cambridge City Council, 20 Stories High (Liverpool Youth Theatre), Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Centre 33, Shaw Trust Foundation, Kaplan International Colleges, Keystone Academy Trust, Metal Culture, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Prince’s Trust, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Wilds Lodge (Therapeutic School), Nacro, Young Lives, The Garage, Nexus Fostering, Youth Offenders Team, National Citizen Service (NCS), as well as international organizations such as The New York Times, United Nations, Universal Hip Hop Museum (Bronx, NY), Howard University (USA), Washington University (USA), Oxford University, Cambridge University, Finding Rhythms, Hip Hop Loves Foundation, and Noise Solution, among others.
Currently, I serve as Director at Beat This CIC, a socially conscious enterprise that focuses on using music as a tool to facilitate community development and skill acquisition. In addition, I managed Generation Hip-Hop UK, a global youth empowerment and development initiative chaired by Ndaba Mandela (grandson of Nelson Mandela) and featuring Curtis Young (son of Dr. Dre) as Executive Producer and Brand Ambassador.
My professional repertoire encompasses the delivery of workshops, masterclasses, and lectures on a wide range of topics, conducted in a positive and professional manner. In 2023, I had the honor of attending studio sessions, performing live shows, and delivering Rap and Hip-Hop workshops in New York, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and West Philadelphia, as part of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary celebrations in collaboration with the Hip Hop Loves Foundation.
I offer my services as a guest lecturer and am equipped to provide customized lesson plans, manage projects, and deliver workshops or lectures aligned with existing course work. I am adept at tailoring these sessions to meet the requirements of various curricular levels, ensuring a flexible and comprehensive approach to music education.
Awards:
• YMA Best Community Music Leader : 2014
• AIM Independent Music Awards 2021: Local Hero Award
• Corporate Livewire Global Awards Musician of the Year: 2024
Qualifications:
• Diploma in Educational Psychology
• Diploma in Music Therapy
• Diploma in Songwriting
• Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and young people's Mental Health
• Diploma in Creative Writing
Other Credits:
• Guest Judge New Voices BBC (2019)
• Hip Hop & Education: Global Panel Cultural (2020)
• Guest Judge New Voices BBC (2021)
• BBC The Listening Project (2021)
• Commissioned to write a song and perform (BBC Make A Difference Award 2022)
• Ted X Talk : Speaker & Performer (2022)
• Guest Judge (BBC Make A Difference Award 2022)
• Hip Hop Jedi Hip Hop & Education Global Summit Panel (2023)
• Hip Hop Healers Global Cultural Summit Panel (2023)
• Guest Judge (BBC Make A Difference Award 2023)
• Xidus performance for El Anatsui at The October Gallery ( TimeSpace 2023)
• Peterborough Knife Angel (2024)
• TUC Black Workers Conference as a Delegate for the Musicians Union (2024)