On Wednesday, September 29, 2027, Sido will perform at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. What he’ll be bringing: His tenth album, “Frieden,” songs spanning more than 25 years, and a transparent mask.
The mask has long been his trademark. With his solo debut, “Maske,” in 2004, the chrome-plated skull mask became the hallmark of the Aggro Berlin rapper. Later, he stopped wearing it. Now he’s wearing it again—but this time, it’s completely transparent. According to the announcement for the new album, the transparent mask symbolizes openness rather than withdrawal: no hiding, no pretense, an open visor. He’ll be going on tour with this mask in 2027.
Paul Hartmut Würdig was born on November 30, 1980, in East Berlin, the son of a Sinti woman and a German man. In 1988, his mother’s application to leave the country was approved; the family moved to West Berlin and initially lived in emergency housing in Wedding. He started rapping at age 13. Beginning in 1997, he performed at open-mic sessions at the Royal Bunker in Kreuzberg, founded the duo Royal TS with B-Tight, and released his first demo tapes on the underground label of the same name. Through the crews Die Sekte and A.i.d.S., he joined Aggro Berlin. The label released “Mein Block” (2004), “Schlechtes Vorbild,” and “Augen auf.” In 2008, “Ich und meine Maske” reached number one on the German album charts. It was his first number-one album. In 2015, he released “Astronaut” with Andreas Bourani, which was certified Diamond in Germany in 2023 for over one million units sold. Songs like “Bilder im Kopf” and “Tausend Tattoos” are familiar even to people who don’t usually listen to rap.
He made his television debut early on. Sido served on the judging panels for “Popstars” (2008), “X Factor” (2018), and “The Voice of Germany” (2019), and in 2023 he appeared on “Wer stiehlt mir die Show?” In his personal life, he is the father of several children. One of his sons is now in the studio with him: his 13-year-old son Bo raps a guest verse at the end of the single “ISSA.”
The tenth studio album is set for release on November 27, 2026, four years after “Paul.” Also featured: Xavier Naidoo and Sido’s cousin Menowin Fröhlich, appearing together on a track for the first time. The song “WOKE” sets the tone. First verse: street life and petty crime, with Notorious B.I.G. as a role model. Second verse: child support payments, relationship chaos, inner turmoil. He takes the title literally: wake up every morning and keep going. According to the announcement, the album showcases a Sido who “knows pretty much exactly who he is today.”