Peterborough Rapper Xidus Pain Launches Microphone for Peace Tour Across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Peterborough-based rapper Xidus Pain is turning a powerful symbol into a message of peace as he tours the UK with the Microphone for Peace. The project brings hip-hop’s energy into classrooms and youth centres across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to spark dialogue through music.

The Microphone for Peace was conceived by The Workshop School in Philadelphia and produced by Humanium Metal in Sweden, turning decommissioned weapons into a piece of art that speaks about coexistence.

Xidus Pain, who runs Beat This CIC, describes the opportunity as a blessing and says carrying the microphone underscores hip-hop’s role in uniting communities.

The tour has drawn a positive response in rural Cambridgeshire, where he visited schools during Black History Month in October to show the true spirit of hip-hop as self-expression.

He cited East Anglian artists such as Dirty Dike and JayaHadADream as part of the region’s vibrant scene.

The microphone was brought to Romsey Mill in Cambridge, which hosts a recording studio and supports disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in the city and surrounding areas.

Music mentor Karl Lewis, known as KD, described the microphone’s story and build as a powerful reminder for young people that they can transform risk into art through music.

He added that the piece is a huge honour and can inspire youngsters to channel their energy into music and creative talent rather than risky activities.

After completing its worldwide journey, the Microphone for Peace is slated to return to the United States for display at the Hip Hop Museum in New York next year.

For updates on Peterborough and surrounding communities, this project highlights the connection between local artists and global hip-hop culture.

Key Takeaways

• The Microphone for Peace is forged from decommissioned firearms, turning weapons into art that promotes peace and dialogue.
• It travels to schools and youth centres in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, highlighting hip-hop as a form of self-expression.
• Beat This CIC leads the project, linking music education with community development.
• The microphone’s concept originated with The Workshop School in Philadelphia and was produced by Humanium Metal in Sweden.
• It will return to the United States for a future exhibit at the Hip Hop Museum in New York, bridging local and global stages.

Expert Opinion

Expert comment: Karl Lewis, known as KD, notes that the journey behind the mic helps young people hear the story and see music as a constructive outlet. He believes symbols like this can steer youths away from negative activity toward creativity.

Summary

The Microphone for Peace blends art, culture, and youth education to repurpose a weapon into a beacon of unity. Xidus Pain’s UK tour uses school visits and community spaces to showcase hip-hop’s positive dimensions and invite young people to express themselves. With support from local mentors and international partners, the project links Cambridgeshire communities to a broader global art movement, ahead of a New York exhibition.

Key insight: The Microphone for Peace demonstrates how art can repurpose conflict into dialogue, using hip-hop to engage youth in peaceful creative expression. Source: BBC News