hiphop

5miinust

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts MembersEstoni KohverPäevakoerPõhja-KoreaLancelot Founded2015 Nationality🇪🇪 Estonian National SelectionEesti Laul 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö Song(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi (with Puuluup, 2024) Biography 5miinust, is a hip hop group from Estonia, founded in Võsu in 2015. The original members include Estoni Kohver, Päevakoer, Põhja-Korea, and Lancelot, with a later addition of Venelane (Pavel Bocharov). Venelane announced his departure from the group in the summer of 2023, and since his exit, the group has reverted to its original composition. Originating from Võsu in Lääne-Viru County, 5miinust gained significant attention in 2018, following the success of their studio albums “Aasta plaat” and “Rämmar”, released in 2016 and 2017 respectively through Legendaarne Records. Both albums secured positions in the top twenty of the national best-selling albums chart, ranking them among the 18 most successful albums of 2018. In collaboration with Nublu, they released the single “Aluspükse” in 2019, which led the Eesti Tipp-40 chart for six weeks in a row, earning the title of the 3rd best-selling song in Estonia for that year. That same year, they signed with Universal Music Group’s Baltic branch, under which they released hit singles “Paaristõuked”, “Peo lõpp”, and “Loodus ja hobused”, each reaching the number one spot on the Eesti Tipp-40 chart. 5miinust has been honored at the Estonian Music Awards, the premier awards of the Estonian music scene, winning the Artist of the Year category twice, in addition to receiving two other nominations. In November 2023, 5miinust, together with Puuluup, were announced as semi-finalists for Eesti Laul 2024, Estonia’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with their entry “(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”. They advanced from the first semi-final round and were victorious in the final, securing their place as Estonia’s representatives for the contest. In the contest itself, they reached the Grand Final, where they ended up in a 20th place. Entries (Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi (with Puuluup) Country🇪🇪 Estonia Year2024 LanguageEstonian LyricsKim WennerströmKristjan ‘Kohver’ JakobsonPriit ‘Lancelot’ TomsonMihkel ‘Päevakoer’ TammKarl ‘Põhja-Korea’ Kivastik MusicKim WennerströmMarko VeissonRamo Teder Backings– Results Semi Points: 79Position: 6Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: 37Position: 20Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/RSMMU2wX0Bk?si=plzcHqhQvQ55gewE

Stereo Mike

About Quick Facts NameMihalis Exarchos Born04 July 1978 Nationality🇬🇷 Greek🇬🇧 British National SelectionEllinikós Telikós 2011 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf SongWatch My Dance (& Loucas Yiorkas, 2011) Biography Mihalis Exarchos, widely known by his stage name Stereo Mike, was born in 1978 in Piraeus, Greece. His heritage is a blend of Greek from his father’s side and Croatian from his mother, who hails from Rijeka. At 18, Exarchos ventured to the UK to pursue higher education in music, attending Leeds Metropolitan and the University of Westminster. There, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Technology and a Master’s degree in Sound Production. During his academic years, Exarchos honed his skills as a sound producer at Vault Recording Studios in Hackney, London. His work there involved collaborations with notable British hip hop artists such as Klashnekoff, Bury Crew, Skinnyman, Taskforce, Iceberg Slimm, Mike GLC, and JMC. His career took a significant turn when he joined AMG Records, leading to his first recording contract under the name ‘Stereo Mike’ with Mo’ Money Recording$. His debut album, “Satirical Nomads,” released by Mo’ Money Recording$ and licensed to Universal Music Greece, featured impactful singles like the anti-racism anthem “O Allos Babis” and the remix “I Polis.” Apart from his recording career, he also took up a post-graduate lecturing position at the University of Westminster in London, sharing his expertise in music production. Stereo Mike’s impact in the music scene was further recognized when he was nominated for the Mad Video Music Awards in 2005 and 2008, in categories including “Best Hip-Hop Video Clip” and “Video Clip of the Year.” His second album, titled “XLI3H” (leet speak for the Greek word “Εξέλιξη,” meaning “evolution”), marked another milestone in his career and was signed with Minos EMI. Concurrently, he engaged in research work towards a PhD in music. A significant highlight in Stereo Mike’s career was becoming the first MTV EMA Award winner in the “Best Greek Act” category following MTV’s regional launch in Greece in 2008. His recognition expanded to a nomination for Europe’s Favourite Act in the same year. In 2011, Stereo Mike teamed up with Loucas Yiorkas to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest in Germany. Their performance of “Watch My Dance” earned them a respectable seventh place, scoring 120 points and further cementing Stereo Mike’s status as a prominent figure in the Greek hip-hop scene. Right after the Eurovision Song Contest, the single “Apla zoi” was released, followed by “Boro”, a single chosen by fans via Facebook. As a part of the project Schizm he released the single “Akoma” with Constantine. In 2012 Stereo Mike released a new single, “Opou me pai mousiki”. He collaborated with Despina Olympiou in the song “To neo tragoudi tis”. In October 2012 he signed with Imiz Biz Entertainment. In March 2013 Stereo Mike got the opportunity to perform at the festival SXSW in Austin, Texas. There was a documentary made about this journey. In November of the same year he teamed up with Mindtrap and Irène for the track “Tonight and Forever”. In 2014 he featured in D-Light’s “Anthrope xypna”. He produced the song “Dream Big” for Hellena, which became an international hit. He was also member of her band. He also released a solo single, “Akoma edo”. In 2015 the contract Stereo Mike had with EMI ended. However, Mike kept on performing and recording. He did his producing work in his home studio. In 2016 he started the Hip Hop Time Machine; a doctorate research – passion music project of Stereo Mike. His aim? To apply vintage production techniques to contemporary Hip-Hop in pursuit of ‘sample-based’ impact and authenticity: producing multiple records within a record. In the same year, Mike also performed with the band LaKlikaria and their song “GoogleDatShit”. In 2019, Stereo Mike went on tour with Asympt Man, as a bass player now. They performed in the USA. In December of that year, he contributed to the Innovation in Music conference in London. In 2020 he made a Cambridge Scholar Publishing: Interpreting the Synthesizer – Meaning Through Sonics. Mike contributed to the (digital) book Analyzing Recorded Music – Collected Perspectives On Popular Music Tracks and released his own book Reimagining Sample-based Hip Hop in July 2023. It came along with the dual album “KATALH3H (Beats Deluxe)”. Entries Watch My Dance (& Loucas Yiorkas) Country🇬🇷 Greece Year2011 LanguageEnglishGreek LyricsEleana Vrachali MusicGiannis Christodoulopoulos DancersPavlos ManogiannakisManos DavariasGiannis SaikinMichalis Spiridis Results Semi Points: 133Position: 1Running order: 19 Results Finals Points: 120Position: 7Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/qVdMs2-dwGE?si=WsCasxfLtbBQ4cFj

Jala Brat

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameJasmin Fazlić Born16 October 1986 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography Jasmin Fazlić, better known as Jala Brat, is a Bosnian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer. Jasmin Fazlić was born in Sarajevo. He took his first steps in the music career in early 2000 by recording his first demo songs. He soon realized that rap was the genre he wanted to pursue. He created his first original songs in his home studio, which he shared with a close group of friends, and adopted his nickname “Jala” as his stage name. Initially, Jala worked alone, but in 2011, he formed a group called Blunt Blyon, with whom he worked more seriously and released his first album “Replay.” After the album’s release, his music career as a rapper started to flourish. In 2012, Jala met Sarajevo rapper Amar Hodžić. That same year, Jala and Amar started collaborating together, not only in music but also in live performances. Jala began releasing his songs on the YouTube channel Imperia, which they jointly managed. After the release of the album “Replay”, Jala worked on new material and collaborated with rappers such as Frenkie, Sajfer, Mayer, Klijent, and Buba Corelli. He recorded a total of 10 songs and released an album called “Riječ na riječ”, which came out on June 12, 2012. At the end of 2012, together with Buba and Kontro, he featured on the song “RMX” released on the album “Troyanac” by Tuzla rapper Frenkie, for which they also made a music video. The song received positive reviews, further launching Jala into the music scene. In the period from 2012 to 2013, he released two EP albums named “SA Sin City” in collaboration with Buba, and “Mahala” with rapper Shtela. In the same year, he met singer and producer Almir Ajanović, who decided to produce his music in his Tempo studio. Jala and Buba worked on new songs between 2013 and 2014, and together they recorded a studio album called “Pakt s đavolom” (Devil’s Pact). The album featured collaborations with various rappers and singers, including Rasta, Juice, MCN, and Sedžida Matoruga. “Pakt s đavolom” was released in 2014 and received positive reviews from the audience. The album was released by Tempo Digital, in cooperation with the record label RedEye Vision. In early 2015, Jala decided to change his stage name to Jala Brat, citing the fact that the nickname “Brat” (Brother) had started to appear frequently alongside his old name, Jala. He adopted it as his own and first introduced it in the music video for the song “Dom” (Home). Soon after, he recorded another joint album with Buba, titled “Stari radio” (Old Radio). The most popular songs from the album were “Skandal” and “Casino.” However, their collaboration with Buba was interrupted due to Buba being arrested. A significant turning point in Jala Brat’s career was his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, where he co-wrote the song “Ljubav je” and performed it with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Deen, and cellist Ana Rucner from Croatia. The Bosnian delegation did not qualify for the final of the competition after performing the song in the semi-final evening. The song was also recorded in English under the title “Love is all.” In November 2016, Jala Brat and Buba Corelli recorded an album titled “Kruna” (Crown). This was the first album released under the label of the Imperia publishing and media house. During the commercial success of the album “Kruna,” Jala Brat established contacts with mainstream singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. He recorded the song “Zvezde plaču za nama” (Stars Cry for Us, 2015) with rapper Vuk Mob, and the song “Dominantna” (Dominant, 2016) with folk singer Dado Polumenta. He collaborated with Elena Kitić again, this time on the song “Folira” (She’s Pretending, 2016), which he recorded in collaboration with Buba. Afterward, he continued to release singles collaborating with folk singer Maya Berović on the song “To me radi” (What She Does to Me, 2016), which he recorded together with Buba Corelli. In early 2017, he collaborated with Croatian pop singer Severina on the song “Otrove” (Poison), and with Serbian pop-folk singer Milan Stanković on the song “Ego.” In 2016, Jala decided to become politically involved and ran for the Municipal Council in the Local Elections in the Municipality of Vogošća as a candidate of the Party of Democratic Action. He faced criticism, mainly from the public and audience, for his candidacy, but he remained on the list due to the insufficient number of votes. Afterward, he withdrew from the political scene. The album “Alfa i Omega” (2016) was recorded in the Imperia studio and represents a continuation of Jala Brat’s collaboration with Buba Corelli. The highlight of the album was a concert tour, culminating in a sold-out concert at the Tašmajdan Arena in Belgrade, with an audience of over 15,000 people. Album “99” (2019) After seven years since the release of Jala’s first album, “Riječ na riječ,” his second solo album, titled “99,” was released on September 9, 2019. Jala Brat announced the album on July 4 via his Instagram profile. The album features collaborations with Buba Corelli, Coby, and Raf Camora. Music videos were made for all the songs. After launching the Imperia YouTube channel, Jala decided to produce songs for prominent artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, together with Buba Corelli. He wrote lyrics and music for Milan Stanković, Dado Polumenta, Severina, Katarina Grujić, Aca Pejović, Dara Bubamara, and Selma Bajrami. However, his most significant collaboration was with pop-folk singer Maya Berović, for whom he and Buba produced several studio albums and most of the songs from 2017 onwards. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Ana Rucner) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Gipsy.cz

About Quick Facts MembersRadoslav ‘Gipsy’ BangaVojta LavičkaNoemi FialováTibor ŽidaMatěj ČernýOliver Lipenský Active2004-2013 Nationality🇨🇿 Czech National SelectionEurosong 2009Eurosong 2008Eurosong 2007 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongAven Romale (2009) Biography Gipsy.cz was a Czech Romani hip hop group renowned for their innovative fusion of hip hop and traditional Romani music. The band’s lyrics were primarily sung in the Romani language, with some songs featuring Czech and English. They have made significant strides in the music industry, gaining international recognition and acclaim. Early History and Formation: 2004-2008 In 2004, rapper Radovan “Radek” Banga released his solo album “Ya favourite Cd Rom.” Shortly thereafter, he met violinist Vojta Lavička and brothers Jan (upright bass) and Petr Surmaj (guitar and accordion). Together, they formed Gipsy.cz, blending their diverse musical backgrounds to create a unique sound. The band’s rise to fame began in 2006 with the release of their single “Romano Hip Hop,” from their debut album of the same name. This single reached the MTV World Chart Express and was later certified Gold in the Czech Republic. That same year, Gipsy.cz won the Discovery of the Year award at the Anděl Awards, marking their breakthrough into the mainstream music scene. In 2007, Gipsy.cz participated in the Czech national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Muloland,” finishing in second place. They achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Czech group to perform at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival. Additionally, their song “Jednou” was included in the “Gypsy Groove” compilation album published by Putumayo in 2007. The following year, at the 2008 Český slavík awards, they won the Rising Star of the Year award. With the song “Benga Beat”, they participated in the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest again. In June 2008, they released their second studio album, “Reprezent,” which reached second place on the World Music Chart in Europe and stayed there for four weeks. The album included the controversial song “A na závěr si s námi dejte trochu té Čunárny,” which mocked politician Jiří Čunek known for his anti-Roma comments. To avoid legal issues, Gipsy.cz released an alternate version of the song without the offending lyrics. Eurovision and Continued Success: 2009-2013 In January 2009, Jan and Petr Surmaj left the band. New members joined, including Tomáš Baroš on electric upright bass and Jan Sochor on accordion. This year marked a significant achievement as Gipsy.cz finally succeeded in representing the Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow with their song “Aven Romale.” Unfortunately, they finished last in the first semi-final without receiving any points. In 2011, Gipsy.cz toured Australia as part of the Karavan Festival and released their third studio album, “Desperado.” This album showcased the band’s ability to blend diverse musical influences while staying true to their Romani roots. Two years later, they issued their fourth record, “Upgrade,” further solidifying their presence in the music industry. That was the last album, released by Gipsy.cz as a group. Throughout their career, Gipsy.cz has received several accolades. They were nominated for the Best Hip Hop Album at the 2005 Anděl Awards. In 2006, they received nominations for Best Album in the World and Best New Artist, winning the latter. Band Members The last lineup of Gipsy.cz included Radoslav Banga aka Gipsy on vocals, Tomáš Baroš on electric upright bass, Jan Sochor on accordion, and Viliam Didiáš on violin. Past members who contributed to the band’s success include Vojta Lavička on violin and vocals, Noemi Fialová on violin and vocals, Tibor Žida on guitar and vocals, Matěj Černý on bass, Oliver Lipenský on drums, and the Surmaj brothers, Petr on guitar and accordion and Jan on electric upright bass. With a discography that includes “Romano Hip Hop” (2006), “Reprezent” (2008), “Desperado” (2011), and “Upgrade” (2013), Gipsy.cz continued to inspire and innovate within the music world. After 2013, Radoslav Banga aka as Gipsy continued solo. Entries Aven Romale Country🇨🇿 Czechia Year2009 LanguageRomaniEnglish LyricsRadoslav ‘Gipsy’ Banga MusicRadoslav ‘Gipsy’ Banga Backings– Results Semi Points: 0Position: 18Running order: 2 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/F39OvgrEEpg?si=hEv9lZXnTrUNYgTo

Trackshittaz

About Quick Facts MembersLukas PlöchlManuel Hoffelner Active2010 – 2015 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionÖsterreich Rockt Den Song Contest 2012Düsseldorf – wir kommen! 2011 In Eurovision2012 Baku SongWoki Mit Dem Popo (2012) Biography Trackshittaz was an Austrian hip-hop duo. They originated from the Mühlviertel in Austria. In early 2010, Lukas Plöchl, also known as G-Neila, and Manuel Hoffelner (stage name Manix), a student from Leopoldschlag, formed the band. The idea for the band’s name emerged as they decided to enter the UHS band contest in Freistadt, despite having no songs written together at that time. They quickly produced six tracks in just eight days, a requirement for contest participation. In 2010, Trackshittaz gained popularity through YouTube with their parody “Alloa bam Fraunz” of Stromae’s “Alors on danse”, garnering over 100,000 views quickly. Lukas Plöchl appeared on the ORF talent show Helden von morgen from October 2010 to January 2011. Following his initial performance, Sony Music signed them with their hit “Oida taunz!”, which topped the Austrian single charts. It was a milestone as the first Austrian download-only release to debut at number one. Their song “Guuugarutz”, released in January 2011, also reached the top spot. In 2010, the band was selected for the Austrian Eurovision Song Contest 2011 preliminaries and secured the second place with “Oida Taunz!”. Their July 2011 album, “Prolettn feian längaah”, achieved number one status like their debut album and received a gold record. The non-album track “Touchdown” was featured as the official song for the Football World Cup, and their song “Schnitzi” was included in the soundtrack of the film adaptation of Thomas Glavinic’s novel ‘Wie man leben soll’. Trackshittaz participated once more in Austria’s Eurovision Song Contest 2012 selection, Österreich rockt den Song Contest, and triumphed with “Woki mit deim Popo”, beating future ESC winner Conchita Wurst. However, they were eliminated in the Baku Eurovision semi-final, ranking last. Hoffelner sustained a knee injury during their performance. The band made a comeback in March 2014 with their fourth album “#TS4”, preceded by singles “Gmiatlich Dreschn” and “Schuachblattlaboogie”. On July 24, 2015, the duo announced the end of Trackshittaz, citing extensive physical and time commitments as the main reasons for the band’s dissolution, the EP “#TS15” being the last product of the duo. Entries Woki Mit Dem Popo Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2012 LanguageMühlviertel Dialect LyricsLukas PlöchlManuel Hoffelner MusicLukas Plöchl DancersConny AitzetmüllerMarie-Therese LeopoldsbergerBianca Borghesi Results Semi Points: 8Position: 18Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/3gPt8R33POY?si=oNmHd5uxwX6MDsUB

Who see

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersDejan Dedović (Dedduh)Mario Đorđević (Noyz) Founded2002 Nationality🇲🇪 Montenegrin National SelectionInternal selection 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongIgranka (2013) Biography Who See, sometimes referred to as Who See? or Who See Klapa, is a renowned hip-hop duo hailing from Kotor, Montenegro. Comprising members Dedduh (Dejan Dedović) of Kotor and Noyz (Mario Đorđević) of Herceg Novi, the duo came together in 2002, marking their entry with the demo track “Dim po dim” (“Puff after puff”). Their music gained traction with features on Serbian hip-hop compilation “Ulice vol.1” and 43Zla’s album, Sve same barabe. 2007 saw the release of their debut album, “Sviranje kupcu”, which showcased collaborations with a range of artists. They teamed up with artists such as Sean Price, Ajs Nigrutin, Wikluh Sky, Prti Bee Gee, Krešo Bengalka, Kid Rađa, Frenkie, Random, Smoke Mardeljano, Kendi, and Labia. Who See Klapa earned the privilege to kickstart Kotor’s 2008 Refresh Festival’s hip-hop section on 7 August. Their stellar performance at Maximus discothèque at midnight not only marked their growing reputation beyond Montenegro but also set the stage for Serbian rapper Marčelo. Both Dedduh and Noyz have also ventured into solo projects. Dedduh’s solo outing, “Kakav ćemo refren?” featured Serbian rapper Ajs Nigrutin. Noyz, on the other hand, unveiled “Niđe hedova masnija” in collaboration with Ajs Nigrutin and Timbe. 2013 was a milestone year as Who See, after clinching the MTV Adria award for Best Regional Act, was chosen to represent Montenegro at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö. Teaming up with singer Nina Žižić, they performed “Igranka” during the first semi-final on 14 May 2013, although they did not progress to the finals. In 2014, they won an MTV Adria Award again, a Double Platinum Award. The song “Dinamida” became a huge hit. On July 28, 2014, their album “Nemam ti kad” was released. In November, their song “Đe se kupaš”, reached the no. 1 spot of the MTV Top List. In 2015 and 2016 Who See performed on numerous festivals in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Their single “Sobe Zimmer Rooms” reached the first place in the national charts. In June 2017, the duo released a new single called “Naselj”, including video. On 1 July a new album came out, “Pamidore”. In January 2019, Who See reached the final of the Music Award Ceremony with the song “Naselj”. In May of the same year, a new song “Đedovina” was released. The two teamed up with Sergej Ćetković for the single “Pusti probleme”. The song won a MAC Music Award for best collaboration. A new single was released in July 2020: “Amo popit po pivo”. The song was built around a campaign of the Trebjesa Brewery. A new collaboration came in November of that year, this time with Alejuandro Buendija. “Idu Dani” was their single. It was in November 2021 that they teamed up with TriXstar, releasing the single “Viđi dane”. In April 2023 they featured in a Smoke Mardeljano record, “21. Ovaj Krug”. Entries Igranka Country🇲🇪 Montenegro Year2013 LanguageMontenegrin LyricsDejan DedovićMario ĐorđevićĐorđe Milenović MusicĐorđe Milenović BackingsNina Žižić Results Semi Points: 41Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/FR9rtB2ilZU?si=BJI-7Xj6aXyLDeSq