Percy Robert Miller, better known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, dancer, actor and entrepreneur. He founded the record label No Limit Records in 1991, which was relaunched into the spin-off labels New No Limit Records and No Limit Forever Records. Miller gained fame in the mid-1990s as the lead and founding of the label's hip hop group TRU, as well as his fifth solo album, Ice Cream Man (1996), and its namesake lead single. His 1997 single, "Make 'Em Say Uhh!" received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The Polish hip hop scene was born in the early 1990s, due to the popularity of American rap. Nevertheless, rap style in Polish music has its deep roots in the 1980s Polish punk rock, alternative rock, disco and funk music.
Cash Money Records is an American record label founded in 1991 by brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Baby" Williams. The label gained prominence in the late 1990s for having signed and released albums for New Orleans–based musical acts including Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., and Hot Boys. It became an imprint of Universal Records, a division of Universal Music Group in March 1998, and remained so during its following iterations as Universal Republic, Universal Motown and ultimately Republic Records.
Adam Andrzej Ostrowski, better known as O.S.T.R., is a Polish rapper, musician, audio engineer and record producer, famous for his freestyle rap skills, ambitious lyrics and unique beats. He graduated from the Academy of Music in Łódź, violin class. He is one of the few Polish rappers who have received professional musical education. He has collaborated with American rappers such as Evidence, El Da Sensei, Craig G, Keith Murray, Jeru The Damaja, Lil' Dap, Sadat X and Canadian producer Marco Polo. He has also collaborated with many Polish artists, including jazz musicians Michał Urbaniak, Hades, SOFA, Fokus, DJ Deszczu Strugi, DonGURALesko, Vienio i Pelson, Fu, Pezet, Sistars and Slums Attack. He is a member of bands such as Tabasko, Skill Mega, Killing Skills, Beat Brothers and musical project POE. He is also a former member of Obóz TA and LWC. In 2013, he shared the position of art director of Męskie Granie festival with alternative rock vocalist Kasia Nosowska.
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja, is an American rapper and record producer. He is known for his 1993 single "Come Clean" from his debut album, The Sun Rises in the East, ranked as one of the 100 greatest hip-hop albums of all time by the editors of About.com. He has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since he was in high school.
Def Jam Recordings is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
Soroush Lashkari, known professionally as Hichkas, is an Iranian rapper, singer, and songwriter. Credited with popularizing Persian hip hop to the Iranian people and other Persian-speaking countries such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Hichkas's national success and acclaimed works are widely regarded as having broken the barriers that were in place by the Islamic regime for the acceptance of rappers in popular music. Hichkas is considered one of the pioneers of Iranian hip hop and is nicknamed "Father of Persian Rap" by his fans. He became a representation of the Iranian underclass and reflected the angst of the young Iranians. He has been influential for many artists of various genres and is often cited as one of the greatest rappers of Iranian hip hop.
Płomień 81 is a Polish hip-hop group founded in Warsaw. It was formed by the Polish rappers Pezet and Onar in 1998. The group name originates from the school in which the two rappers met.
Marcin "Abradab" Marten is a Polish rapper, actor and music producer. Marten is a founding member of big Polish hip-hop group Kaliber 44 and, since 2002, a solo artist. He is a member of Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Marten is a winner of four Fryderyk awards. In 2011, Machina magazine placed Marten at No.17 on the list of 30 best Polish rappers. He has also collaborated with artists like Piotr Banach, Bosski Roman, Maciej Maleńczuk, Wojciech Waglewski, Grubson, L.U.C, Ania Dąbrowska, Happysad, Tede, Peja, Gromee, Augustus Pablo, Kali and O.S.T.R.
Kartagina is an album by Polish rapper O.S.T.R. and Canadian producer Marco Polo, released on March 4, 2014 on Asfalt Records. According to ZPAV the album went gold before its official release having sold 15 000 copies by pre-order. It debuted on the Polish Album Chart at number one.
Maybach Music Group is a record label founded by American rapper Rick Ross in 2008. An imprint of gamma. since 2023, the label was previously an imprint of Def Jam Recordings (2009–2011), Warner Records (2011–2012) and Atlantic Records (2012–2023). The label, having signed artists including Wale, Meek Mill, French Montana, Omarion, Rockie Fresh, and Stalley, has released a total of 29 studio albums, including three compilation albums in its Self-Made series. The "Maybach Music" vocal tag heard in many of the label's recordings is spoken by Australian model Jessica Gomes.
Piotr Kowalczyk, better known under his stage name Tau, and formerly as Medium, is a Polish rapper, singer and record producer. In 2008, he released his underground debut album Seans spirytystyczny (Séance) under the name Medium. His next underground album Alternatywne źródło energii was released in 2010, which helped Medium to be spotted by Marcin "Tytus" Grabski, CEO of Asfalt Records, who offered him a contract.
Teoria równoległych wszechświatów is a debut album by Polish rapper Medium released on 21 November 2011 by Asfalt Records. The album was entirely rapped, produced and arranged by Medium except three remixes exclusively released on an LP edition which were produced by Qciek, O.S.T.R. and Emade respectively.
Graal is the second album by Polish rapper Tau and the last released under the pseudonym Medium. It was released as a double album on 20 November 2012 by Asfalt Records. Recording took place during 2012 at Studio Łukasza Kowalskiego in Kielce with DJ Deszczu Strugi in charge of mixing the album. As with his previous album Teoria równoległych wszechświatów, production and arrangement were overseen by Medium himself.
Bozon Records is a Polish independent record label specialized in hip-hop music. It was founded in 2013 by Piotr "Tau" Kowalczyk after his departure from Asfalt Records. The company was later signed over to Tau's wife Izabela Detka.
Życie po śmierci, stylized as Życie po śmierci) is an album by Polish hip-hop rapper and producer O.S.T.R., released on February 26, 2016 on Asfalt Records. O.S.T.R. said that the main factor that made him record Życie po śmierci was his disease he had at the beginning of 2015. He had to have his lung removed, due to the fact that he had been smoking for most of his life. He also claimed that this album is the most personal project he had ever recorded. The main inspiration for the title of the album was the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 project Life After Death. A special website was created to promote the album. On the website O.S.T.R. left a letter written to his fans, when he recalls a story of his disease and informs that Życie po śmierci is going to be a soundtrack for a "book or rap musical".
Podróż zwana życiem is the thirteenth studio album by Polish hip-hop rapper and producer O.S.T.R., released on February 23, 2015, on Asfalt Records. The album features several guest appearances such by Sacha Vee and Cadillac Dale. The album was promoted with three singles, "Rise of the Sun" features Cadillac Dale, "Podróż zwana życiem" and "Ja ty my wy oni" both features a vocal by Sachą Vee. There was a promotional video clip accompanied to the first single.
Sebastian Salbert better known as Rahim is a Polish rapper, producer and entrepreneur. He is the owner of record company MaxFloRec, the former member of groups such as 3xKlan, MZD, Erka and Paktofonika. Since 2003 he has been the one half of a duo Pokahontaz which he creates with Fokus. He has released several albums under his alter ego Straho.
Filip Tadeusz Szcześniak, better known by the stage name Taco Hemingway, is a Polish rapper, songwriter, and musician.
Trójkąt Warszawski is second EP by Polish rapper Taco Hemingway. It was self-released on 19 December 2014. The recordings were made available as a free digital download on the rapper's official website. The material was recorded between 2013 and 2014. The album represents a hip-hop style with influences from other genres. It is a concept album, depicting the story of a character who follows his ex-girlfriend and her new love, Peter.
Poland 