Born out of the rich and vibrant Berlin rap scene, K.I.Z. is comprised of rappers Tarek Ébéne, Maxim Drüner, and Nicolas Seyfried, as well as DJ Craft. Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Tarek moved to the Mediterranean coast of Spain with his family in his childhood years before moving back to Berlin where he met rapper Maxim. The group’s moniker, “K.I.Z”, has long provided ample amusement for the band’s members who have promoted various meaning for the acronym including “Cannibals in plain clothes”, “Crusaders in central asia”, and “Monastic novices in celibacy”.
The group released their debut, full-length album “Das Rap Deutschland Kettensägen Massaker” in 2005. A subsequent mixtape “Böhse Enkelz”, further raised the profile of the band, however It wasn’t until their sophomore release, “Hahnenkampt” (2007), that the group began to make inroads into the mainstream. Rising to No. 9 on the German Albums Chart, “Hehnenkampf” earned a string of positive reviews aided by the singles “Ellenbogengesellschaft”, “Geld essen (Ausgestopfte Rapper)”, and “Spasst”. In 2008 the band collaborated with Bela B. of Die Ärzte on the single “Hölle” before issuing their third studio album “Seximus gene Rechts”. Peaking at No. 7 on the German Albums Chart, the record was their most successful to date, led by the single “Das System (die kleinen Dinge)”.
Following the release of the No. 4 charting album “Urlaub fürs Gehirn” in 2011, K.I.Z. released the mixtape “Ganz Oben” in 2013, which peaked at No. 91 on the Albums chart. Two years later, proving their greatest success to date, the group released the studio album “Hurra die Welt geht unter”, which shot to No. 1 on the German Albums Chart. Also finding the top spot in Switzerland and charting at No. 4 in Austria, the album spawned the popular singles “Boom Boom Boom” and “Hurra die Welt get unter” featuring Henning May.
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Charli XCX
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