C.R.I.$.I.$.'s Profile

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C.R.I.$.I.$.

Hometown:

Lusaka

Relationship Status:

It's Complicated

About Me:

C.R.I.$.I.$. is a Zambian hip-hop artist who currently resides in the United Kingdom. His Great Grandparents were Egyptian and claims to be a direct descendant of the Great Chief, Mwata Kazembe of the Zambian Lunda People. With over 15,000 albums sold in Lusaka, Zambia alone, his album, Officer in Charge (released January, 2005) was the first hip-hop album to be produced and released in Zambia by a Zambian artist. More recently, his album The Diamond Chain Mixtape reached another milestone by becoming the first Zambian mixtape to be released commercially in Zambia. After winning the Brath Awards for “Best Zambian Hip-Hop Artist” in 2006, C.R.I.$.I.$ isn’t showing any sign of slowing down as he continues to break down the barricades to venture past Zambia and into the Western hip-hop market.

C.R.I.$.I.$. grew up listening to all sorts of music, but at the age of eight he remembers really starting to enjoy hip-hop. After hearing “The Message,” by Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five, when C.R.I.$.I.$. was ten, he knew that hip-hop was his passion. Claiming influence from his favourite hip-hop artists like Big Daddy Kane, KRS One, NWA, LL Cool J and Dr. Dre, C.R.I.$.I.$. believed he could bring something different to contemporary hip-hop.

After graduating from the Institute for Management of Information Systems (IMIS) at the Zambia Insurance Business College Trust in 1998, he joined Mondo Music, a record label that was once Zambia’s’ biggest record company. With them he made his debut professional release on a compilation called “The Rhythm Nation Project (Yo-Yamba).”

In 2000, he left Mondo to pursue his music career independently and became featured in Playaz Worldwide (Takin’ Over) for a compilation he did called “Harambe Dope Sessions” that was licensed to South Africa’s DIY Records along with other artists such as Hoodlum, Cashless Society and Mizchief.

A year later he auditioned for a modeling job and became the face of Mosi Lager, a brew produced by South African Breweries and marketed throughout Africa. During their big advertising campaign, he quickly gained recognition, appearing on billboards, television ads and all of their print and electronic media.

Between 2002-2004, The Voice of America, a radio and television station based in Washington DC, appointed him as the coordinator of their Hip-Hop Connection Fan Club, an organization who were running developmental programmes for the youth. In 2002 he signed a three year publishing deal with Sony Music: South Africa headed by Jay Savage, though nothing substantial materialized from it.

In 2004, C.R.I.$.I.$. took a chance and entered into a rap battle that aired live on South African Television. Losing to South African rapper, Snazz from Cashless Society for a controversial third place, C.R.I.$.I.$. gained the recognition he needed to continue to pursue his hip-hop career. With his fame on the rise in Zambia, he signed a deal with a local distribution company, Solid Rhythmz and together they released his hit album “Officer in Charge” in January, 2005.

Because his album was such a success and a significant achievement for Zambia’s hip-hop industry, he quickly gained international recognition. He signed on with an artist management agency, Clavel and in March, 2005 he was featured in Future Music Magazine, in a review written by Tim Oliver. Two months later he became the first Zambian to be invited to perform at the Channel-O Video Music Awards.

2007 was a big year for C.R.I.$.I.$. that began with him being featured in U.K.’s Computer Music Magazine: issue 112 (May, 2007) receiving a great song review by industry insider Ronan MacDonald. That same year he appeared on a just released mix tape by Jay-Z’s disc jockey, Dj. Green Lantern, called “MySpace Monster Mash.” Because of its success, he has just signed a new management and publishing deal for another album due out soon. C.R.I.$.I.$. also appeared on a recently released mix tape by British disc jockey, Dj. Ames, called “US-UK Takeover” which also features other hip-hop artists such as Craig David, Lil’ Wayne & Lovely.

C.R.I.$.I.$. has been invited to perform at numerous events in 2007, including The Oxjam. Organised by the charity organisation Oxfam, The Oxjam is one of the U.K.’s biggest charity event aimed at ending poverty.

Presently, C.R.I.$.I.$. has plans on producing other hip-hop artists through his company Diamond Chain Unlimited and is currently preparing the release of a mixtape with rapper Larceny of Queens, New York.

By Jyle Dupuis

Website:

diamondchainunltd.blogspot.com

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