Farid Bang

Controversial German rap star Farid Bang – born Farid Hamed El Abdellaoui in Melilla, Spain on June 4, 1986 - is part of a new generation of gangsta rap stars from Europe who, inspired by the US originators, are crafting their own provocative rhymes and bad boy image. Born in Spain but raised in Dusseldorf, Germany since the age of eight, Farid Bang comes from a Moroccan family. He started rapping at the age of 19 with his friend Tekken before signing to Eko Fresh's label German Dream Entertainment in 2005. Initially performing under the name Farid Urlaub, he made his reputation through rap battles and mixtapes, before spitting a barrage of sharp-tongued put-downs and potent diss tracks on his debut album Asphalt Massaka (2008). Rivalries with MOK, Aggro Berlin, and Fler further increased his notoriety and he collaborated with Kollegah on the album Jung, Brutal, Gutaussehend (2009) before releasing his solo record Banger Leben Kurzer the following year. His fast, double-time delivery and macho tales of street life became his trademark and both his second collaboration album with Kollegah and his solo effort Killa went to the top the German charts. With his growing profile, critics began citing his lyrics as misogynistic and homophobic and when Kollegah and Farid Bang won a prestigious Echo Music Prize for their joint 2017 album Jung, Brutal, Gutaussehend 3, they became embroiled in a major controversy over references made to Auschwitz and the Holocaust. Several other nominated artists refused to accept their awards and although a criminal investigation into the pair was dropped, it was decided that the Echo Music Prize would be abolished. The duo later apologized and returned in 2018 with EP Nafri-Trap and singles “All Eyez on Us” and “Mitternacht 2." Increasingly exploring international collaborations, he teamed up with US rappers including French Montana, The Game, Blueface, and the divisive 6ix9ine on his bilingual 2019 mixtape Torremolinos before reemerging in 2020 with the album Genkidama, which was packed with guest appearances from the likes of Tory Lanez and Rick Ross. The album was reissued with six bonus tracks as Super Genkidama later the same year. Another chart-topping effort followed in 2021 with the album Asozialer Marokkaner, whose guest lineup included SSIO, Kollegah and Haftbefehl. “Nummer Eins,” the album’s lead single, peaked at Number 47 on the German Singles Chart. In November 2021, Farid Bang issued the album X, which reached Number 13 in Germany but snuck into the Top 10 in Switzerland. His next album, Deutschrap brandneu, a collaboration with rapper Capital Bra, was released in July 2022.

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