Ceza

Ceza (real name Bilgin Özçalkan) (pronounced jeh-ZAH, meaning punishment in Turkish) is the most commercially famous and influential Turkish rapper. His albums have featured many artists including Sezen Aksu, Tech N9ne, Sagopa Kajmer, Dr. Fuchs, and his sister Ayben. His song titled "Holocaust" was featured in the film Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul by Turkish German director Fatih Akın, and was included on the official soundtrack.

Career

Early Success

Bilgin "Ceza" Özçalkan was born December 31, 1977. During his childhood, he borrowed many Hip Hop music mixtapes from his friends. He used the names Silahsız Kuvvet ("Unarmed Force") and Fatalrhymer during his early years. During this time, he released his first two albums. He won several rap contests throughout Turkey. In 1998 Bilgin teamed up with Turkish rapper and producer Dr. Fuchs to form the Hip Hop group Nefret ("Hatred"). At first the group released many songs underground and online. After large amounts of airplay in Turkish clubs, the team signed into German record label Hammer Muzik (a label synonymous with their high levels of bass.) Nefret's debut, Meclis-i-ala Istanbul, was released in 2000. It's feature title, "Istanbul", and particularly its promotional video, gained them exposure to a burgeoning base of Turkce rap underground followers. Their follow-up, and what would be Nefret's swansong album, Anahtar ("Key") was released in 2001 and featured former members of the successful Cartel group. The album was not successful but introduced many to Nefret. During Dr. Fuchs's military service, Bilgin prepared a solo album. He had several underground DJs mix songs for the album, but it was more focally the innovative production of another Hammer Muzik artist, Sagopa Kajmer, that turned Ceza into the most important name in Turkish rap. In 2002 Ceza released the album Medcezir ("Ebb Tide") and won accolade for its poignant social commentary and moving poetic prose among even those who did not up until that point follow the Turkish rap movement; by all accounts a great crossover success. In 2004, Ceza released his forth album, titled Rapstar. This album was a huge success (150.000 CDs). The music video of the song "Rapstar" was played on many Turkish television stations and received high airplay on Turkish radio stations. The album featured his sister Ayben, as well as other Turkish rappers Dr. Fuchs, Sagopa Kajmer, Sahtiyan, Fuat and Fjarde Varlden from Sweden.

2006: Controversies

In 2006, the members of Nefret broke up and Dr. Fuchs released the song "Hani Biz Kardeştik (Ceza Diss)" ("I thought we were like brothers") on his official website. The song claimed that Turkish rapper Ceza had abandoned his original partner of Nefret for money and more fame. At the time, Ceza was one of the few rappers played on popular Turkish television stations such as Kral TV. In August, Turkish Rock singer Kıraç explained in an interview that he believed Hip Hop should stay out of Turkish Music. He believed that Hip Hop was only brainwashing music and that it took nothing to make a song. He criticized Turkish singers Tarkan and members of the former Nefret group during his interview and he believed that they should stop trying to make rap music. Ceza responded to this by performing a song about Kıraç which used a lot of explicit content. Kıraç later announced that he planned to sue Ceza in court. Afterwards, Ceza instantly apologized to Kıraç and he said that he will think twice in the future before doing something like this. The debate can be viewed here.

He then released his first Maxi-Single (EP/Hybrid album) titled Feyz Al ("Take a shape"). He released his sixth album titled Yerli Plaka on August 29, 2006. On this album, Ceza features American-born MC Tech N9ne Turkish singer and songwriter Sezen Aksu, Samy Deluxe, Eko Fresh and Afrob from Germany and the Turkish MC Killa Hakan which lives in Berlin. The music video of the song "Yerli Plaka" was recorded in Germany. Bilgin's Cousin Ogun Akbulut made Them Friends again.

2007

Rivalry with Ege

In 2007, Turkish rapper Ege Çubukçu released a diss against Ceza titled "Cennet Bekliyebilir" ("Heaven Can Wait"). He accused Ceza of stealing beats from American rapper Eminem's music. He claimed that Ceza's hit song "Sitem" had the exact same beat as "The Way I Am" by Eminem. Ege also claimed that the song "Acı Biber" has the same beat as the Eminem featuring D12 song "Rap Game" as well as the music video of Ceza's famous song "Rapstar" having the same scenes as "The Anthem" by Eminem which featured notable rappers including RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. All three comparisons can be seen here.

MTV EMA Award

Ceza won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Turkish Act of 2007 on November 1 of the same year.