Rigels Rajku (Albanian: [ɾiˈɡɛls ɾajˈku]; born 27 September 1986), known professionally as Noizy, is an Albanian artist; he is one of the most influential and popular rappers in Albania.

Noizy
Noizy in 2011
Born
Rigels Rajku

(1986-09-27) 27 September 1986 (age 38)
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • entrepreneur
Years active2005–present
Notable workDiscography
Musical career
Labels

Life and career

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1986–2010: Early life and career beginnings

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Rigels Rajku was born on 27 September 1986 into a multi-religious Albanian family in the village of Sukth, then part of the People's Socialist Republic, present Albania.[3] His father is from Dibër and his mother a Catholic from Krujë.[4] In 1997, Rajku and his family fled to London, England, as refugees to escape the war and conflicts in connection with the Albanian unrest.[3][4][5] He was raised in the Woolwich neighborhood of Southeast London and subsequently developed an interest in boxing and street fighting.[3]

In 2006, Rajku returned to Albania and appeared on the third edition of Top Fest, as a solo artist with the song "Jemi OTR" and as part of his group OTR with the song "Kështu e bëjme ne".[3] In May 2007, he collaborated with Albanian rappers J-No and Decee and returned to the competition with the song "Kur vijm na".[3] Later that year in November 2007, he unsuccessfully participated with the song "Veç për ty" in the 9th edition of Kënga Magjike and failed to qualify for the contest's semi-finals.[6]

2011–present

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In 2015, Rajku launched a fashion label, Illyrian Bloodline.[7] Starting with the release of "Gangsta Love" in August 2015, the single received an award at the 2016 Netët e Klipit Shqiptar gala in Tirana, Albania.[8][9] In March 2017, the rapper was featured on German rapper Zuna's "Nummer 1", which peaked at number seven in Germany and became a certified Platinum-single by the German Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).[10][11] In June 2018, "Toto", a collaboration with Austrian rapper RAF Camora released under Warner Music, was also successful in German-speaking Europe, and was certified Gold in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, respectively.[11][12][13][14] Another collaboration followed in December 2018 with the release of "Gango" by Greek rapper Snik, which eventually reached number one in Greece.[15] In March 2019, Rajku was invited as a special guest at the Palmen aus Plastik Tour by RAF Camora and German rapper Bonez MC in Cologne, Germany.[16] In June 2019, Rajku was approached to perform at the MAD Video Music Awards 2019 in Athens, Greece.[17][18] In October 2019, he collaborated a second time with Snik on "Colpo Grosso" to commercial success in the latter country.[19]

Peaking at number 32 in Switzerland, the rapper released his fifth studio album, Epoka, in April 2020.[20][21] Two months after, he released his follow-up "All Dem Talk" featuring German rapper Gzuz and British rapper Dutchavelli in June 2020. It peaked at number 16 in Switzerland and reached the top 30 in Austria and Germany, respectively. In February 2022 featured with German rapper Dardan he released "Alles Gut".[22] In June 2022 he released "Heart Attack", recorded with Swiss rapper Loredana Zefi; it entered the charts in German-speaking Europe, reaching number three in Switzerland, number 42 in Austria and number 61 in Germany.[citation needed]

In august 2024 Noizy was charged with inflicting bodily harm by Kosovar authorities following a concert in Peja, Kosovo.[23]

Discography

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  • Pak më ndryshe (2009)
  • Most Wanted (2010)
  • Living Your Dream (2011)
  • The Leader (2013)
  • The Hardest in the Market (2014)
  • Zin City (2016)
  • Epoka (2020)
  • Alpha (2023)
  • Tifa (2024)

References

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  1. ^ "Neues von Noizy und SNIK: die gemeinsame Single "New Benz" ist da" (in German). Universal. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Noizy on Warner" (in German). Warner. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Noizy – Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Zonë e Lirë/ Noizy: Ja si ishin vitet e mia në Sukth" (in Albanian). Opinion. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2021. Ai tha se nënën e ka katolike me orgjinë nga Kruaja, ndërsa babai është i besimit mysliman nga Dibra.
  5. ^ "'Largohu se je refugjat', Noizy flet për racizmin me të cilin është përballur në Angli". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Kur Noizy dështoi me paraqitjen e parë në 'Kënga Magjike'" (in Albanian). Lajmi. 9 November 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  7. ^ Isufaj, Ermira. "Alketa dhe Noizy, Ilirianët e kohëve moderne". Class Lifestyle (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Netet e Klipit Shqiptar 2016 – Fituësit" (in Albanian). Netët e Klipit Shqiptar. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  9. ^ Kasaj, Justin (9 June 2016). "Rozana Radi triumfon në 'Netët e Klipit Shqiptar'" (in Albanian). Infomedia Albania. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Die Jungs von KMN haben Rapper Noizy mit am Start" (in German). BigFM. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank: Suche: Noizy" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI). Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  12. ^ Warner Music (15 June 2018). "Brandheiße Rap-Kollabo: Noizy und RAF Camora tun sich für "Toto" zusammen" (in German). Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Gold & Platin: Suche: Noizy" (in German). Berlin: International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Austria. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Edelmetall: Suche: Noizy" (in German). Swiss Hitparade. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  15. ^ "O Snik συνεργάζεται με τον Noizy και ρίχνει το Internet!" (in Greek). MAD TV. 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Noizy mysafir special i Raf Camoras, peformoi para 16 mijë adhuruesve në Koln". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 10 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Noizy tërheq vëmendjen e të gjithëve, artisti i parë që këndon shqip në Athinë". Reporteri (in Albanian). 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Noizy: Ο Αλβανός Ράπερ που Έπαιζε Ξύλο στον Δρόμο και Αγαπάει τον SNIK" (in Greek). Vice. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Noizy, Snik, Capo Plaza dhe Gue Pqeueno publikojnë këngën e re 'Colpo Grosso'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Noizy publikon albumin e ri 'Epoka'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Noizy publikon albumin 'Epoka'". Sinjali (in Albanian). 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Noizy & Dardan - Alles Gut". www.teksteshqip.com. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Sherri me TikTok-erin në Pejë/ Pas Noizy-t, policia e Kosovës kërkon ndihmë edhe për kapjen e Stresit". Gazeta Shqiptare. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
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