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Bilgin Özçalkan better known by his stage name Ceza (pronounced je-ZAH, Turkish for 'punishment') is the most commercially famous and influential Turkish rapper. His albums have featured many artists including Sezen Aksu, Candan Erçetin, Tech N9ne, 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 [link]

Early Success [link]

Ceza's collaboration with Dr. Fuchs as the group Nefret was instrumental in the advent of 'Oriental hip hop' in Germany. As Ceza became increasingly popular and young Turkish immigrants in Germany came to identify more with their Turkish roots and culture, 'Oriental hip hop' was born. The central shift was "the rejection of African-American samples in favor of samples drawn from Turkish Arabesk and pop" and this was "emblematic of the blending of diasporic Black culture and diasporic Turkish culture."^[1] Songs such as Ceza's "Rapstar" show this clear connection to Turkish sounds and rhythms.

2006 [link]

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 September 5, 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 who lives in Berlin. The music video of the song "Yerli Plaka" was recorded in Germany.

2007 [link]

MTV EMA Award [link]

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

2011 [link]

In June 2011, Ceza gained exposure to North American hip-hop fans when he was briefly featured in hip-hop artist's Tech N9ne's international collaboration track on his All 6's and 7's album called "Worldwide Choppers", also featuring rappers Busta Rhymes, D-Loc, JL of B. Hood, Twista, Twisted Insane, U$O and Yelawolf. It debuted at #104 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, making it Ceza's first appearance on any chart in the U.S. It also reached #15 on the Heatseekers Songs chart.

Discography [link]

International (featured in)

References [link]

1. ^ Brown, Timothy S. “‘Keeping it Real’ in a Different ‘Hood: (African-) Americanization and Hip-hop in Germany.” In The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture, ed. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 137-50. London; A

External links [link]

• Ceza Site
• Ceza Official Forum Site
• Ceza's MySpace Page