Edin Osmić (born 22 December 1978), better known by his stage name Edo Maajka, is a Bosnian
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
, record producer and songwriter. His popularity brought his group
Disciplinska Komisija
Disciplinska Komisija (The Disciplinary Commission) is a Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian rap (music), rap group. Its most prominent member is Edo Maajka, with other members Frenkie, HZA and Moonja and their DJ/producer DJ Soul.
Formation
Dis ...
to the mainstream. He lives in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...
,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, with his wife and children.
Biography
Early life
Edin Osmić was born to
Bosniak
The Bosniaks ( bs, Bošnjaci, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia, which is today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who share a common Bosnian ancestry, cu ...
parents Azemina and Fehim, and raised in
Brčko
Brčko ( sr-cyrl, Брчко, ) is a city and the administrative seat of Brčko District, in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies on the banks of Sava river across from Croatia. As of 2013, it has a population of 39,893 inhabitants.
De jure, ...
(at the time
SR Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Socijalistička Republika Bosna i Hercegovina, Социјалистичка Pепублика Босна и Херцеговина), commonly referred to as Socia ...
,
SFR Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as SFR Yugoslavia or simply as Yugoslavia, was a country in Central and Southeast Europe. It emerged in 1945, following World War II, and lasted until 1992, with the breakup of Yug ...
) where he finished elementary school. In 1992, when the
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War ( sh, Rat u Bosni i Hercegovini / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The war is commonly seen as having started ...
started, he left
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...
and went to
Zagreb
Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...
, the capital of
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, where he began attending high
mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and ...
school.Documentary film "Edo Maajka - Sevdah o rodama"; screenwriter and director: Silvio Mirošničenko, Croatia, 2007 After the war, he returned to
Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and He ...
to study criminal law in
Tuzla
Tuzla (, ) is the third-largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative center of Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 110,979 inhabitants.
Tuzla is the economic, cultural, ed ...
, but never graduated.
He took an interest in hip-hop when he was in high school and began to do rap battling at the age of fifteen. He also recorded a few demo tracks, creating his own instrumentals by
beatboxing
Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (typically a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.
. He went to
Tuzla
Tuzla (, ) is the third-largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative center of Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 110,979 inhabitants.
Tuzla is the economic, cultural, ed ...
and became a member of the hardcore rap group Diskord, later named Odbrana (Defence in Bosnian). The group became one of the best in the city of Tuzla and all of Bosnia. Their demo single "Odbrana '99" (Defence '99) was the hit of the year on the "Radio Hit" station in
Brčko
Brčko ( sr-cyrl, Брчко, ) is a city and the administrative seat of Brčko District, in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies on the banks of Sava river across from Croatia. As of 2013, it has a population of 39,893 inhabitants.
De jure, ...
.
After a year of studying, he left school due to financial problems and returned to Zagreb to meet a friend (from the group
Elemental
An elemental is a mythic being that is described in occult and alchemical works from around the time of the European Renaissance, and particularly elaborated in the 16th century works of Paracelsus. According to Paracelsus and his subsequent fo ...
) and recorded his first single "Minimalni rizik" (Minimum Risk) and, a month later, "Mahir i Alma". The songs were top hits on the Zagreb "Radio 101" station's show "Blackout" and the response was enthusiastic. The demo, "Mahir i Alma", became Kameleon's hit of 2001.
Career
Debut album (2001-04)
Osmić announced his debut album with the single Znaš me. He released his debut album,
Slušaj mater
Slušaj mater (English: "Listen to your mother") was Edo Maajka's debut album and achieved significant popularity, especially in Bosnia. It was the first rap album to win the Davorin music award for best album of the year in that region.
Overv ...
, in the spring of 2002 under the Menart and Fmjam label. He released two more singles, Jesmo'l sami (Are we alone) at the end of 2002 and Prikaze (Spectres) at the beginning in 2003, which officially closed the album. He was featured by other artists, such as in "Teško je ful biti kul" by Hladno Pivo, "Rat" by Pioniri among others.
Second album (2004-06)
In April 2004, he released his second album No Sikiriki. On day one, the album sold 5,000 copies. He toured until the end of the year to promote his second album. In 2005, Osmić toured the US and Canada, visiting cities including Toronto, St. Louis, New York, Atlanta and Detroit, first time a Bosnian hip hop star has toured North America.
Third album (2006-08)
Recording of songs for the third studio album Stig'o Ćumur (Coal's Arrived) started in August 2005, and the album was released in March 2006. The first single was " To mora da je ljubav" (It Must Be Love) featuring Remi from
Elemental
An elemental is a mythic being that is described in occult and alchemical works from around the time of the European Renaissance, and particularly elaborated in the 16th century works of Paracelsus. According to Paracelsus and his subsequent fo ...
), for which he shot the music video in
Sarajevo
Sarajevo ( ; cyrl, Сарајево, ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its a ...
. He started the promotion of his third album at the end of March, the day his album was released.
In January 2007, Osmić 's single "Bomba" was featured in an episode of the TV series
Sleeper Cell
A clandestine cell system is a method for organizing a group of people (such as resistance fighters, sleeper agents, mobsters, or terrorists) such that such people can more effectively resist penetration by an opposing organization (such as l ...
. In the summer of 2007, Maajka and his band decided to part, but remained good friends.
Fourth album (2008-12)
His fourth album was released on 25 March 2008. The album's name was changed from ''Sjeti Se'' to ''Idemo Dalje''. In December 2008 the album received the name
Balkansko a naše
''Balkansko a naše'' (roughly translated as ''From the Balkans, But Ours'') is the fourth solo, studio album by Bosnian rapper Edo Maajka, released on 25 March 2008.
The whole album was produced by Koolade,TRNOKOP and the band premiered at the Rokajfest.
At the end of 2008, "Balkansko a Nase" came at number 36 of the year's top albums.
In June 2010, he released his best off album Spomen ploča 2002-2009, but he redid the album with his newly formed band, where they would use band instruments as the music and softer vocals.
Osmić was also featured as a judge and performer in the first Red Bull MC Battle that was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia on 23 April 2010. The next year, he was the host for the Bosnian Red Bull MC Battle 2011.
Fifth album (2012-18)
Osmić's fifth studio album, '' Štrajk mozga'', was released in April 2012. The first single was ''Imaš li ti šta para'', followed by the first music video and second single ''Panika'', released on 26 December 2011. The third single was ''Džigera beat'', followed by the fourth single and second music video "Facebook", released on 19 November 2012. The director Filip Filkovic Philatz, who directed both music videos, described the video being a sequel to "Panika" because it is set in the same universe, and is second part of the music video trilogy from the "Štrajk Mozga" album.
Artistry
Influences and rapping technique
Osmić has named several artists that have influenced him, including
Rambo Amadeus
Antonije Pušić (; born 14 June 1963), known professionally as Rambo Amadeus () is a Montenegrin author. A self-titled "musician, poet, and media manipulator", he is a noted artist across the countries of former Yugoslavia.
His songs combine ...
Safet Isović
Safet Isović (; 20 October 1936 – 2 September 2007) was a Bosnian singer who performed the Bosnian traditional music sevdalinka.
Early life and family
Isović was born into a Bosniak family in Bileća, located in the Herzegovina region of mod ...
,
Miladin Šobić
Miladin Šobić ( cg, Миладин Шобић, script=Cyrl, born 7 January 1956) is a Montenegrin poet, singer and songwriter.
He was an active performer during the late 1970s and early 1980s in SFR Yugoslavia where his prominence had a regio ...
,
Azra
Azra was a Croatian and Yugoslav rock band that was one of the most popular acts of the Yugoslav new wave music of the 1980s. Azra was formed in 1977 by its frontman Branimir "Johnny" Štulić. The other two members of the original line-up were ...
,
Zabranjeno Pušenje
Zabranjeno pušenje () is a Bosnian rock band formed in Sarajevo in 1980. The group's musical style primarily consists of a distinctive garage rock sound with folk influences, often featuring innovative production and complex storytelling. Curre ...
,
Disciplina Kičme
Disciplin A Kitschme, originally known as Disciplina Kičme ( sr-Cyrl, Дисциплина Кичме, transl. ''Backbone Discipline''), was a Serbian and Yugoslav and, for a period of time, British rock band, formed in Belgrade in 1981. The b ...
Majke
Majke ("mothers") are a cult Croatia, Croatian rock band. Founded in 1984 in Vinkovci, Majke were one of the many bands to appear in a town that had a particularly vibrant rock and alternative scene. The band started playing under the influence ...
, Rupa u Zidu among others.
His rapping technique is described as having a perfect flow, also his varied subject matter, connecting with his audience, carrying a concept over a series of albums and got most praised for his ability to write brilliant lyrics.
His lyrics have also been described as a variation in connecting emotionally to the viewer. As Anur Hadžiomerspahić says "once you start listening to a Edo Maajka song, when you first start listening it hits you, gives you goosebumps and grabs you by the throat, then the very next verse makes you laugh''.
Alter ego
Osmić has an alter ego or pseudonym that he names MC Berbo. He is described as a man who loves drugs, alcohol, fast and expensive cars, women and pop music. Osmić stated that the character of Berbo is the complete opposite of himself and that it is more of a joke than taken seriously.
Themes and lyrical content
Osmić started his career with storytelling songs with the demo songs of "Minimalni rizik" (small risk) and the storytelling/love songs "Mahir i Alma". He is known for his brilliant storytelling ability.
Personal life
Business ventures
In September 2006, Osmić opened up a cafe bar called "No sikiriki", named after his second album. Along with beverages, the cafe also serves his favorite food,
ćevapi
Ćevapi (, ), ćevapčići (formal: diminutive; , ) is a grilled dish of minced meat found traditionally in the countries of southeast Europe (the Balkans). It is considered a national dish of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is also common ...
.
Along with the cafe bar, he also plans to publish a weekly magazine which will only focus on positive things that are happening in everyday life and the music scene.
Legal issues
Osmić released his first single and music video for his third album, named '' To mora da je ljubav'', before his album came out, in which his producer
Koolade
Matko Šašek, also known as Koolade is a Croatian hip-hop, electronic music, electronic, and urban music record producer, producer. Born in Zagreb in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the late 1990s. Along with other members of the B ...
used the song "
Cissy Strut
"Cissy Strut" is a 1969 funk instrumental by The Meters. Released as a single from their eponymous debut album, it reached No. 4 on the R&B chart and No. 23 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 20 ...
" from 1969 by The Meters. Some media outlets have criticized him for plagiarizing the music in the song. Osmić answered back by saying "Sampling is not stealing. In hip hop you sample music, you take someones beat and rap on that beat. My album was postponed 1 week just because of that reason, while we waited for the authorization to use that song. The fact is that sometimes this waiting for authorization can be as long as one year, we redid the beat a little, gave credit to the author and not on us. You can see that the credit goes to the author on the inside cover of the album. Hip hop is made up of sampling, that is normal. On this particular track, Koolade is not named as the beat maker, but the author is. Remi, who is featured on the song, also gave a comment on the issue, saying that "That is not stealing, we are dealing with sampling of a already made song. You take one part of a song and combine it with your text. People who are not in hip hop don't usually know that this is a practice in this type of music.
Sports Hall Incident
Osmić held a concert in the Sports Hall (
Dom sportova
Dom sportova (), is a multi-purpose indoor sports arena located in Zagreb, Croatia. The venue was built in 1972 on Trešnjevka, in the western part of the city. It has 32,000 m2 of floorspace, and it features six halls. The seating capacity of ...
) in 2005. The sponsor for the concert was T-mobile Croatia. Osmić held a press conference before the concert where he criticized his sponsors for the firing of workers after they changed their "brand". He also explained his decision to work with a telecommunications monopoly by saying that he wanted his ticket for his concert to be 45 kuna or less. He added "you can only do that with a compromise, no one is criticizing Hladno Pivo that they sold out because their sponsor for the tour was Ozujsko beer, whose owners are also foreigners".
Concert in Serbia controversy
Bassivity (music label that released Osmić's album in Serbia) promoted Osmić's concert, which he was unaware of. When Osmić was asked about this in an interview for Svet magazine, he replied "I don't know where this idea that I will promote my album in Belgrade came from? "Bassivity" did that promotion on their own. I don't plan to go to Serbia, at least in the coming months. I don't want to go to a country that promotes the burning of mosques, and yet thousands of young people are howling on the streets. If I come to Serbia for an album promotion, which I promised to do, I am sure that it will not be for a while." Svet also tried to bring some of Osmić mistakes from the past to light, in which they stated that he was supposed to have concert with
Mile Kitić
Milojko "Mile" Kitić ( sr-Cyrl, Милојко "Миле" Китић; born 1 January 1952) is a Bosnian-born Serbian folk singer. He rose to prominence as a member of the popular eighties folk collective Južni Vetar with fellow folk singers ...
, but they never revealed the source for that. In the same interview, Svet made some untrue and false accusations against Osmić and his family, saying that his brother and sister "live from black marketing in Northern Bosnia" and that his close family live of pirate sales from his own albums.
UNICEF's Education Action in Bosnia
Osmić was one of three artists that was featured in UNICEF's education program in Bosnia against
HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...
.
Refusal to air music video
At the end of November 2005, a month after Osmić premiered his video for the single ''Mater Vam Jebem'' on MTV Adria, HTV and Nova TV refused to air that video spot based on the name of the song and some theorized because the song's lyrics were critical of the countries leaders and the media.
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Slušaj mater
Slušaj mater (English: "Listen to your mother") was Edo Maajka's debut album and achieved significant popularity, especially in Bosnia. It was the first rap album to win the Davorin music award for best album of the year in that region.
Overv ...
Balkansko a naše
''Balkansko a naše'' (roughly translated as ''From the Balkans, But Ours'') is the fourth solo, studio album by Bosnian rapper Edo Maajka, released on 25 March 2008.
The whole album was produced by Koolade,Štrajk mozga'' (2012)
*''
Put u plus
Put or PUT may refer to:
Finance
* Put option, a financial contract between a buyer and a seller
* CBOE S&P 500 PutWrite Index (ticker symbol)
Science and technology
* Programmable unijunction transistor
Computing
* Parameterized unit testing ...
Gansi
Gansi is the second single from Edo Maajka's fourth studio album "Balkansko a naše".
About
Gansi, the name itself is a reference to the American rock group Guns N' Roses and, is an ironic way in remembering Zagreb in the early 90s around the i ...
Ove godine
Ove or OVE may refer to
*Ove (given name)
*Ové, a surname
*Ove Peak in Antarctica
*''A Man Called Ove (novel)'', a novel by Fredrik Backman
*''A Man Called Ove (film), A Man Called Ove'', a 2015 Swedish film based on the novel
*Danish Organisation ...
Panika
The Panika are a Hindu community found in the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
Traditionally they are weaver. They are also known as Panka and Panikar.
Etymology
They used to made Pankha(fan). P ...
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
Kreator
Kreator is a German thrash metal band from Essen, formed in 1982. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Miland "Mille" Petrozza, drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, and bassist Frédér ...
Several documentaries were made on Osmić's life and career.
Croatian Radiotelevision
''Hrvatska radiotelevizija'' (abbr. HRT), or Croatian Radiotelevision, is Croatia's public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. HRT is divided into thr ...
Motovun Film Festival
The Motovun Film Festival is an annual film festival established in 1999 and held in the small town of Motovun, Croatia. It usually takes place over five or six days in late July or early August.
Overview
Motovun Film Festival is entirely dedic ...
.
Movies
Animated
Awards
Davorin/Indexi Awards
Porin Awards
Zlatna Koogla Awards
Crni Mačak Awards