Guess Who (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Laurenţiu Mocanu better known by his stage name
Guess Who is a Romanian rapper. He began his career as a member of the rap group Anonim
along with group members Zekko and Griffo, and later launched a successful solo career in music. He is one of the most successful artists from the new wave of Romanian hip hop
and has gained considerable appreciation and mainstream attention in his native Romania
following the release of his first solo album in 2009 called Probe Audio
(Sound Check). Guess Who gained popularity as a solo artist in 2007 when he leaked three tracks he had recorded for his solo album on the Internet
. The feedbacak was overwhelmingly positive and his cynical and ironic approach to writing quickly earned him a large fanbase. Even though he repeatedly delayed for over two years releasing his first album, the Romanian audience received it well and he even gained attention from high level Romanian music executives when his video for the first single Tu (You) was aired on the Romanian music channel 1Music.
His first album, Probe Audio
was released and sold independently from his official website under the Okapi Sound umbrella, a collective of Romanian hip hop
artists who had been working together producing music since 2007. Only promoted on the Internet, the album moved an impressive number of units, drawing attention from large Romanian labels. He eventually signed a contract with Cat Music to re-release his album with the sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor (literally 'The Sports Newspaper' in Romanian
) together with labelmate and music partner Spike, who released his sophomore effort in 2009.
, Romania
in 1986. As a child, he enjoyed sports and even played soccer for the Bucharest
-based club Steaua. Even from that early age he became interested in hip hop music and eventually started performing with his friends creating the hip hop group Anonim
in 1999. They caught the attention of Romanian hip hop
group Paraziţii
after they entered a contest organized by 20 CM Records where they recorded a demo song over an instrumental produced by Cheloo for Paraziţii
and released on one of the group's albums as a track called 'Actiunea Instrumentalul' (The Instrumental Operation). They eventually signed a contract with 20 CM Records and released their debut album in 2005. As Paraziţii are one of the most proeminent hip hop acts in Romania, Anonim were heavily promoted and toured extensively to promote their album. The group went quiet in late 2006 and Guess Who surfaced alone in 2007 on Paraziţii member Ombladon's solo album singing the chorus in the lead single, 'Noapte Buna, Bucuresti' (Good Night, Bucharest). Shortly afterwards, Guess Who left 20 CM Records and started working with Agresiv, a team of producers who were already gaining notoriety for their work with various Romanian artists.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Guess Who is a Romanian rapper. He began his career as a member of the rap group Anonim
Anonim
Anonim were an underground hip hop duo from Bucharest, Romania, consisting of emcees Laurentiu "Guess Who" Mocanu and Zekko. The group was largely known for their dark humour and affiliation with hip hop veterans Paraziţii in their early careers....
along with group members Zekko and Griffo, and later launched a successful solo career in music. He is one of the most successful artists from the new wave of Romanian hip hop
Romanian hip hop
Romanian hip hop is the hip hop music style that was developed in Romania around 1992. Most notable Romanian hip hop artists come from Bucharest, Romania's capital and largest city. The genre is currently growing in popularity in Europe...
and has gained considerable appreciation and mainstream attention in his native Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
following the release of his first solo album in 2009 called Probe Audio
Probe Audio
Probe Audio is the debut solo album from Romanian rapper Guess Who. It was produced by Agresiv, Sez and other producers and released April 25, 2009 by Okapi Sound in Romania...
(Sound Check). Guess Who gained popularity as a solo artist in 2007 when he leaked three tracks he had recorded for his solo album on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The feedbacak was overwhelmingly positive and his cynical and ironic approach to writing quickly earned him a large fanbase. Even though he repeatedly delayed for over two years releasing his first album, the Romanian audience received it well and he even gained attention from high level Romanian music executives when his video for the first single Tu (You) was aired on the Romanian music channel 1Music.
His first album, Probe Audio
Probe Audio
Probe Audio is the debut solo album from Romanian rapper Guess Who. It was produced by Agresiv, Sez and other producers and released April 25, 2009 by Okapi Sound in Romania...
was released and sold independently from his official website under the Okapi Sound umbrella, a collective of Romanian hip hop
Romanian hip hop
Romanian hip hop is the hip hop music style that was developed in Romania around 1992. Most notable Romanian hip hop artists come from Bucharest, Romania's capital and largest city. The genre is currently growing in popularity in Europe...
artists who had been working together producing music since 2007. Only promoted on the Internet, the album moved an impressive number of units, drawing attention from large Romanian labels. He eventually signed a contract with Cat Music to re-release his album with the sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor (literally 'The Sports Newspaper' in Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
) together with labelmate and music partner Spike, who released his sophomore effort in 2009.
Early life and career
Guess Who (Laurenţiu Mocanu) was born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in 1986. As a child, he enjoyed sports and even played soccer for the Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
-based club Steaua. Even from that early age he became interested in hip hop music and eventually started performing with his friends creating the hip hop group Anonim
Anonim
Anonim were an underground hip hop duo from Bucharest, Romania, consisting of emcees Laurentiu "Guess Who" Mocanu and Zekko. The group was largely known for their dark humour and affiliation with hip hop veterans Paraziţii in their early careers....
in 1999. They caught the attention of Romanian hip hop
Romanian hip hop
Romanian hip hop is the hip hop music style that was developed in Romania around 1992. Most notable Romanian hip hop artists come from Bucharest, Romania's capital and largest city. The genre is currently growing in popularity in Europe...
group Paraziţii
Parazitii
Paraziţii is a Romanian three-man rap and hip hop group founded in 1994. It consists of Cheloo , Ombladon , and FreakaDaDisk .The group is largely known for their dark beats and political humorous lyricism.-History:The group was subject to multiple restrictions by the Romanian National Audiovisual...
after they entered a contest organized by 20 CM Records where they recorded a demo song over an instrumental produced by Cheloo for Paraziţii
Parazitii
Paraziţii is a Romanian three-man rap and hip hop group founded in 1994. It consists of Cheloo , Ombladon , and FreakaDaDisk .The group is largely known for their dark beats and political humorous lyricism.-History:The group was subject to multiple restrictions by the Romanian National Audiovisual...
and released on one of the group's albums as a track called 'Actiunea Instrumentalul' (The Instrumental Operation). They eventually signed a contract with 20 CM Records and released their debut album in 2005. As Paraziţii are one of the most proeminent hip hop acts in Romania, Anonim were heavily promoted and toured extensively to promote their album. The group went quiet in late 2006 and Guess Who surfaced alone in 2007 on Paraziţii member Ombladon's solo album singing the chorus in the lead single, 'Noapte Buna, Bucuresti' (Good Night, Bucharest). Shortly afterwards, Guess Who left 20 CM Records and started working with Agresiv, a team of producers who were already gaining notoriety for their work with various Romanian artists.
Discography
- Hai Să Vorbim (Let's Talk) (with AnonimAnonimAnonim were an underground hip hop duo from Bucharest, Romania, consisting of emcees Laurentiu "Guess Who" Mocanu and Zekko. The group was largely known for their dark humour and affiliation with hip hop veterans Paraziţii in their early careers....
) (2005) - Probe AudioProbe AudioProbe Audio is the debut solo album from Romanian rapper Guess Who. It was produced by Agresiv, Sez and other producers and released April 25, 2009 by Okapi Sound in Romania...
(Sound Check) (2009) - Tot Mai Sus (Higher) (2011)