The Polish hip hop scene started in the early 1990s, due to the popularity of American rap. Nevertheless, rap style in Polish music has its deep roots in the 1980s Polish punk rock, alternative rock, disco and funk music.
Polish hip-hop artists are well-known performers across Europe, especially in the former Eastern Bloc. Many rappers from Poland have collaborated with artists from Europe, the US and even Cuba.
History
One of The first album by a Polish performer was East on the Mic by PM Cool Lee, which featured two songs in Polish. Lee was from Kielce, but in Warsaw in 1991, the duo Trials X recorded the demo album "Fekalia", which was released in the UZI store in 1992. It was the first album by a rap band recorded entirely in Polish. Warsaw soon emerged as a center for hip hop, after KOLOR, a radio station, began broadcasting Kolor Shock, hosted by Bogna Ã
ÂwiÃÂ
tkowska, Paul Jackson, an African American expatriate, Sylvia Opoku from London, and DJ Volt, whose crew, 1kHz, became performing stars in their own right in 1995. In 1994, the duo Trials X recorded the album "Prawda, Cel, PrzesÃ
Âanie" (Truth, Purpose, Message) in the S4 studio, which was released in the spring of 1995. Volt also founded the first Polish independent hip hop label, B.E.A.T. Records. Although the label did not last long, it did introduce groups like Trzyha and Molesta. In PoznaÃ
Â, PH Kopalnia's Polski Rap - Zakazane Piosenki (Polish rap - Forbidden Songs). Now known as Liroy, the former PM Cool Lee released Alboom in 1995, which included the hit "Scyzoryk" (Penknife).
The most recognizable Polish hip hop band abroad is Kaliber 44 which is definitely the most popular hip-hop band in Poland. This band was the first Polish music band to give concerts in the USA, including in Chicago and New York. One of the members AbradAb achieved numerous successes after the group's suspension, winning 4 Fryderyk Awards or MTV Europe Music Awards.
Hardcore psycho-rap
Hardcore psychorap (also called psychorap) - a subgenre of rap music, created in the nineties by the Polish music band Kaliber 44. This genre is characterized by a large amount of psychedelia in the lyrics, productions and the atmosphere itself. Psychorap lyrics are sung in a loud tone, sometimes even shouted, which is intended to more effectively convey emotions to the human mind. Psychorap is sometimes enriched with additions in the form of female howling or a choir. Polish romanticism, as well as fantasy literature, are strong inspirations for its lyrical layer of psychorap. Marijuana use also has a certain stigma in the genre.
List of best-selling hip-hop music artists in Poland
MCs:
- AbradAb - 1,540 000
- Liroy â 800,000
- Taco Hemingway â 750,000
- O.S.T.R. â 630,000
- Paluch âÂÂà610,000
- Peja Slums Attack â 580,000
- KÃÂKàâÂÂà550,000
- Quebonafide â 520,000
- SokóÃ
 â 510,000
- Szpaku âÂÂà480,000
- Bedoes â 450,000
Groups:
- Kaliber 44 â 1, 000 010
- PRO8L3M â 450,000
- NagÃ
Ây Atak Spawacza â 200,000
- Taconafide â 170,000
- Molesta â 160,000
- Polska Wersja â 150,000
- WWO â 150,000
- Hemp Gru â 140,000
- Wzgórze Ya-Pa 3 â 135,000
- Paktofonika â 115,000
See also
Notes
a. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Alboom (1995) - 4xPlatinum - 800,000 copies sold, Bafangoo Cz.1 (1996) - Gold - 100,000 copies sold, L (1997) - Gold - 100,000 copies sold, DzieÃ
 Szakala (Bafangoo Cz.2) (1999) - Platinum - 100,000 copies sold, and Bestseller (2001) - Gold - 50,000 copies sold.
b. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Slums Attack: Na legalu? (2001) - Platinum - 100,000 copies sold, NajlepszÃÂ
obronÃÂ
jest atak (2005) - Gold - 17,500 copies sold, Szacunek ludzi ulicy (2006) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, FturujÃÂ
c (2006) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, Reedukacja (2011) - Platinum - 30,000 copies sold, and CNO2 (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold. For Peja: Styl Ã
¼ycia G'N.O.J.A. (2008) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold, and Na serio (2009) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
c. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for O.S.T.R.: HollyÃ
ÂódÃ
º (2007) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, Ja tu tylko sprzÃÂ
tam (2008) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, O.c.b. (2009) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, Tylko dla dorosÃ
Âych (2010) - Platinum - 30,000 copies sold, and Jazz, dwa, trzy (2011) - Platinum - 30,000 copies sold. For O.S.T.R. & Hades: Haos (2014) - 30,000 copies sold. For O.S.T.R. & Marco Polo: Kartagina (2013) - 15,000 copies sold. For POE (Projekt Ostry Emade) ZÃ
Âodzieje zapalniczek (2010) - 15,000 copies sold.
d. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Równonoc. SÃ
ÂowiaÃ
Âska Dusza (2012) - Diamond - 75,000 copies sold.
e. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Skandal (1998) - Gold - 50,000 copies sold, and Molesta i kumple (2008) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
f. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for SokóÃ
 & Marysia Starosta: Czysta brudna prawda (2011) - Platinum - 30,000 copies sold, and Czarna biaÃ
Âa magia (2013) - Platinum - 30,000 copies sold. For SokóÃ
 fest Pono: Teraz pieniÃÂ
dz w cenie (2007) - 15,000 copies sold.
g. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Droga (2009) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, JednoÃ
ÂÃÂ (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, LojalnoÃ
ÂÃÂ (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, and Braterstwo (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
h. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: W 63 minuty dookoÃ
Âa Ã
Âwiata (1998) - Gold - 50,000 copies sold.
i. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Kwiaty zÃ
Âa (2008) - Platinum - 15,000 copies sold , Dowód rzeczowy nr 1 (2010) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, and Dowód rzeczowy nr 2 (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
j. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Miuosh: PiÃÂ
ta strona Ã
Âwiata (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, and Prosto przed siebie (2012) - Platinum - 30,000 copies sold. Fo Onar & Miuosh Nowe Ã
ÂwiatÃ
Âo (2013) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
k. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Wideoteka (2003) - Gold - 35,000 copies sold.
l. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: WGW (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, and Jeden z Was (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
m. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Witam was w rzeczywistoÃ
Âci (2005) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, and Ã
»ycie na kredycie (2005) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
n. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Nie pytaj o niÃÂ
(2008) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold, and Zapiski z 1001 nocy (2010) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
o. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Rekontatk (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
p. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Pezet & MaÃ
Âolat: DziÃ
 w moim mieÃ
Âcie (2010) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold. For Pezet: Radio Pezet. Produkcja Sidney Polak (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
q. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Mezo, Tabb & Kasia Wilk: Eudaimonia (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
r. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: Note2 (2009) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold, FuckTede/Glam Rap (2010) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold, Mefistotedes (2012) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold, and Elliminati (2013) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold.
s. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: ZÃ
Âodzieje czasu (2009) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold, Dolina klaunoow (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
t. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Ã
Âona & Webber: Cztery i póÃ
 (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
u. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Kali: 50/50 (2011) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold, Gdy zgaÃ
Ânie SÃ
ÂoÃ
Âce (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold. For Paluch & Kali: Milion dróg do Ã
Âmierci (2013) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold. For Paluch: Lepszego Ã
¼ycia diler (2013) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
w. Based on album certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: 23:55 (2010) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
x. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: for Ten Typ Mes: Kandydaci na szaleÃ
Âców (2011) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold. For Popek: Monster (2013) - Gold - 7,500 copies sold. For Firma: Nasza broÃ
 to nasza pasja (2011) - Gold - 5,000 copies sold. For Zeus: Zeus. Nie Ã
¼yje (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold. For Parias: Parias (2011) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold. For Paktofonika: Muzyka z filmu JesteÃ
 Bogiem (2012) - Gold - 15,000 copies sold.
y. Based on albums certified by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2004) - Platinum - 20,000 copies sold, Encore (2004) - Gold - 20,000 copies sold, The Eminem Show (2002) - Gold 20,000 copies sold, The Marshall Mathers (2000) - Platinum 40,000 copies sold.
References
Additional sources
- For certification criteria by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry between 2002-2005 (with time frame) Radek Miszczak, Andrzej CaÃ
Âa: Beaty, Rymy, Ã
»ycie: Leksykon muzyki hip-hop. PoznaÃ
Â, Poland: Kurpisz S.A., 2005, page 22. .
- For certification criteria by Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry before 2002 (without time frame)