Yunus ÃÂzyavuz (born 17 August 1978), better known by his stage name Sagopa Kajmer () or formerly known as DJ Mic Check and Silahsñz Kuvvet (), is a Turkish rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. He is the first and only rapper to have given concerts in all of 81 provinces of Turkey.
He was born in 1978 in Samsun and finished his primary and high school there. He then started working as a DJ in one of Samsun's local radio stations. In order to continue his education, he moved to Istanbul and studied Persian language and literature at Istanbul University. He claims his early musical influences were the African music of his father and the Italian music of his mother.
In 1998, he founded the hip hop band Kuvvetmira and started his career with his stage name "Silahsñz Kuvvet". He featured in the compilation album Yeraltñ Operasyonu as Silahsñz Kuvvet in 1999. He later changed his stage name to Sagopa Kajmer and released an album with the same name Sagopa Kajmer in 2002. Following the release of the album, he released Bir Pesimistin Gözyaà Âlarñ in 2004. Same year, he contributed to the soundtrack for the movie G.O.R.A.. He released another studio album Romantizma in 2005 and on 11 August 2005 found his own production company Melankolia Müzik. In 2006, he released the compilation album Kafile under the label Melankolia Müzik. On 1 August 2006, he married fellow rapper Kolera (Esen Güler). In 2007, they released their first mutual album ðkimizi Anlatan Bir à Âey. He released two more solo albums, Kötü ðnsanlarñ Tanñma Senesi (2008) and à Âarkñ Koleksiyoncusu (2009), before releasing another mutual album with Kolera, Bendeki Sen, in 2010. Since then, he has released four studio albums: Saydam Odalar (2011), Kalp Hastasñ (2013), Ahmak Islatan (2017) and KaÃÂñt Kesikleri (2022).
Yunus ÃÂzyavuz was born on 17 August 1978 in Samsun. He finished primary and high school in Samsun. In his own words, his interest in music rose after listening to African music by his mother, and Italian music by his father. He started his music career by working as a DJ in one of Samsun's local radio stations. During that period, he used the name DJ Rapper M.C. (DJ Rapper Mic Check). In 1997, he moved to Istanbul to continue his education and studied Persian language and literature at Istanbul University. He graduated 4 years later.
In 1998, he founded the rap group Kuvvetmira. In 1999, he featured in the compilation album Yeraltñ Operasyonu as Silahsñz Kuvvet. At the same time, he released another album, Gerilim 99 (Promo). In the same month, he released his first EP Pesimist EP 1. In 2000, together with Ceza, he released the album Toplama Kampñ. One year later, he released another album Sözlerim Silahñm. At the same time period he also released One Second. In 2002, he released the studio album ðhtiyar Heyeti, and produced Ceza's album Med Cezir. At the same, he released the album Sagopa Kajmer, which was followed by On Kurà Âun.
In 2004, he gave an interview to Radikal in which he said that after 7 years of using the stage name Silahsñz Kuvvet, he would use the stage name Sagopa Kajmer from now on. In the same year, he produced the album Rapstar and appeared alongside Ceza on the music video for "Neyim Var Ki". In June 2003, his new album, Bir Pesimistin Gözyaà Âlarñ, was released by Hammer Müzik and turned the songs "Maskeli Balo" and "Karikatür Komedya" from the album into music videos. In 2004, he produced Dr. Fuchs's album Huzur N Darem. Later, he made the music for Cem Yñlmaz's comedy film G.O.R.A.. On 19 August 2005, he released the album Romantizma under the label ðrem Records and later turned the song "Vasiyet" into a music video. The music video for "Vasiyet" won the Best Video Clip award at the 12th Kral TV Video Music Awards in 2005. In the same year, he released Pesimist EP 3. To produce his own albums and to open doors for new opportunities, on 11 August 2005 Kajmer opened Melankolia Müzik together with Kolera. Together with other members of Kuvvetmira, Sagopa Kajmer released the album Kafile in which he was the producer of 1 January 2006 under the label Melankolia Müzik. On 18 May 2006, he released Pesimist EP 4 - Kurà Âun Asker, in which the last two songs are in English and belong to Ewren, on his website.
On 26 April 2007, he released his first mutual album with Kolera, ðkimizi Anlatan Bir à Âey. In 2008, his solo album Kötü ðnsanlarñ Tanñma Senesi was released alongside two music videos for the songs "Ben Hüsrana Komà Âuyum" and "Düà Âersem Yanarñm". On 6 May 2008, he released the single "Bu à Âarkñyñ Zevk ðçin Yaptñk", which featured Kolera. On 27 December 2008, he released Pesimist EP 5 - Kör Cerrah on his official website. In 2009, he released the songs from his previous EPs in a compilation album, titled à Âarkñ Koleksiyoncusu, on 19 February. On 1 April 2009, he released the single "Beslenme ÃÂantam" as a duet with Kolera. On 18 July 2009, he released another single with Kolera, "Hain".
In 2010, he released his second mutual album with Kolera, Bendeki Sen, from which the songs "Bir Dizi ðz" and "Merhametine Dön" were turned into music videos. Bendeki Sen was nominated for the Best Album award at the TRT Music Awards, which was based on people's votes. In 2010, he also produced Kafile 2. On 4 February 2010, he released the single "Ardñndan Bakarñm". In 2011, he released the album Saydam Odalar, the songs "Kaç Kaçabilirsen" and "Bu ðà Âlerden Elini ÃÂek" in the album featured Kolera, with a music video being made for "Kaç Kaçabilirsen". In 2013, he announced on his Twitter account that he was working on a new album. Sagopa Kajmer organized a tour with Pesimist Orchestra during March, April and May 2013 and gave concerts in 15 different cities. On 8 July 2013, his new album Kalp Hastasñ was released and Kolera was again featured on the song "ðster ðstemez". One day before the album's release, Sagopa Kajmer released the song "Düà Âünmek ðçin Vaktin Var" on internet together with a music video. This song was later added to Sagopa Kajmer's album Kalp Hastasñ. Two weeks after the release of the album, a music video was released for the song "Uzun Yollara Devam" as a successor to the clip for "Düà Âünmek ðçin Vaktin Var". In the early months of 2014, the production process for his new EP Pesimist EP 6 began and it was released on 20 March 2014. On 6 May 2014, together with (BeeGee), he released the song "Abrakadabra" free of charge on internet. He also composed Cem Adrian's song "Artñk Bitti" and served as a backing vocalist on it. In the early months of 2015, he shared the beats for some of his songs on YouTube and released the beats for his 1998-2001 songs under the name Underground Years on the platform. On 17 June 2015, his new song, "Bilmiyorum", was released on YouTube. On 12 November 2015, his second mutual work with Birol Giray "Naber" was released together with a music video. In March 2016, it was announced on his official website that he was working on a new song, titled "Tecrübe", together DJ Tarkan. On 31 December 2016, his song "366.Gün" was released on Koleraflow YouTube channel. In 2017, he released "Ne Kaybederdin" on his official YouTube channel. On 23 August 2017, Sagopa Kajmer announced on his official Twitter account that he was working on a new album and on 1 September 2017 ' was released. On 31 December 2017, he released a new song "Sorun Var" on his YouTube channel, of which he released the music video of on 29 May 2018 on YouTube. On 25 September 2018, Sagopa Kajmer announced on his Instagram account that his new song would be released on 2 October on digital platforms, and one day prior to that on YouTube. On 1 October 2018, "Oldu Olanlar" was released on YouTube. On his 41st birthday, he released the song "Avutsun Bahaneler". On 29 November 2019, Sagopa Kajmer released the EP Sarkastik. A music video was also released for its lead single "Toz Taneleri". An investigation was started by legal authorities following complaints by the public on the grounds that he encouraged people to smoke by smoking in the music video of the song "Toz Taneleri" published on YouTube. He later gave a statement to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the scope of the investigation.On 12 June 2020, he released the song "Siyah", featuring Patron. The music video of the song was shared on Patron's official YouTube account. On 17 July 2020, Sagopa Kajmer released the song "Bu Sen DeÃÂilsin" with Faruk Sabancñ on his YouTube channel. On August 17, 2020, he released the album "Yunus EP" with the label. On February 19, 2021, he released the album "Tek" (lit. Single), in which he compiled and removed the parts his former spouse Kolera sang in their duets with between the years 2005 and 2011. On 7 May 2021, he announced on his official Twitter account that his single "Saldñrground" was released. On November 11, 2022, he released the song "Onlarla Konuà Âuyorum" with Defkhan. The song's official music video was uploaded to Defkhan's YouTube account. On 1 July 2021, he released the single "Kim", which he recorded 2018.
On June 2, 2022, he released the album KaÃÂñt Kesitleri. The first music video for the album was shot for the song "Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla", a duet with à Âehinà Âah. On 22 September 2023, he released the song "Geceler", a duet with Mine Koà Âan. On November 15, 2023, he released the song "ðstesem de Söyleyemem".
Sagopa Kajmer is a rap music artist. He started his career under the name Silahsñz Kuvvet and later used elements of Anatolian melodies and türküs in his songs. Although he initially used curse words in the album Sagopa Kajmer, he later refrained from using them later in his career. He also performed his songs in a tone different than his actual voice to not become famous. His voice is thought to be of Arabesque style. In his 2003 album, Romantizma, there are far more love themes than his previous works.
Run-DMC's music was influential in forming Kajmer's rap music. He said that he was influenced by the works of Omar Khayyam, Ferdowsi and Rumi. In an interview with Pembe Newspaper, he said: "When I was little I thought I was Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC. LL Cool J and Fat Boys are also very important names. I got my influence from them." The artist's style change and beard gave rise to the rumors that he was influenced by the philosophy of Ahmet Mahmut ÃÂnlü. The artist, however, firmly denied these allegations and said that it was only after reading a hadith that he decided to let his beard grow.
Yunus ÃÂzyavuz explains the meaning of Sagopa Kajmer with these words:
On Beyazñt ÃÂztürk and Meral Okay's program Nasñl Yani he said:
On 17 November 2015, in response to Mesut Yar's question "What does it mean?" he said:
His mother is Serpil ÃÂzyavuz, and his father is Mehmet ÃÂzyavuz. He also has a brother named Emre ÃÂzyavuz. He is a graduate of Persian language and literature from Istanbul University. On 1 August 2006, he married fellow rapper Esen Güler (known as Kolera). On 20 November 2017, they announced on their Instagram accounts that they had divorced after 11 years of marriage. In May 2018, in response to one of his followers on social media who asked "what is your religious belief" he said "I have no religious beliefs".
He is a supporter of the Turkish Super League side Samsunspor.
His mother, Serpil ÃÂzyavuz, died on June 2, 2024 due to lung cancer.
On 18 July 2013, ÃÂzyavuz was taken into custody for allegedly ordering marijuana seeds from the UK. According to reports, ÃÂzyavuz went to a post office to pick up an order sent from England. A post office staff member called the police after becoming suspicious of the package which contained 100 DVDs in 5 DVD cases and when ÃÂzyavuz realized that police were informed, he fled the scene and went home. Responding to claims on his Twitter account, ÃÂzyavuz stated that he ordered carnivorous plants and many tropical plant seeds without reading the customs law and asked his fans to not believe "rumors" about him, also stating that he had no bad intentions, he said, "If what I did constitutes a crime, I regret it."
Units from the Istanbul Customs Enforcement Directorate seized the package and raided ÃÂzyavuz's house with permission from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The teams who examined the packages found a total of 560 grams of cannabis plants out of 5 DVD cases. He was taken into custody and a lawsuit was filed against him with the demand of imprisonment from 5 years to 15 years for "trafficking or supplying drugs or stimulants" and from 1 year to 2 years for "using drugs" by the Bakñrköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. He was later brought to the Haseki Research and Training Hospital for a health check to then be taken to Bakñrköy Courthouse and released shortly after on judicial controls. As a result, ÃÂzyavuz was banned from leaving the country.
In 2002, Sagopa won the best DJ award of 2001. In the following year he won the Best DJ award again, however he refused to attend the awards night. The organisation claimed Sagopa criticised such organisations, however it might be due to Sagopa's friendship with Fuat Ergin, who was hostile to Barikat, the rap group that organised the organisation of that year.
On 20 April 2005, during the last day of the famous Karabiber Tour in Sakarya, Sagopa won several awards that day; 'Best Male Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of 2004', 'Best DJ of 2004', 'Best Album of 2004' and 'Best Song of 2004', his then girlfriend Kolera also won the 'Best Female Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of 2004'.
On 11 May 2006, at Kral TV Video Music Awards, the music video for his song "Vasiyet" was awarded for the best music video. He was also nominated as the Best Turkish Act at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards. His mutual album with Kolera Bendeki Sen, was nominated as the best album at TRT Music Awards with the votes of people.
Fuat Ergin has said about Sagopa Kajmer: "He's not a rapper. I'm a rapper, Ceza is a rapper but he is not ... He's a branch of Arabesque." Erol Köse described Sagopa Kajmer as a "hidden star". Akà Âams columnist ÃÂaÃÂla Gürsoy said about him: "Sagopa's name appeared as one of the rap geniuses in Turkey from the beginning. I like both his style and his music." For the list of "50 People That Make You Happy", Esquire magazine described Sagopa Kajmer as a person who "brought a new breath to the rap music culture in Turkey."
Kolera
Non-Rap Albums (House Musics as 'DJ Rawkid')