O-Jay

O-Jay
Background information
Birth name Olaf Jeglitza
Born (1965-02-15) 15 February 1965
Origin Berlin
Genres Pop / Club
Years active 1983 – present
Associated acts Real McCoy

Olaf Jeglitza (born 15 February 1965[1]), also known by his stage name O-Jay, is a German rapper, songwriter, and music producer of polish descent. He is best known as the lead rapper for the Eurodance group Real McCoy.

Biography

O-Jay was born in Berlin in 1965. After finishing the regular school system, he studied at the Lette Foundation, a technical college for photography in Berlin. At age 18 he started working as an independent photographer. After two years he was hired by an advertising agency as an assistant photographer and became their head of the photo department a year later. Since the age of 15, O-Jay was involved in the upcoming Hip hop Movement in Germany. Besides being an active break-dancer (The Mighty Crash),[2] he later became the co-founder of the Imperial Nation Berlin. In cooperation with Frank "Quickmix" Hassas he published the first German Hip Hop fanzine Freshbeat Magazin[3] and produced the monthly Freshline Radio Show. 1988 he co-founded, also with Quickmix, the label Freshline Records.[4]

1984 to 1988

In 1984 he started collaborating with the German producer/musician Jens Kuphal on his first video project: "Jazzy times". A first attempt to record and produce a commercial record with one of his friends and Kuphal, failed to get a release. A year later, O-Jay started working with the Berlin-based DJ Quickmix (Frank Hassan Hassas) and eventually gave themselves the name "2 make music". Later, they started collaborating with the German producer / musician Micky Wolf. During that time, O-Jay met the rapper The A (Aram Mouchegh) and they changed their name into "Masterplan".

In 1987, Masterplan (Quickmix, O-Jay, The A) released their first record "We wanna be stars", on the Select Record Label. The record failed commercially but it formed O-Jay's entry into the music business. In collaboration with Quickmix, he started to produce the monthly Freshline Radio Show and published the first German Hip Hop Magazine, called Fresh Beat Magazine. Neither product lasted for long, because the two turned their focus on running their own label.

In 1988, they founded the Hip Hop Electro Group, The Alliance (Quickmix, O-Jay, Careem the Dream). Their first release "Action!" was released on their own label, Freshline Records and sold approximately 20,000 units with the help of their distribution partner 99 Records. This first 12" was followed by a couple of more releases, leading them to a first label deal with Rough Trade Records. While "Action!" (The Alliance) and the second release "Come into my life – Rap Version" (The Admirers) ended up being re-released by ZYX Records, the first album of The Alliance (It’s time …) and a couple of other products were released by Rough Trade.

1988 to 1995

1988 saw the birth of the group M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy, in connection with a production request by Reinhard Piel (Head of A&R at ZYX Records) for a rap version of the Technotronic hit "Pump up the Jam". The following year the group signed a new label deal with ZYX Records and made further releases by M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy, for example the song "It’s on You". They also created a number of other productions, some projects and remixes. Around 1992, the label had financial problems and O-Jay started to work part-time as a photographer again.

In 1993, M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy signed a new deal with the German BMG / Hansa label. The first single “Another Night” charted within the top-twenty in Germany and subsequently became a massive hit across Europe. With the help of Vincent DeGiorgio, the song reached number one in Canada[5] and the act was signed to Arista Records [6] in America. During that time, O-Jay was also involved in the project called Maxx which was the brainchild of David Brunner.

With the upcoming release of "Another Night" in the US, the decision was made to change the name M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy, simply into Real McCoy. Real McCoy's "Another Night" reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, where it had a 40-week run inside the Top 40. The single was certified Platinum (1,000,000 copies sold),[7] and became the best-selling single by a German artist in the American market. "Run Away," the follow-up single, entered the Top 40 of the Hot 100 Singles chart on 11 March 1995, eventually also reaching number three, and being certified Gold (500,000 copies sold) in the USA and over 1,500,000 copies sold around the world. The album "Another Night" was released by Arista in the U.S. on 28 March 1995, and the group won several awards around the world. However, despite what some sources mention, there was no Grammy nomination involved.

From 1999

In 1999, after the unexpected death of his father, O-Jay focused on the production of other artists. In 2000 together with the former front man of Maxx, Gary B. (Boris Köhler), he founded the production service, Blue PM Productions.

In 2001, they produced the German boy band B3 in collaboration with the Berman Brothers (who were also involved in the production of the first hits of Real McCoy) and the German-based production company Maxi-Media. This was followed by several other Top 20 and Top 10 productions.

In 2003 they produced and wrote the multi-platinum hit "Ab in den Süden" performed by their artist Buddy.[8] Shortly after, O-Jay had a heart attack but made a full recovery.

As of 2006, O-Jay has been working for several national and international labels as a producer, songwriter, publisher and A&R adviser.

O-Jay represented Poland, with Ich Troje, in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest.[9]

In 2007 his new label "Phears Music" was launched, and the Real McCoy single "People Are Still Having Sex" - a cover of the song by William David LaTour was released.[10]

In 2009, O-Jay performed in Canada (July 2009 - Z103.5 Summer Rush Halifax and Toronto concerts)[11] and Austria (August 2009 - DJ BoBo and Friends concert)[12][13] as part of the current Real McCoy formation.

Album Productions

Artist Album Date Credit
The Alliance It's Time ... 1988 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
MC Sar & The Real McCoy On The Move! 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
MC Sar & The Real McCoy Space Invaders 1993 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Maxx To the Maxximum 1994 Producer / Songwriter
Real McCoy Another Night 1994 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy The Remix Album 1996 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy One More Time [14] 1997 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy Love & Devotion 1998 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
B3 First 2001 Producer
Yvonne Catterfeld Meine Welt 2002 Producer / Songwriter
Buddy Buddy Music 2003 Producer / Songwriter
B3 N.Y.C.B3 2003 Producer
Shelo Producer
Rod Michael 2003 Producer
Kim Styles 2003 Producer
D!Nation 2003 Producer

Single Productions

Artist Title Date Credit
Masterplan We Wanna Be Stars / C´Mon ... 1987 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Captain Hollywood & B.P.M. Tribute / JayBee 1988 Songwriter / Artist
The Alliance Action! 1988 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
The Admirers Come Into My Life - Rap 1988 Producer / Artist
The Alliance Action! - Remix 1988 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
The Admirors Come Into My Life - Rap (Re-Release) 1988 Producer / Artist
The Alliance Action! - Remix (Re-Release) 1988 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
D.J. Chrizz Hui Buh 1989 Producer
The Alliance Sweat 1989 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
EMCEE We're Cruisin´ 1989 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
The Admirers Tonite 1989 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
The All-Stars Hello Babe 1989 Producer / Artist
Michael L. Williams That Feelin´ 1989 Producer
Quickmix feat. La Rose Love Is In The House 1989 Producer / Songwriter / feat. Artist
The Deep Curtain 1989 Producer
Berlin Adler Touchdown 1989 Producer / Songwriter
Rap IV Rap Keep On Movin´Rap 1989 Producer / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy Pump Up The Jam Rap 1989 Producer / Artist
Rap IV Rap Let's Come Together 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Masterplan Stars 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You - Remix 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
The Admirers Got To Get Rap 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You - The Re-Remix 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
The Admirers Out On A Limb 1990 Producer / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy feat. Sunday Don't Stop 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You - UK-Remix 1990 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Patsy Dreamin´ 1990 Producer / Songwriter / feat. Artist
Sugar Daddy Are You Ready ? 1990 Producer / Songwriter
Jamtronik Another Day In Paradise - Remix 1990 Producer / Remixer / feat. Artist
Jay Rapper Wake Up 1991 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy Make A Move! 1991 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Rap IV Rap Hold you tight - Rap 1991 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
PRO-A Trance 1991 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy No Showbo 1991 Producer / Artist
Construction Oh girl ! 1991 Producer
Hype-a-delics So what ! 1991 Producer / Songwriter / feat. Artist
Lucky Nineties Ohh la la la 1991 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar Let´s Talk About Love 1992 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Cold as Ice feat. Eboni ¡ Urgent ! 1992 Producer
Construction Sex Is Like Fire 1992 Producer / Songwriter
Kirk Smith Rise & Shine 1992 Producer
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy Another Night 1993 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Maxx Get-A-Way 1993 Producer / Songwriter
Maxx Get-a-way UK Remixes 1994 Producer / Songwriter
M.C.Sar & The Real McCoy Automatic lover (Call for love) 1994 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C.Sar & The Real McCoy Automatic lover (Call for love) Remixes 1994 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C.Sar & The Real McCoy Run Away 1994 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Maxx No more (I can't stand it) 1994 Songwriter
Maxx No more (I can't stand it) Remixes 1994 Songwriter
Maxx You can get it 1994 Songwriter
Maxx You can get it Remixes 1994 Songwriter
Real McCoy Automatic lover (Call for love) 1995 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy Love And Devotion 1995 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy Come And Get Your Love 1995 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Maxx I Can Make You Feel Like 1995 Songwriter
Real McCoy Sleeping With an Angel/Ooh Boy 1995 Artist
Real McCoy Operator (Canadian Edition, Promo) 1995 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Tronik Magic Fly 1996 Producer
Real McCoy One More Time 1997 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy I Wanna Come (With You) 1997 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Troja Tiefer 1998 Producer
Ganesha Jiggy Love 1998 Producer
Juize Club Denise 1998 Producer
Troja Träume 1998 Producer / Songwriter
Admirers feat. Killer and Ayman Come Into My Life 1998 Producer / Songwriter
Savannah I´ll Be There 1998 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
M.C. Sar vs. D.J. Dee Pump Up The Jam - Rap 98 1998 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy It´s On You 1999 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Killer Bring It On 1999 Producer
Der Nachbar Knall-Erbsen-Strauch (Die Antwort) 1999 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Real McCoy Hey Now 1999 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Fev-Zee Hadi Bir Bak 2000 Producer
Gangsta Boogie Ernst oder Spass 2000 Producer
o-jay.com Nite to remember 2000 Producer / Songwriter / Artist
Blockwart P. Fett & Brutal 2000 Producer
Blockwart P. Schwarze Witwe 2000 Producer
Oli. P & Jan van der Toorn Girl you know it's true 2001 Producer
Husam Bitte Bitte 2001 Producer
Diskobitch Rock da beat 2001 Producer / Songwriter
Buddy Ab in den Süden 2001 Producer / Songwriter
Marie Picasso Tell the world 2001 Remixer
B3 You win again 2001 Producer
Catterfeld Komm zurück zu mir 2001 Producer / Songwriter
Right Said Fred Mojive 2001 Producer / Remixer
ATC I´m in heaven 2001 Remixer
Roland Kaiser Ich geh´mit Dir wohin Du willst 2001 Remixer
Marta Yeah, Yeah, Yeah 2002 Remixer
Right Said Fred Stand Up (For The Champions) 2002 Remixer
Acrylite What Is It ? 2002 Songwriter
B3 I.O.I.O. 2002 Producer
Kim Styles Every 1's A Winner 2002 Producer / feat. Artist
Buddy vs. D.J. The Wave Ab in den Süden 2003 Producer / Songwriter
Düse Nackig 2003 Producer
Buddy vs. D.J. The Wave Ab in den Süden Remixes 2003 Producer / Songwriter
Buddy Ab Auf Die Piste 2003 Producer / Songwriter
Buddy Wattn Ding / Dicka gehts nich 2004 Producer / Songwriter
Buddy Gott sei Dank (Wochenende) 2004 Producer / Songwriter
Alexander Sunshine after the rain 2004 Producer / Remixer
Daniel Küblböck The lion sleeps tonight 2004 Producer
Urbi & Orbi feat. Buddy Wir sind Papst! 2005 Producer
Buddy Mama Mallorca 2005 Producer / Songwriter

Awards

Labels

Freshline Records • Move • Blue Point • P5 • Blue PM • Triumph Musik • Phears

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Info is on the enhanced cd "one more time"
  2. ↑ Article in the Berlin City-Magazine TIP Issue: 26/1983 (in German)
  3. ↑ Issue: 01/1986 First Issue of the German Hip Hop Fanzine Freshbeat Magazin (in German)
  4. ↑ Article in the Berlin City-Magazine TIP Issue: 02/1987 (in German)
  5. ↑ "Another Night" charting in Canada
  6. ↑ 25th Anniversary of Arista Records
  7. ↑ "Another Night" worldwide sales
  8. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/Buddy+(2)
  9. ↑ Ich Troje featuring Real McCoy at 2006 Eurovision Song Contest
  10. ↑ Real McCoy "People Are Still Having Sex" CD-single
  11. ↑ Z103.5 Toronto Summer Rush
  12. ↑ Facebook event invite by DJ Bobo
  13. ↑ Pictures of Real McCoy at DJ BoBo and Friends concert - August 1, 2009
  14. ↑ Article by Milo Miles for Salon.com
  15. ↑ Official Webpage of the German Music Award "Echo" (in German)
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