Smartzee

Smartzee
Background information
Origin Benin
Genres Rap, R&B
Years active 2004 – present

Smartzee is a French rapper born in Benin.

Biography

Born in 1980 in Benin (Africa), Smartzee got the opportunity to experience different cultures as he moved at an early age from Africa to the USA, to France, Switzerland...

A "globe-trotter" as he defines himself, he absorbs people's cultures and ways wherever he goes. Smartzee is far from only being a rapper, he represents the new generation of artists, who skilfully mix different sounds together with a steady open ear and so he’s able to lay his vocals and lyrics on any type of music. He collaborated with Gilles Luka's pop-rock and house music album (Galleon "so I begin", www.myspace.com/gillesluka), delivering a verse on the remake of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time".

Back in Los Angeles Smartzee got introduced to famous producer Fredwreck (www.myspace.com/fredwreckla who had worked with Dr. Dre, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, Hilary Duff, etc.) From then on a collaboration started, leading Smartzee to meet Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Cypress Hill, Eminem further developing Smartzee’s skills and views of the music industry and addition of the west coast influence in his rap.

It was on the release of the single "Et c’est parti" of French R&B singer Nâdiya, where Smartzee unveiled his talent to the masses by an electrifying rap-feature on the song. The record came out in Europe in 2004 and quickly sold half a million copies and was labelled French most broadcast song on worldwide radios in 2005. With the success of the first album, the record company Columbia asked Smartzee again for a new record with Nadiya the year after. The song "Tous ces mots" followed in 2006 reaching gold status in 1 month, whereas the album reached platinum sales.

Smartzee excels at writing songs for singers and rappers (co-writer of Clara Morgane’s song "nous deux", co-writer of several songs of Nadiya, etc.), to producing new talents (producer of Swiss rapper CFA with "On fait bouger les coudes" as a first release), to composing songs and beats and hosting parties in the famous VIP Room club (St-tropez, Paris),opening for Madonna at Bercy venue (Paris, France).

Smartzee released in December 2008 his debut album The Wishmaster. A combination of rap, pop and electro music, containing amazing mainstream beats and melodies and sweeping lyrics. The Wishmaster is yet the main character embodied by Smartzee, representing the inner ghost that provides the artist with the gift to transmit emotions and understanding through his music to the listeners. A real experience, swaying from fun to conscious lyrics, from party time to chilling mood, the Wishmaster is a guaranteed must-have album.

Discography

Albums

Singles

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