Ganxsta Zolee and the Kartel 30th
Ganxsta Zolee and Kartel released their first album in 1995, and since then they have left an indelible mark on Hungarian popular music, introducing the genre of gangster rap to Hungary, which they have been pushing for 30 years now, not only as the first, but also in the most original way. For the first time, the band is celebrating this round birthday with an arena concert, inviting the former Kartel members on stage on 17 January 2025, at the Budapest Arena.
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It's a good thing Ganxsta Zolee is responsible for everything, and he even admitted that rap is bad for you! Ganxsta Döglégy Zolee stepped out from behind the drums in 1995 and formed his own group with a few mates, the country's first gangster rap band with outspoken lyrics, and has been infecting young and not so young minds with his explicit lyrics non-stop for 30 years now.
Alongside Zolee, Kartel's founding members were OJ Samson, Ganksta Steve, and Big Daddy Laca and Lory B. Their first album was entitled Straight from the Ghetto and featured instant hits such as Boom in the Head and Born to Kill. Although the album was initially met with critical skepticism, the public quickly made up their minds and embraced the band for their outspoken, punchy lyrics. The big breakthrough came with their second album, I'll Put You on Ice, which sold over 25,000 copies and went gold. Shortly after its release in 1997, Lory B left the band and was replaced by Dopeman on second mic. Helldorado, released in 1999, was recorded with him. The album went gold the week it was released and was certified platinum, cementing Ganxsta Zolee and Kartel at the top of the charts.
Over the past 30 years, the band has toured almost every corner of the country, releasing 13 studio albums, 2 EPs, 2 live albums, a compilation and even a tribute album; they have won four Golden Giraffe awards and 2 Fonogram awards for the domestic rap/hip-hop album or recording of the year, and have undergone a couple of member changes. Over the years, the band has lost Dopeman, Samson and Steve, and briefly returned and then parted ways again with Lory B.
Siska Finuccsi became an official member of Kartel in 2020 after several years of working together, and currently the band consists of Vilmos Vilkó Takács, Dávid Kovács and Balázs Potesz. Their latest album, 2022's A Bohóc, was released with this line-up.
In a few months, it will be 30 years since Ganxsta Zolee decided to start rapping and brought the band together, and on the occasion of Kartel's 30th birthday, almost all members of the clan will gather to see Good, Bad and Kartel on stage together again. It's going to be a world-shaking party, with Zolee, Big Daddy and Siska joined by Dopeman and Steve, while Samson will provide the screeches.
Papp László Budapest Sportaréna
One of Budapest's biggest concert and event venues, named after iconic Hungarian boxer László Papp.