Samra (rapper)

Samra (then known as Samra45) first attracted attention on the German rap scene in the autumn of 2016 as a guest performer on Alpa Gun's album Zurück zur Straße – particularly on "Chaos", where he criticized 187 Strassenbande.[1][6][2] Later that year, he was a featured artist on Mert's "U21".[7][8] Samra was reportedly approached in 2017 by Farid Bang, who was interested in signing the rapper to his Banger Musik label, but Samra refused.[9][10][11] That year, Bushido signed Samra to his EGJ label.[6]

In April 2018, Samra released his first track in a year. The single, "Rohdiamant", had 6.6 million streams in its first week and debuted at number 26 in Germany.[12][4] It was the first time Samra entered the German charts.[4] In July, he reached number one as a featured artist on Bushido's "Für euch alle".[13]

Three months later, Samra was arrested in Prague after a police report of four armed men in a hotel; he and his crew were filming a music video. Among weapons seized by the police were pistols, a machete, an RGD-5 hand grenade and an RPG-75 anti-tank rocket launcher; when they were discovered to be deactivated (rendered incapable of firing), they were returned.[14]

External video

"Cataleya" on YouTube, Samra's first solo number one

In November 2018, at age 23, Samra had his first solo number one in Germany with "Cataleya"[15][16][17][18] (produced by Bushido).[2] In January 2019, he received the Hiphop.de Best National Newcomer award.[19]

That month, Samra reportedly left Bushido's label.[20] In March, he and Capital Bra reached number one in Germany with "Wir ticken".[21][22] Samra's EP, Travolta, was released as part of Capital Bra's CB6 premium box set on April 26.[22][23] The following month, "Wieder Lila" was Samra and Capital Bra's second number-one single in Germany.[24]

According to Laut.de, the rapper's choice of stage name is unusual;[25] Samra (سمرة) is an Arabic woman's name which means "brunette".[1][26][27]