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Rkomi

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Rkomi
Rkomi at the Sanremo Music Festival 2022
Rkomi at the Sanremo Music Festival 2022
Background information
Birth nameMirko Manuele Martorana
Born (1994-04-19) 19 April 1994 (age 30)
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2012–present
LabelsUniversal

Mirko Manuele Martorana (born 19 April 1994), known professionally as Rkomi, is an Italian rapper, singer and record producer.

Early life

[edit]

Rkomi was born and raised in Milan in the famous district of Calvairate, located in the eastern part of the suburbs of Milan. He attended the CFP Galdus hotel Institute until the third year, and then dropped out at the age of 17 without obtaining a diploma. Until the age of 21 he worked as a bartender, bricklayer and dishwasher.[1]

He became friends with rapper Tedua, who was his roommate. Tedua himself originally planned to become a tour manager.[2]

Career

[edit]

Calvairate Mixtape and Dasein Sollen

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Rkomi has stated several times that he was initiated into a musical career due to his best friend Tedua.[3]

Rkomi's first musical projects were Keep Calm Mixtape (with Sfazo) and Quello che non fai tu (with Falco) in 2012, Cugini Bella Vita EP (with Pablo Asso) in 2013, followed by the more famous amateur songbook Calvairate Mixtape, which was created by six people (including Tedua and Izi), in 2014.[4]

That was followed by almost two years of silence, then Rkomi published the song Dasein Sollen on the YouTube platform. The song's title is a direct reference to the Heideggerian concept of Dasein. The rapper learned about it through a random search on the Internet.[5] On 13 October 2016 Rkomi released an EP Dasein Sollen in collaboration with the Digital Distribution label.[6]

First collaborations and Io in terra

[edit]

Following the good reception of Dasein Sollen (the single Aeroplanini di carta, created in collaboration with Izi, was certified platinum),[7] Rkomi was hired by an indie singer-songwriter Calcutta for the opening of the show live in Turin.[8]

Having come into contact with Shablo, former producer of the album Aeroplanini di carta, Rkomi decides to sign a contract with the Rock Music label managed by Shablo himself and Marracash.[9] On 13 March 2017 the rapper announced that he was going to release his first studio album Universal.[10][11]

On 8 September 2017 Rkomi released the album Io in terra, consisting of 14 tracks, some of them created in collaboration with Marracash (in Milano Bachata), Noyz Narcos (in Verme) and Alberto Paone (in Mai più), a drummer.[12] The album was preceded by the singles Solo, Apnea and Mai più.[13][14][15] After its debut in the music charts, Io in terra reached the top of the FIMI chart and was certified gold,[16] while Milano Bachata, Apnea and Mai più were certified platinum.[7]

Ossigeno - EP and Dove gli occhi non arrivano

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On 26 June 2018 Rkomi announced the upcoming release of an EP, entitled Ossigeno - EP, which was released on 13 July 2019 accompanied by a vinyl edition and an autobiographical book.[17][18] The CD features the single Acqua calda e limone, which was written in collaboration with rapper Ernia, as well as songs written in collaboration with Tedua, Night Skinny and Mc Bin Laden.[19] At the end of 2018, the single Non ho mai tanto la mia età was released on the occasion of the release of the video game Assassin's Creed: Origins. It is a tribute to a video game saga created by Ubisoft.[20] Solletico and Acqua calda e limone were certified gold.[21][22]

On 19 February 2019 Rkomi revealed that he intended to release the album Dove gli occhi non arrivano, which was released on 22 March 2020. Jovanotti, Elisa, Carl Brave, Sfera Ebbasta, Dardust and Ghali also worked on the disc.[23][24][25] The album successfully debuted at the top of the FIMI rating, as did Io in terra.[16]

2021-present: Taxi Driver, Sanremo Festival and No Stress

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In April 2021, Rkomi announced his third studio album Taxi Driver, which was released on 30 April.[26] The first single from the album "Ho spento il cielo" with Tommaso Paradiso was released on 14 April.[27] The album debuted at the top of the FIMI Album Chart, while the track "Nuovo range", a collaboration with Sfera Ebbasta, reached the top of the Top Single.[28] On 24 September 2021 the live album Taxi Driver (MTV Unplugged) was released. It included previous tracks edited and sung live.[29]

In December 2021, Rkomi published the collaboration La coda del diavolo with Elodie, which peaked at number one on the Italian singles chart.[30] The same month Rkomi participation in the Sanremo Music Festival 2022 with the song "Insuperabile", where it placed 17th in the grand final.[31][32] The songs were included in the reiussed of Taxi Driver +.[33] In February 2022 he collaborated with Elisa on the song Quello che manca from the singer studio album Ritorno al futuro/Back to the Future.[34]

In July 2023 Rkomi published the collaborative album No Stress with Irama.[35]

Style and influences

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Although the rapper's first songs belong to pure rap and do not include other genres, Rkomi proposed himself as an exponent of indie rap.[36] The album Io in terra has often been considered as an example of hip-hop influenced by the genres of prog, funk and others, because of the original and innovative bases (in addition to the drums, the electric bass, guitar and trumpet appear).[37] With Ossigeno - EP, Rkomi began to approach a more funk and pop version of rap, establishing a new musical dimension with the album Dove gli occhi non arrivano, characterized by purely pop sharing.[38][39]

Rkomi's work was influenced by such indie artists as Saint PHNX, Gorillaz and Twenty One Pilots.[36] As for hip-hop, the rapper's work was influenced by Italian artists Noyz Narcos, Marracash, Fabri Fibra, Gué Pequeno, and such foreign artistes as German rapper Cro, French rapper Lomepal and American rappers Tyler, the Creator, Chance the Rapper and Kendrick Lamar.[12][40]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
ITA
[41] 		SWI
[42]
Io in terra 1 —
Dove gli occhi non arrivano
  • Released: 22 March 2019
  • Label: Universal Music Italia
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 1 —
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[43]
Taxi Driver
  • Released: 30 April 2021
  • Label: Universal Music Italia
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 1 31
  • FIMI: 8× Platinum[43]
No Stress (with Irama)
  • Released: 7 July 2023
  • Label: Atlantic, Island
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 2 —

Live albums

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  • Taxi Driver (MTV Unplugged) (2021)

EPs

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  • Dasein Sollen (2016)
  • Ossigeno (2018)

Mixtapes

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  • Calvairate Mixtape (2014)

Singles

[edit]
  • "Dasein Sollen" (2016)
  • "Sul serio" (2016)
  • "Sissignore" (2016)
  • "180" (2016)
  • "Aeroplanini di carta" (with Izi) (2016)
  • "Oh mama" (2016)
  • "Rossetto" (2017)
  • "Solo" (2017)
  • "Apnea" (2017)
  • "Mai più" (2017)
  • "Acqua calda e limone" (with Ernia) (2018)
  • "Non ho mai avuto la mia età" (2018)
  • "Blu" (with Elisa) (2019)
  • "Visti dall'alto" (with Dardust) (2019)
  • "La coda del diavolo" (with Elodie) (2021)
  • "Insuperabile" (2022)
  • "Ossa rotte" (2022)
  • "5 gocce" (with Irama) (2022)
  • "Hollywood" (with Irama) (2023)
  • "Sulla pelle" (with Irama) (2023)

Music videos

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  • "Dasein sollen" (2016)
  • "Sul serio" (2016)
  • "Sissignore" (2016)
  • "180" (2016)
  • "Aeroplanini di carta" (2016)
  • "Oh Mama" (2016)
  • "Fuck Tomorrow" (2016)
  • "Rossetto (intro)" (2017)
  • "Bimbi" (2017)
  • "Solo" (2017)
  • "Apnea" (2017)
  • "Mai più" (2017)
  • "Milano Bachata" (2017)
  • "Acqua calda e limone" (2018)
  • "Non ho mai avuto l'età" (2018)
  • "Visti dall'alto" (2019)
  • "Vento sulla luna" (2019)
  • "Ho spento il cielo" (2021)
  • "Fottuta canzone" (2021)
  • "Insuperabile" (2022)
  • "Ossa rotte" (2022)

Awards and nominations

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MTV Europe Music Awards

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  • 2021 — Nomination Best Italian Act[44]

Sanremo Music Festival 2022

[edit]
  • 2022 — 17th place with the song Insuperabile

References

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  1. ^ "Rkomi, la working class milanese del rap | Rolling Stone Italia" (in Italian). 9 August 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  2. ^ admin (25 August 2017). ""Mai più" è il nuovo atteso singolo di Rkomi". the Submarine (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Sono stato a Calvairate con Rkomi". www.vice.com (in Italian). 28 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Rkomi - La grande invasione". 21 April 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Il grande risveglio di Rkomi | Rolling Stone Italia" (in Italian). 16 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  6. ^ Redazione (17 October 2016). "Ascolta Dasein sollen, primo EP di Rkomi". Nuove Canzoni (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Certificazioni - FIMI". www.fimi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Rkomi, il rapper della nuova scena capace di mettere d'accordo tutti". 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Rkomi entra in Roccia Music". Hano.it (in Italian). 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Rkomi entra in Roccia Music e annuncia l'album per Universal | News Honiro". 21 April 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Rkomi firma con Universal Music: il direttore artistico del progetto sarà Marracash" (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Rkomi: "La strada sono io, gli altri dicono cazzate" | Rolling Stone Italia" (in Italian). 8 September 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Ascolta "Solo" il nuovo singolo di Rkomi". Hip Hop Starz Tour (in Italian). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  14. ^ admin (7 June 2017). "Ascolta "Apnea", il nuovo pezzo di Rkomi". the Submarine (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Ascolta "Mai più", il nuovo singolo di Rkomi". Rockit.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Classifiche - FIMI". www.fimi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Rkomi annuncia l'uscita di "Ossigeno", un libro più un cd". Rockit.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Ascolta "Ossigeno", il nuovo ep di Rkomi". Rockit.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Per Rkomi è il tempo di "Ossigeno": pubblica un libro e un EP". Billboard Italia (in Italian). 9 July 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Rkomi, singolo in stile "Assassin's Creed": ecco "Non ho mai avuto la mia età"". www.ilmessaggero.it (in Italian). 23 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Certificazioni FIMI: gli album di Marco Mengoni e Ramazzotti sono disco d'oro. Oro anche il singolo di Anastasio". All Music Italia (in Italian). 11 December 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Certificazioni Fimi – Settimana 6: da Cristina D'Avena a Faber, ecco i nuovi Fimi Awards". All Music Italia (in Italian). 11 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  23. ^ TG24, Sky (20 February 2019). "Rkomi annuncia il nuovo album "Dove gli occhi non arrivano"". tg24.sky.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ TG24, Sky (8 March 2019). "'Blu', il testo della nuova canzone di Rkomi feat. Elisa". tg24.sky.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Radio Italia". Radio Italia. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  26. ^ Di Grazia, Ida (29 April 2021). "Taxi Driver, il nuovo album di Rkomi: «Sogno uno show acustico con il piano, sto studiando tanto»". Leggo (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Rkomi e Tommaso Paradiso insieme per "Ho spento il cielo"". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). 14 April 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Classifiche di Vendita Fimi Settimana #18: per Rkomi... l'en-plein è servito!". All Music Italia (in Italian). 7 May 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Rkomi in versione inedita: esce "Taxi Driver - MTV Unplugged"". Billboard Italia (in Italian). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  30. ^ Minoliti, Benedetta (1 December 2021). "Rkomi pubblica "La coda del diavolo" con Elodie, la voce che mancava in "Taxi Driver"". Billboard Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  31. ^ Nasto, Vincenzo (1 February 2022). "Il testo e il significato di Insuperabile, la canzone di Rkomi a Sanremo 2022". Fanpage.it (in Italian). Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  32. ^ Avellina, Giuditta (1 February 2022). "Rkomi corre veloce a Sanremo 2022, «Insuperabile»". GQ Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Rkomi: in attesa di Sanremo arrivano nuovi pezzi e nuove collaborazioni ad arricchire "Taxi driver", il disco più venduto del 2021". All Music Italia (in Italian). 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Elisa ha pubblicato a sorpresa un singolo con Rkomi, 'Quello che manca'". Rolling Stone Italia (in Italian). 11 February 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  35. ^ Dondoni, Luca (5 July 2023). "Esce "No Stress", il joint album di Irama e Rkomi: "Un melting pot di generi, dal rap all'easy rock"". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Rkomi ha capito le regole del gioco del rap". www.vice.com (in Italian). 8 September 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  37. ^ Giorgianni, Peppe (11 September 2017). "Recensione Io In Terra - La maturità di Rkomi". LaScimmiaPensa.com (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  38. ^ "Rkomi pubblica a luglio "Ossigeno" un libro contenente un EP con 6 brani inediti". All Music Italia (in Italian). 26 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  39. ^ "Su 'Dove gli occhi non arrivano' Rkomi non è più quello di una volta". www.vice.com (in Italian). 22 March 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  40. ^ ""Non è mai una passeggiata". Intervista a Rkomi | Radio Città del Capo". 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  41. ^ "Discografia Rkomi (Albums)". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  42. ^ "Discographie Rkomi". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d "Italian album certifications – Rkomi" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 30 October 2024. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Rkomi" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  44. ^ "MTV EMA 2021, ecco i candidati per il Best Italian Act | Rolling Stone Italia" (in Italian). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
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