Elastinen

Helsinki native Kimmo Ilpo Juhani Laiho, better known to fans as Elastinen or simply Ela, built his career as a hip-hop performer and dancer while sharing stages with longtime collaborator Iso H in the group Fintelligens. During childhood the future artist took up guitar before shifting his focus to breakdancing and rap. Shortly after crossing paths with Iso H in 1997, the pair launched Fintelligens and secured a recording contract once both members reached age eighteen. The crew issued three full-length projects—Renesanssi in 2000, Tän Tahtiin in 2001, and Kokemusten Summa in 2002—before Elastinen stepped away to pursue solo work. His first independent effort, the 2004 album Elaksis Kivi, achieved modest success, yet the follow-up Anna Soida two years later moved substantially more units. Capitalizing on that progress, he reached the Finnish albums chart’s upper tier in 2007 with his third release, E.L.A.