Xhelazz

Mario Celimendiz, born in Spain’s Zaragoza province, developed as the MC Xhelazz amid the country’s earliest hip-hop enthusiasts. Early group affiliations with Originarios and Imperio preceded his solo path. Scarce local collaborators led him to craft and circulate his own instrumentals via the internet, establishing him as one of the region’s more practiced voices and prompting Loto Oscuro to recruit him for the formation of Originarios. The duo’s work together quickly marked Celimendiz as an emerging national talent. After his period with Imperio, later renamed Olimpo, he helped assemble Cloaka Company with Hazhe, Franfuethefirst, and Eric B. Mario, recording as Xhelazz. The crew delivered a standout 2003 album, Verso Municcione, following their 2001 debut Maqueta. In 2005 Xhelazz issued his self-titled debut solo single. His biting, sardonic rhymes drew listeners from both hardcore and playful rap audiences, echoing the styles of stateside artists Eminem and Ludacris. His first full-length solo project, El Soñador Elegido, arrived in 2007 and included appearances by noted Spanish MCs such as R de Rumba, Tote King, and former Cloaka colleague Hazhe, moving more than 3,000 copies through presales alone.