Taki Tsan
Panagiotis Stravalexis (Greek: Παναγιώτης Στραβαλέξης, born 28 September 1979), better known by his stage names Waze (short for Westley) Timvorihos, Pedi Thavma and Taki Tsan, is an American–born Greek music producer, tattoo artist and rapper.[1] A prominent figure in Greek hip hop, he is a founding member of the group Zontanoi Nekroi and also a member of the rap duet Tigre Sporakia (Greek: Τιγρέ Σποράκια), .
Taki Tsan | |
|---|---|
 Taki Tsan performing at AN Club (Athens, Greece) in 30/06/08 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Panagiotis Stravalexis |
| Also known as | Timvorihos, Pedi Thavma,Litrotis |
| Born | 28 September 1979 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper producer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | Ihokratoria |
| Associated acts | Kanon, Themis Adamantidis, Gelos, Nivo, DJ The Boy, Alfa Gama, DJ ALX, STAN, Kebzer, Dimitris Mentzelos, Tiny Jackal |
| Website | myspace.com/takitsan |
In 1999, he released his solo debut album under as Pedi Thavma (Greek: Παιδί Θαύμα, English: Boy Wonder), named Rima Gia Chrima (Greek: Ρίμα Για Χρήμα, English: Rhymes For Money). Apart from that, Taki Tsan was also a founding member of the rap group Tigre Sporakia (Greek: Τιγρέ Σποράκια), which consisted of him and Isvoleas (Greek: Εισβολέας, English: Invader).
Several albums followed, some of them being solo ones, like Sto Mialo Tou Panagioti Stravaleksi (Greek: Στο Μυαλό Του Παναγιώτη Στραβαλέξη, English: Inside Panagiotis Stravalexis' Mind), released in 2006. Another one was To Scholeio (Greek: Το Σχολείο, English: The School), where he collaborated with another Zontanoi Nekroi member, Harmanis (Greek: Χαρμάνης). In 2009, Tsan released Rima gia Chrima 2, his new double LP.
Biography
1997-1998: Zontanoi Nekroi
In 1997, he formed his group, Zontanoi Nekroi, and started recording tracks with them. They released an EP in 1997, named "ZN Entoles/Stin Chora ton Kaliteron MCs". In 1998, they released their first and only album O Protos Tomos which at that time was considered offensive by a lot of people because in that album the group was dealing with subjects like drugs and violence. As a result, after the first 1,000 sales, 2 songs were removed from the CD which continued to be on sale. Today it is believed to be the greatest Greek Battle Rap album of all time.
1999: Pedi Thavma – Rima gia Hrima
He continued with Rima gia Hrima (English: Rhyme for Money), his solo debut, that was well received. Many songs of that album today are thought to be classics. This album's style was very different than his previous ZN albums' raw style and had a more personal feeling. It is considered to be one of the best Greek Hip-Hop albums.
2000: Projects that never made it
In 2000, ZN started recording Kata.R.Ypo, a duet album by Ypochthonios and Katachthonios, but never released it because FM Records thought it was . In 2001, they were about to release Harmanis' debut solo named Sisihaha but that project never made it either due to unknown reasons. So, having collected several unreleased songs, they released a compilation album named Thammena Ksechasmena which contained songs from Kata.R.Ypo, a song that did not fit in Rima gia Chrima, the first track that was recorded for Megalos Iroas, Midenistis' first solo album, and some alternate editions of old songs from "O Protos Tomos". As for a second ZN release, many fans wanted to see a new release from their favorite group, but as it seems that can't happen because every member has its own projects and want to do different things in music. The highly anticipated album is called O Deuteros Tomos and will be the sequel of O Protos Tomos.
2003-2004: Tigre Sporakia and Harmanis/Taki Tsan
In 2003, Taki Tsan formed a new group with Isvoleas (a member of the group Alfa Gama) named Tigre Sporakia. They released their first album named Theoria kai Praksi, which was well received by the fans. Taki returned to his raw style and one of the main themes of the album was drugs and money. In 2004, Taki Tsan and Harmanis collaborated to release an album named To Sholio (English: The School). The album was ready in about 11 days and the main producer was DJ ALX.
2005-2006: 3 Mixtapes and one solo album
In 2005, Taki Tsan released 2 mix tapes. One named Underground Mixtape, and one more named Mixtape vol. 1 from IxoSpira. In 2006, he released his last mix tape to date named Misa Lefta/Dipli Magkia which was more like a compilation, containing old and unreleased songs. In the same year, he released his 2nd solo album named Sto Mialo tou Panagioti Stravalexi. It was a major change to his style, containing social and political tracks, as well as things he wanted to share with his fans.
2007-2009: Many lives and Recording of his new album
He has done many lives, 3 with all of the ZN members. He has also released several tracks on the internet, to give us a taste of his upcoming project, named Rima gia Chrima 2009 (sequel to his debut), which was released in December 2009 under the final name "Rima gia Chrima 2", a double album which met a great economical success, as it sold about 5,000 copies.
2009–2012: Rima gia Chrima Tour, TOMAHOK, 2 more mixtapes and Tigre Sporakia the Band
After the release of "Rima gia Chrima 2", Taki Tsan and many of his affiliates began his "Rima gia Chrima Tour" all over Greece, with more than 20 live performances. After the end of the tour, he and Isvoleas started to work on their second project as Tigre Sporakia but this time with a live band with them. The group was renamed Tigre Sporakia the Band and changed their logo. Also at that time, Taki's official website, [takitsan.com] opened for the fans and in order to celebrate the opening, Taki Tsan released a new mixtape, called "Exclusive Mixtape" or "The Lost Mixtape" which was composed by 8 tracks. In 2011, Taki joined TOMAHOK, a new crew which was created by Isvoleas. On 25 February of the same year, the group's new album, "Onoma kai Pragma" was released through No Label Records and received mixed critics from the fans, because of their changed style. His next mixtape, "Athens' Finest" was given for free download via his site, and was produced by an American beatmaker called Hamma. Taki Tsan now continues to work with Isvoleas at their third album which is to be released in 2012.
2018: Rebetiko
Taki tsan learned to play baglama and embraced the greek underground music genre called rempetiko and from now on he is known as Takaros in Youtube.
Discography with ZN
- 1997 ZN Entoles/Stin Chora ton Kaliteron MCs, EP IHOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 1998 Protos Tomos, IHOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 2001 Thamena Ksehasmena IHOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 2015 Pasa Ntoumania/Paraisthiseis, IHOKRATORIA / Capital Music
Solo Discography
- 1999 Rima gia Chrima, IHOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 2006 Sto Mialo tou Panagioti Stravalexi, IhoSpira / FM Records
- 2009 Ein' O Man, EP, Sporty Magazine
- 2009 Rima gia Chrima 2 IHOKRATORIA / 33 1/3 Entertainment
- 2014 To Systima, EP, IHOKRATORIA / 33 1/3 Entertainment
Discography with Tigre Sporakia
- 2003 Theoria kai praksi IHOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 2011 Onoma kai Pragma No Label Records
Collaborations
- 2004 To Sxoleio, with Harmanis, IXOSPIRA / FM Records
- 2005 Dipli Magkia, Misa Lefta Treli Ftiaxi, with DJ ALX, IXOSPIRA
- 2010 Gia Ta Paidia, with Diezel, CD Single
Appearances
- 1997 Hontres Douleies, as Timvorixos & Midenistis, FM Records
- 1999 I Ihokratoria Parousiazei Meros A, with Tigre Sporakia, IXOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 1999 En Opsei (Paremvoles), Polydor
- 2000 La Klikaria, Imiz Biz Entertainment, Def Jam/Universal
- 2001 Agnostofovia (Alfa Gama), IXOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 2002 Megalos Iroas (Midenistis), IHOKRATORIA / FM Records
- 2004 The Instrumentals I Like (Eisvoleas)
- 2004 La Sagrada Familia (Goin' Through), Family The Label, Def Jam/Universal
- 2004 Mono Gia Ta Aftia Sou (Dj Alx)
- 2006 Den Ehoun Styl (Dj Alx)
- 2006 Synyparxi (Evnus)
- 2007 Eimai (White Dragon)
- 2009 Airetika Erotikos (Mithridatis), Imiz Biz Entertainment, Legend
- 2009 The Box LP, Part 1 (Cenobite), Cenobite Productions
- 2010 Metaxy Ouranou Kai Gis (Gelos), IXOKRATORIA
- 2010 Grand Champion Hot Joints (Dj The Boy)
- 2010 Gkegke (Eisvoleas), Lyra / Tomahok
- 2010 The Escape Key, IHOKRATORIA
- 2010 Dask1 (Dask)
- 2011 O Rapper Tis Hronias (Dimitris Mentzelos), Imiz Biz Entertainment, IHOKRATORIA, Cenobite Productions, Legend
- 2011 Etsi Tin Vlepo (Skies), Lyra
References
- "To Hip Hop μίλησε για το ...Hip Hop στο cosmo.gr". Cosmo (in Greek). 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.