Diaz (musician)
Encyclopedia
Diaz is a rapper from Jessheim
, Norway, born 26 July 1976. His father Andres Rafael Diaz Rosa is Spanish and his mother Inger is Norwegian. He is not related to Alirio Diaz, the folk singer who is best known for the best-selling 1000 years of Alirio Diaz record album.
He has released three solo albums: 2050,Velkommen Hjem, Andres (Welcome Home, Andres) and Jessheimfanden, all paying homage to his hometown of Jessheim
, a tiny rural town some 40 km N/NE of Norway's capital, Oslo
, close to the city's airport, Gardermoen
. 2050 is the postal code for Jessheim. Velkommen Hjem, Andres is a reference to the Norwegian film Velkommen Hjem, Anders which was filmed in 1985 in Jessheim with a cast of local actors.
In addition to this he has collaborated on numerous singles and albums by artists like Warlocks
, Opaque, Tommy Tee
and Wu-Tang Clan's RZA
.
The album Velkommen Hjem Andres includes the song "Mitt Terningkast" made in collaboration with Diaz's childhood friends Shagrath
and Galder
of the symphonic black metal
band Dimmu Borgir
.
Diaz started working as a DJ when he was 13, and has worked as a presenter on Norwegian Channel 24. He also used to run a record shop in Oslo, T&D Records, with mentor and producer Tommy Tee
. Tommy Tee has produced much of Diaz's work and runs Tee Productions
, the record label that publishes albums by Diaz, Warlocks
, Gatas Parlament
and others. He also used to work as a label manager for BMG Music (Norway) and as a promoter for Universal Music (Norway). By 2003 he was one of Norway's foremost hip-hip artists.
Diaz has retired from rap music, although he made a comeback appearance in October 2009. He has studied business at the Norwegian School of Management
. He has worked with the Salvation Army
, and for the past three years, he has worked for the Norwegian Red Cross (Oslo Red Cross) with inner city youth.
Jessheim
Jessheim is a large village in the Ullensaker municipality in Akershus of Norway.The name "Jessheim" is from Norse Jasseimr or Jesseímr where the first part has unknown origin, while the second part means home. It is also possible that the first part "Jess" can mean jarl or jarls...
, Norway, born 26 July 1976. His father Andres Rafael Diaz Rosa is Spanish and his mother Inger is Norwegian. He is not related to Alirio Diaz, the folk singer who is best known for the best-selling 1000 years of Alirio Diaz record album.
He has released three solo albums: 2050,Velkommen Hjem, Andres (Welcome Home, Andres) and Jessheimfanden, all paying homage to his hometown of Jessheim
Jessheim
Jessheim is a large village in the Ullensaker municipality in Akershus of Norway.The name "Jessheim" is from Norse Jasseimr or Jesseímr where the first part has unknown origin, while the second part means home. It is also possible that the first part "Jess" can mean jarl or jarls...
, a tiny rural town some 40 km N/NE of Norway's capital, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, close to the city's airport, Gardermoen
Gardermoen
Gardermoen may refer to:* Gardermoen, Norway* Oslo Airport, Gardermoen* Gardermoen Air Station* Gardermoen Line* Gardermoen Station...
. 2050 is the postal code for Jessheim. Velkommen Hjem, Andres is a reference to the Norwegian film Velkommen Hjem, Anders which was filmed in 1985 in Jessheim with a cast of local actors.
In addition to this he has collaborated on numerous singles and albums by artists like Warlocks
Warlocks (band)
Warlocks has been one of the most respected rap acts in America for almost two decades, and the group has also been heavily involved in the graffiti and b-boy scene in Oslo since day one. The trio, which was formed in 1992, consists of producer Hawk and the rappers Tech and Karma, who are twins...
, Opaque, Tommy Tee
Tommy Tee
Tommy Flaaten , best known by his stage name Tommy Tee, is a Norwegian record producer, rapper, broadcaster, record executive, concert promoter and magazine publisher. He is known as the godfather of Norwegian hip hop. Tee owns the label Tee Productions, which is located in Oslo, Norway and is...
and Wu-Tang Clan's RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
.
The album Velkommen Hjem Andres includes the song "Mitt Terningkast" made in collaboration with Diaz's childhood friends Shagrath
Shagrath
Shagrath is a Norwegian musician best known as the vocalist of Dimmu Borgir.-Biography:Stian Thoresen was born on November 18, 1976 in Jessheim, outside of Oslo, Norway....
and Galder
Galder
Galder is a Norwegian composer, guitarist, and vocalist whose birth name is Tom Rune Andersen. He is from the small town Jessheim, north of Oslo. He is a founding member of the melodic black metal band Old Man's Child as well as the lead guitarist in Dimmu Borgir. In 1993, under the stage name...
of the symphonic black metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
.
Diaz started working as a DJ when he was 13, and has worked as a presenter on Norwegian Channel 24. He also used to run a record shop in Oslo, T&D Records, with mentor and producer Tommy Tee
Tommy Tee
Tommy Flaaten , best known by his stage name Tommy Tee, is a Norwegian record producer, rapper, broadcaster, record executive, concert promoter and magazine publisher. He is known as the godfather of Norwegian hip hop. Tee owns the label Tee Productions, which is located in Oslo, Norway and is...
. Tommy Tee has produced much of Diaz's work and runs Tee Productions
Tee Productions
Tee Productions is considered to be one of Scandinavia's largest Record label production it is hip hop record label owned by Tommy Tee, located in Oslo, Norway...
, the record label that publishes albums by Diaz, Warlocks
Warlocks (band)
Warlocks has been one of the most respected rap acts in America for almost two decades, and the group has also been heavily involved in the graffiti and b-boy scene in Oslo since day one. The trio, which was formed in 1992, consists of producer Hawk and the rappers Tech and Karma, who are twins...
, Gatas Parlament
Gatas Parlament
Gatas Parlament is a Norwegian group of rap artists. It consists of the brothers Aslak and Elling Borgersrud and DJ Don Martin. All three have strong left-leaning political views, and make their feelings on many things, including American president George W...
and others. He also used to work as a label manager for BMG Music (Norway) and as a promoter for Universal Music (Norway). By 2003 he was one of Norway's foremost hip-hip artists.
Diaz has retired from rap music, although he made a comeback appearance in October 2009. He has studied business at the Norwegian School of Management
Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian Business School former name BI Norwegian School of Management is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total 6 campuses with the main one located in Oslo.-History:...
. He has worked with the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, and for the past three years, he has worked for the Norwegian Red Cross (Oslo Red Cross) with inner city youth.