Quick Facts
Biography
Fabri Fibra (born Fabrizio Tarducci, 17 October 1976) is an Italian rapper.
Biography
Tarducci was born in Senigallia, Marche. He became interested in music from a young age; he wrote and performed his first piece when he was 17 years old.
In 1995 he recorded his first demo. He created the tandem Uomini di Mare with DJ Lato, beatmaker and deejay, and in 1996 they produced the underground CD Dei del mare quest'el gruv. In 1999 Fabri and Lato produced and distributed the LP Sindrome di fine millennio ("End of Millennium Syndrome"), with collaborations from El Presidente (also known as Esa), Inoki, Joe Cassano and his brother Nesli.
Following his underground success, Fabri Fibra began performing around Italy. In 2000 he established his label and group Teste Mobili Records (Bobbing Head Records), and collaborated with various Italian rap groups, lending vocals as well as lyrics to the mixtape circuit.
Solo career
Turbe Giovanili (2002)
In 2002 Fabri released his first solo album, titled Turbe giovanili (Juvenile Troubles), for which he wrote and recorded his lyrics under the production and arrangement of Neffa. A year later Fabri distributed Lato e Fabri Fibra which brought a close to the partnership with Lato and the Uomini di mare project with aky il grande.
Nesli's Home and Fabri Fibra's Mr. Simpatia were released simultaneously on 1 September 2004.
Mr. Simpatia (2004)
Released in 2004, Mr. Simpatia (Mr. Niceness) is Fibra's second solo album. All the instrumental bases were made by his younger brother, the rapper Nesli Rice, with the exceptions of "Non Ti Invidio" ("I Don't Envy You") (made by Bassi Maestro) and the album's bonus track (by Bosca).
The album cover shows Fibra's head lying on its side with a gruesome injury. Mr. Simpatia is an ironic title; the tracks' main themes are the Italian hip hop scene, contempt for society, relationships with girls, and Fibra's frustration about his job.
Tradimento (2006)
After splitting from his recording company contract at Vibrarecords, Fabri went underground and went unheard from for a year, until he resurfaced with a new deal at major recording company Universal Music. Under the production of Fish and brother Nesli Fabri created his most commercially and artistically successful album, Tradimento ("Betrayal"). His first single, released in Europe 4 April 2006, was "Applausi per Fibra" ("Applause for Fibra"). The single discussed Fibra's personal and life experiences overcome by Fabri himself, with a certain emphasis on self-praise.
Only a week after the official launch (6 June 2006) the album reached the number one spot in album sales. However it was criticized for its use of expletives, indifference in its presentation of provocative themes, and its misogynist views of women, all of which were found across the album.
Following the success of "Applausi per Fibra", the second single, "Mal di Stomaco" ("Stomachache"), which gained instant infamy, most notably for the originality of its music video (a fabricated broadcast of SKY TG24 - a Satellite news station) that reports on the death of Fabri Fibra in a car accident. The authenticity is sealed with "live coverage" reports, interviews from famous stars such as Fernanda Lessa, Eva Henger, Jimmy Ghione, producer Fish, rapper Vacca and brother Nesli. The video ends with Fabri's body disappearing from the morgue.
The last single is "Idee stupide" ("Stupid Ideas"), with a black and white video which, whilst not as original as the former video, uses a Rocky-style montage that compliments Fabri's underdog lyrics.
In 2010, Tradimento came second in a newspaper poll, making it the second most important album of the decade in Italy.
Bugiardo (2008)
Fabri Fibra's next album, Bugiardo (Liar), came out on 9 November 2007, after the release of the street-single "Questo è il nuovo singolo" ("This is the new single"). The first official single, "Bugiardo", came out on 15 October 2007 and the second official single being "La Soluzione" ("The Solution"), which came out on 9 November 2007. On 25 April 2008, Fibra released the single “In Italia” featuring singer Gianna Nannini. The song became a massive summer hit, being the most watched music video in Italy of 2008 and earning a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Italian Act.
Chi Vuole Essere Fabri Fibra? (2009)
On 10 April 2009, Fibra released his fifth album, entitled Chi Vuole Essere Fabri Fibra? (Who Wants To Be Fabri Fibra?) He released two songs from the album, entitled "Incomprensioni" ("Incomprehension") (featuring Federico Zampaglione) and "Speak English", which discusses the cultural differences between Italy and England; the video for "Speak English" was shot in Brighton, where Fibra lived and worked for four years. A track off the album, entitled "Donna Famosa" ("Famous Woman"), is featured in the soundtrack of the FIFA 10 football video game.
Controcultura (2010)
From 18 February 2010, MTV Italia broadcast a program on Thursday nights entitled Fabri Fibra: Italy. The program was defined as a docu-drama, and included five episodes showing the lives of young people living in socially disadvantaged situations. On 4 May 2010, Fibra released a remastered album of Turbe giovanilili, entituled Turbe giovanili Remaster. On 20 July 2010, Fibra also released his first web-album, entitled Quorum, which is available in his website.
The album Controcultura (Counterculture) was released on 7 September 2010 and reached #1 in the Italian albums chart. The album has so far spawned three singles named "Vip In Trip", "Tranne Te" ("Except for You") (both peaking at #2 in the Italian singles chart), "Qualcuno Normale" ("Somebody Normal") featuring the artist Marracash and "Le Donne" ("The Women"). Fibra said that "Le Donne" music was a response to the bales of misogyny that he had to face for years, mainly because of "Mrs. Simpatia".
On 1 March 2011, Fibra released the "Tranne Te: Rap Futuristico EP", a extended-play which had remixes of Tranne Te with other artists, like Redman, the French rapper Soprano and old friends from Fibra like Marracash and Dargen D'Amico. At the same month, Fibra released an online mixtape named "Venerdì 17" ("Friday 17"), available to download for free on his website. It contains many freestyles and remixes of some of his earlier work including many remixes of some of his more recent work.
The year of 2011 was also remarkable for Fibra, which he has won four consecutives awards: the platinum disc for "Controcultura", a multiplatinum disc for "Tranne Te", a "Superman" award from the TRL Awards 2011 and a "Wind Music" award.
In the Summer of 2011 Fibra launched his own record label named "Tempi Duri Records" (Hard Times Records). Young rappers Entics and Clementino have been signed to the label.
Rapstar-Non è gratis (2012)
Fabri Fibra met Clementino in the summer of 2011 at his Controcultura Tour in Naples, and immediately they began to record together. The initial idea, as stated by Clementino in an interview, was simply to make a mixtape. Subsequently, however, both changed their minds and decided to produce a whole album under the name of Rapstar. On 9 January 2012 out double single: Ci rimani male/Chimica Brother, single opening of Non è gratis (That's Not for Free), debut album of the band, released on 31 January 2012.
Guerra e pace (2013)
Fabri Fibra's seventh studio album, titled Guerra e pace (War and peace) was released on 5 February 2013, preceded by the EP Casus belli, which came out for free on 30 October 2012. The album, the third one by Fibra to enter at #1 in the Italian albums chart (the others being Tradimento and Controcultura), features various productions by many American producers, such as Organized Noize, Fyre Dept., Lee Major, Dot da Genius & Woodro Skillson, Rob Holladay & Mr. Franks, Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.
Disputes
Rivalry with Grido and Gemelli Diversi
From 2006 to 2007, Fabri Fibra and Grido from Gemelli Diversi have been pierced with blows of dissing. In 2006 Fabri Fibra attacks Grido and Gemelli Diversi in the song Idee Stupide and Grido reply with the song Standing Ovation changing the words of the famous Applausi per Fibra. Some weeks later, in Bologna, there is the MTV Day and Fabri Fibra, with Vacca insults again Grido with another dissing changing the words of his song Oh yeah Mr. Simpatia. The latest reply arrives in 2007 with the song Bboy-Bband of Gemelli Diversi, and so ends the controversy.
Rivalry with his brother
In October 2010, his brother Nesli releases an interview to the newspaper Panorama about the relation with Fabri Fibra.
In 2013, Nesli makes peace with his brother, dedicating to him a strophe in the song Un bacio a te.
Discography
With Uomini di Mare
- 1996 - Dei di mare quest'el gruv
- 1999 - Sindrome di fine millenio
With Qustodi del tempo
- 1997 - Il rapimento del Vulplà
With Rapstar
- 2012 - Non è gratis
Solo career
- 2002 - Turbe giovanili
- 2004 - Mr. Simpatia
- 2006 - Tradimento
- 2007 - Bugiardo
- 2009 - Chi vuole essere Fabri Fibra?
- 2010 - Controcultura
- 2013 - Guerra e Pace
- 2015 - Squallor
Singles
Solo career
- Applausi per Fibra (2006)
- Mal di Stomaco (2006)
- Idee Stupide (2006)
- Bugiardo (2007)
- La soluzione (2008)
- In Italia featuring Gianna Nannini (2008)
- Incomprensioni featuring Federico Zampaglione (2009)
- Speak English (2009)
- Festa Festa featuring Crookers & Dargen D'Amico (2010)
- Vip in Trip (2010)
- Tranne Te (2010)
- Qualcuno normale featuring Marracash (2011)
- Le Donne (2011)
- L'italiano balla featuring Crookers (2012)
- Pronti, Partenza, Via! (2012)
- Ring Ring (2013)
- "Guerra e pace" (2013)
- Come Vasco (2015)
- "Il rap nel mio paese" (2015)
With Rapstar
- Ci rimani male/Chimica Brother (2012)