Quick Facts
Biography
Wasiem Taha (Arabic: وسيم طه), better known as Massiv (born 9 November 1982), is a German gangsta rapper of Palestinian origin, living in Berlin. During his early career Taha was signed to the label Horrorkore Entertainment, but later he left and signed to major label Sony BMG.
Life and career
Early life
Taha was born in Pirmasens, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate near the French border. He is the son of Palestinian immigrants and has an older sister.
Taha had been influenced by hip-hop from an early age. He visited Berlin for the first time in 1996, where he would struggle to find a job having not finished school.
2006: Early career and debut album
In July 2006 Taha's debut album, Blut gegen Blut, was released. On 22 August, Taha left the label and signed to Sony BMG. Reasons for the separation were not mentioned.
The label has reportedly invested 250,000 euros into Taha's career. Frankfurt-based rapper Azad said in an interview that he was interested to sign Taha onto his label, Bozz Music.
Shooting
In January 2008, Taha was purportedly shot three times by a masked man while talking on a cell phone near his car. Taha was subsequently hospitalized and lost a lot of blood, but was apparently able to leave the hospital later that same night. It has been rumored that the incident was part of a concerted marketing effort targeted at lending seeming criminal authenticity to European Gangsta rap.