Tarik Azzougarh (Arabic: طارق أزوگاغ; born January 29, 1979), better known as his stage name Cilvaringz, is a Dutch-Moroccan record producer, rapper, and artist manager from Tilburg, North Brabant. He is associated with the Wu-Tang Clan[1] and is best known for conceptualizing and producing the world's most expensive work of music, Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.[2]
Cilvaringz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tarik Azzougarh |
| Also known as | Cilvaringz |
| Born | January 29, 1979 Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands |
| Origin | Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | scluzay |
Cilvaringz was discovered by Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man at a Wu-Tang Clan concert in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on May 26, 1997. After impressing ODB with a live freestyle on stage he was introduced to RZA who signed him to Wu-Tang Records in 1999, becoming the first non-American affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan.[3]
Between 2002 and 2010 Cilvaringz toured the world as the official opening act of RZA, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah.[citation needed] On April 9, 2007, he released his first solo album through five different record labels around the world, receiving critical acclaim for its return to the original Wu-Tang sound.[4][5]
In April 2008 Cilvaringz conceptualized and began producing Wu-Tang Clan's secret album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin under the patronage of RZA.[citation needed] The unique release of the secret album as only one available copy in the world became one of the biggest and widely covered music stories of 2014.[6] Forbes magazine broke the story exclusively on March 26, 2014.[7] On May 3, 2015, the album sold for a reported US$2 million to pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, making it the most expensive musical work ever sold.[2]
Early life
editCilvaringz was born in Dordrecht, South Holland and lives in the city of Tilburg.[8]
Discovery by Wu-Tang Clan
editOn May 26, 1997, the Wu-Tang Clan performed at the Melkweg in Amsterdam as part of the Wu-Tang Forever promo tour. As the concert came to an end Wu-Tang Clan members Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man announced a freestyle session for local talent. Cilvaringz rushed to the stage but could not reach it due to the excitement of many fans. Ol' Dirty Bastard spotted Cilvaringz struggling from the side and pulled him up on stage, giving him his microphone. Capturing the attention of the entire group and crowd with his freestyle, he was pulled to the side by Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard and then introduced to RZA who was watching the freestyle from the side of the stage. When a fight broke out between the Wu-Tang Clan and a group of fans whose girlfriends were getting undressed by Ol' Dirty Bastard on stage, security rushed in and cleared the podium, throwing Cilvaringz back into the crowd.[citation needed] Not knowing how to get backstage Cilvaringz lost contact with RZA. According to Cilvaringz, RZA had just told him that he was interested in signing him to Wu-Tang Clan's extended group the Wu-Tang Killa Beez.[3]
RPEG Ltd
editIn 2002, Cilvaringz launched his entertainment company RPEG Ltd which organized tours and booked live performances for various artists.
In 2006, RPEG Ltd expanded its services into management and guided the careers of Arab rappers Salah Edin, Eslam Jawaad, Ledr P from Sweden, Moroccan producer DJ Van and American producer Focus..., the son of Chic bassist Bernard Edwards who at the time was the only producer signed to Dr. Dre's imprint Aftermath Entertainment.[9] In managing their careers, RPEG Ltd collaborated with De La Soul, Damon Albarn, Gorillaz, IAM, Sefyu, Mala Rodriguez and others.[10]
In 2007, RPEG Ltd served as the executive producer for Salah Edin's debut album Nederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie which became the most controversial album in the history of Dutch Hip Hop music, also winning the Best Dutch Album Award. Later that year, Jive/Epic France and RPEG Ltd collaborated on the production of French artist La Fouine's second album Aller-Retour.
In 2008, RPEG Ltd and lawyer Margriet Koedooder sued Dutch politician Geert Wilders for wrongfully portraying the image of the artist Salah Edin in the controversial anti-Islam movie Fitna. The court ruled in favor of Salah Edin and awarded 10.000 euros in copyright infringement and defamation damages. It was the first time Wilders lost a lawsuit.[11]
In 2010, RPEG Ltd teamed up with Universal Music Spain for the production of Mala Rodriguez's fourth studio album Dirty Bailarina. Focus was enlisted to produce the majority of the album. Dirty Bailarina won two Latin Grammy Awards for Best Urban Music Album and Best Urban Song.[12]
Once Upon A Time In Shaolin
editIn 2014, Cilvaringz and RZA announced the release of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a Wu-Tang Clan album that was recorded in secret over a period of six years and of which only one single copy exists.
On May 3, 2015, the album sold to controversial pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli for a reported two million dollars, making it the most expensive musical work ever sold in the history of music. Martin Shkreli's identity as the buyer was kept secret until Bloomberg News revealed his identity in November 2016.[2] When Martin Shkreli was arrested for securities fraud allegations a few weeks later the FBI was prompted to tweet about the album's fate. It became the FBI's most liked and most retweeted tweet.[13]
Film
editCilvaringz played a small role in the movie Shouf Shouf Habibi. He also appeared in the theme song of the movie.[14]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Artist | Album | Label & Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cilvaringz | I | Wu-Tang Records / RPEG Ltd / Universal / Babygrande / Entak Japan / Nocturne France, 2007 |
- Instrumental Albums
| Artist | Album | Label & Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cilvaringz | The Mental Chambers | RPEG Ltd / wutangcorp.com Release Only, 2001 |
| Cilvaringz | The Third Chamber | RPEG Ltd / Unofficial Internet Release, 2002 |
| Cilvaringz | I | RPEG Ltd / Digital Release Only, 2017 |
| Cilvaringz | The Mental Chambers V | RPEG Ltd / Digital Release Only, 2017 |
- Singles
| Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|
| Cilvaringz | The B-Sides | feat. The RZA, 4th Disciple, Beretta 9 & Bronze Nazareth |
| Cilvaringz | The Stone, The Gun & The Book | feat. The RZA, Blue Raspberry & Remedy |
| Cilvaringz | The Weeping Tiger [DJ Van Remix] | feat. Raekwon, The RZA & Ghostface Killah |
- Executive Produced Albums
| Artist | Album |
|---|---|
| Cilvaringz | I |
| Salah Edin | Nederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie |
| Salah Edin | Horr – The Album |
| Eslam Jawaad | The Mammoth Tusk |
| Wu-Tang Clan | Once Upon a Time in Shaolin |
- Executive Produced Singles
| Artist | Album |
|---|---|
| Manal | Koulchi Ban |
| Manal | Nah. feat. Shayfeen |
| Manal | Taj |
| Manal | Slay |
| DJ Van | Ma Khasser Walou feat. Hanane El Khader & Mehdi Mozayine |
Videography
edit| Artist | Song | Credit | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RZA | Chi Kung | Appearance | Joseph Kahn |
| Skrillex | Fuck That | Appearance | Nabil Elderkin |
| Fnaire | Yed El Henna | Producer | Ivan Herrera |
| Salah Edin | Vrouwtje Is Een Bitch | Treatment / Appearance | Ivan Herrera |
| Salah Edin | Geliefd Om Gehaat Te Worden | Treatment / Appearance | Ivan Herrera |
| Salah Edin | Nsani Ya Habibi | Treatment | Ivan Herrera |
| Salah Edin | Tfoe [Remix] | Producer / Treatment / Appearance | Matt Alonzo |
| Salah Edin | Gena Tahtha Aqdama Al Qumahat | Producer / Treatment / Acting | Matt Alonzo |
| Eslam Jawaad | Pivot Widdit | Treatment / Appearance | Ivan Herrera |
| Manal | Koulchi Ban | Producer / Assistant Director / Treatment | Frank Telli |
| Manal | Taj | Producer / Treatment / Director | Cilvaringz |
| Manal | Nah | Producer / Treatment / Director | Cilvaringz |
| Manal | Slay | Treatment | Said Naciri |
| Van feat. Hanane El Khader & Mehdi Mozayine | Ma Khasser Walou | Producer / Treatment / Director | Cilvaringz |
References
edit- ^ "Cilvaringz – One Recensie op Cabaretinfo".
- ^ a b c "Who Bought The Most Expensive Record Ever by Bloomberg". Bloomberg News.
- ^ a b "Vice Interview With Cilvaringz".
- ^ "Cilvaringz – I [Review] at Rapreview.com".
- ^ "Cilvaringz – I [Review] at Allmusic.com". AllMusic.
- ^ "Press Once Upon A Time In Shaolin".
- ^ "Forbes Why Wu-Tang Is Releasing only One Copy Of Their Album". Forbes.
- ^ "Tilburgse rapper tekent bij de Wu-Tang Clan".
- ^ "Focus... talks working with Dr.Dre".
- ^ "BBC Review Of Eslam Jawaad's The Mammoth Tusk".
- ^ "Salah Edin Sues Geert Wilders".
- ^ "Mala Rodriguez Wins Latin Grammy". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- ^ "FBI tweets about Martin Shkreli".
- ^ "Adhd & Casablanca Connect & Cilvaringz – Shouf Shouf Habibi!". Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.