Collie

Dubliner Alan Collins, better known by his stage name Collie, is a hip-hop artist based in Cork, Ireland. Though his main musical influences are American -- Wu-Tang Clan and, in particular, Eminem feature prominently -- Irish influences are just as well represented. Like earlier Irish hip-hop acts Scary Éire and Exile Eye, he raps in his own distinctive accent and addresses specifically Irish issues (the bus service comes in for particularly harsh criticism on the track "Bus Rage"). Additionally, like Irish trip-hop pioneers Marxman, he blends the Irish language and traditional Irish sounds and instruments into his own music. Collie was born in Swords, north of Dublin, in 1980. He began rapping as a teenager, and in 2002 released his first demo tape, which established his name in Dublin's underground scene. In June of 2004 he released his debut single, "Some Sham," to critical and commercial acclaim. It debuted at number 17 on the Irish singles chart, and remained in the Top 50 for a total of six weeks. With the success of the single came support slots for DMX, Blackalicious, and Goldie Lookin Chain later in the year, and he closed out 2004 with a second single -- "Get Out," released the week before Christmas, peaked at number 30 and spent three weeks in the Top 50. July 2005 saw the release of Collie's debut album, Is Ainm Dom, a joint venture between XCentury Music and Universal Ireland, and his third single, entitled "Green Blood." Literally translated as "My Name Is [Collie]," the album title, with an alarming dearth of subtlety, sought to establish Collie as the Irish answer to Eminem. Is Ainm Dom charted at number 32 in the Irish album chart and remained in the Top 40 for three weeks. Collie asserted his dominance over the Irish hip-hop scene in 2005. He opened for 50 Cent on the Irish leg of his European tour, and performed multiple dates with Dublin folk musicians Damien Dempsey and Declan O'Rourke. In March of 2006 he released the single "Give It Up," a joint venture with DJ Flip (who lent guest production to Is Ainm Dom) and Freezemaster Slick from their EP Sold Out on LuckyCharm Records. Collie sat out the remainder of 2006, relocating from Dublin to Cork and becoming a father for the first time. In May of 2007 he returned with a new single, entitled "Cool Water," on his own Bad Mood Records label. His second album, How Things Change..., was released in July. The album reversed the primarily social focus of his debut, instead embracing personal topics, including fatherhood and his life since being dropped from Universal's roster. ~ Dave Donnelly