Kempi

Dutch rapper Kempi turned his passion for hip-hop into a career path after experiencing a difficult childhood in an impoverished family (in addition to run-ins with the law). He first established himself as a rapper in 2006 with the mixtape Tsss Kempi, which led to a contract with the Amsterdam label Top Notch. In 2007, Kempi released two mixtapes on the label, Mixtape 2: Rap 'n' Borie and Mixtape 3, the former of which featured the underground rap hit "Zoveel Stress." His proper debut came with 2008's Du Zoon, which hit the Top Ten of the Dutch albums chart and featured the singles "Stratiblues" and "Wakker in du Cel." Het Testament van Zanian Adamus followed in 2011. ~ Jason Birchmeier