Rap debut in German: Amiaz Habtu releases EP

Five TV formats, hundreds of event hosting gigs, and at least a dozen VIP interviews. No matter what milestones Amiaz Habtu ("Shark Tank") has achieved in his career over the past 15 years, one deep-seated passion has always accompanied him and remains an integral part of him today: his love of music.

At the age of 13, the teenager with Eritrean roots was already enthusiastic about hip hop. It was the two hosts named EdLover and Dr. Dre of the cult show “Yo MTV Raps” who provided the whole world with the latest tracks and information.

Amiaz was fascinated by the coolness and the musical range, which flipped a creative switch in him. He began to recreate the interviews from television on his double cassette recorder and thus learned the English "slang".

Performances at school and various club battles followed. At the age of 17, he even won the freestyle challenge at the Naughty by Nature concert in the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen.

For years, the Cologne native rapped in English, performed as an MC in clubs across the country and got the audience going. He even had his own record deal in sight, but it fell through at the last minute.

After a few years, he met Kool Savas in Berlin for a hosting job and took the opportunity to play his own tracks to the King of Rap. The response was clear: "It's cool, but why do you rap in English, Amiaz?" This question was the impetus for a rethink.

Many tracks later and influenced by German artists such as Megaloh, Max Herre, Chefket, Estikay, MoTrip and Umse, Amiaz is now back with his own work.

His first EP “Von A bis Z” will be released on November 01st, 2019 and is available on all major streaming services.

© Photo: Amiaz Habtu, Stefan Neumann