Megaloh

Megaloh (born Uchenna van Capelleveen) is a Dutch-Nigerian rapper who was born in Frankfurt but raised in Berlin. Influenced by the likes of Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg, his tongue-twisting, slightly aggressive lyrics flow atop smooth, golden age-inspired production. Megaloh was part of the group Royal Authority prior to beginning a solo career; on his earliest recordings, he rapped in English, but in 2001 he started performing in German. In 2003, he released the EP Game Set Match with Battle Rapp, and then he issued several mixtapes, including #1 Draft Pick (2004) and Zeit für den Hund (2005). In 2005, Megaloh released his first full-length album, Im Game, but the album didn’t click with record buyers, and Megaloh stayed busy collaborating with other artists and releasing mixtapes, including the two-part Auf Ewig (2013). The studio album Endlich Unendlich (also 2013) was his first solo release to hit the German album charts, entering at number nine. Megaloh supported the album with a 15-date German tour. Three years later, a third Auf Ewig mixtape appeared, followed by the full-length Regenmacher. The release was easily Megaloh’s most successful work to date, hitting number two on the German charts. Later in 2016, Megaloh reworked some of the album’s tracks with legendary Afro-beat drummer Tony Allen, and the results were released as Regenmacher (Afrobeat Session). ~ Andy Kellman