Ten Typ Mes is the stage name of Piotr Szmidt, a rapper and producer from Poland noted for his storytelling skills as well as his production style, which is highly reminiscent of ’90s gangsta rap and G-funk. Szmidt co-founded two hip-hop groups, Flexxip and the more funk-influenced 2cztery7, in 2001. He went solo in 2005, beginning with full-length Alkopoligamia: Zapiski Typa on T1-Teraz, which hit the Top 30 of the Polish album charts. Following 2cztery7′s second album in 2008 and guest appearances on recordings by Polish hip-hop artists such as Pezet, Malolat, and Molesta Ewenement, Ten Typ Mes released his second album, Zamach na Przeciętność, on his newly formed label Alkopoligamia. The album was another top 30 hit, but his breakthrough success came in 2011 with the release of his third solo album, Kandydaci na Szaleńców, which hit number two and went gold. The year 2013 saw the release of Ten Typ Mes i Lepsze Żbiki, an album of collaborations with fellow Polish rappers, which hit number three on the charts. Ten Typ Mes’ fifth album, the eclectic Trzeba Było Zostać Dresiarzem, appeared in 2014, and was another gold-selling Top Five smash. ~ Paul Simpson