Anja Käckenmeister (born 1978), known professionally as Pyranja, is a German rapper.

Biography

Pyranja started rapping at the age of 16. Early supporters and precursors were the rap crews DSC and the Underdog Cru. After a yearlong stay in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, Pyranja went back to Berlin, Germany where she entered the music scene and made connections quickly. In 2001, the label Def Jam Germany released her first EP, called "Im Kreis" which entered the

German charts The GfK Entertainment charts are the official charts for music, home video, and video games in Germany and are gathered and published by GfK Entertainment (formerly Media Control and Media Control GfK International), a subsidiary of GfK, on be ...

with little to any promotion. Following the production of Pyranja's album, ''Wurzeln & Flügel'' Def Jam Germany broke up. Later, ''Wurzeln & Flügel'' was released by another label, ''Dackel Enterprise''. The sales figures of this record also surpassed expectations and steadied her reputation. In 2004, Pyranja along with her long term friends and studio mates, Joe Rilla, Dra-Q, Jamie White and Sera Finale founded the rap crew Ostblokk. The group released The CD ''Einmal um Blokk''. In 2004, Pyranja also released her CD ''Frauen & Technik'' by her self-created independent label ''Pyranja Records''. This record's complexity marks a growth in her career while still maintaining the sound she's known for. Also on this album, Pyranja introduced a new pseudonym Christiane Latte for her tracks ''Ab 18'' and ''Blondes Gift'' as a dig at the male-dominated rap market. In 2006, Pyranja introduced the new single "Nie wieder" and the album ''Laut & Leise''. Also in 2006, she performed for her home state,

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV; ; ), also known by its Anglicisation, anglicized name Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, is a Federated state, state in the north-east of Germany. Of the country's States of Germany, sixteen states, Mecklenburg-Vorpom ...

and the

Bundesvision Song Contest The Bundesvision Song Contest (often shortened BSC or BuViSoCo) was a song competition held annually between the sixteen states of Germany. Created by German entertainer Stefan Raab and aired live on ProSieben, the show was loosely based on the ...

, winning eighth place.

Discography

Albums

* 2003: ''Wurzeln & Flügel'' (''"Wings & Roots"'', Dackel Enterprise) * 2004: ''Frauen & Technik'' (''"Women & Technology"'', Pyranja Records) * 2004: ''Einmal Um Blokk'', (''"Once around the block"'' with Ostblokk, Ostblokk Plattenbau) * 2006: ''Laut & Leise'' (''"Loud & Quiet"'', Headrush)

Singles and EPs

* 2002: "Swingerclub" (Phlatline Records) * 2002: "Fremdkörper / Kennzeichen D Pt.2" (''"Foreign object / License Plate D Pt 2"'', Def Jam Promo) * 2000: "Im Kreis / Nachtflug" (''"In a circle / Night flight"'', Def Jam Promo) * 2001: "Im Kreis EP" (Def Jam Germany) * 2002: "Reine Nervensache" (''"All about strength of nerves"'', Def Jam Promo) * 2003: "Egal Was Ihr Sagt" (''"No matter what you say"'', Dackel Enterprise) * 2004: "Zeilen Für Dich" (''"Lines for you"'', Pyranja Records) * 2005: "Samba" (with Ostbokk, Ostblokk Plattenbau) * 2005: "Pyranja vs. Laudert & Fröhlich" (Pyranja Records) * 2006: "Nie Wieder" (''"Never again"'', Pyranja Records)

Other

* 1998: Feature on the Underdog Cru album ''Maximum'' * 1998: Track the EP "Großmogul Nordost" * 1998: Demotape * 1999: Track with Daniel Santiago for the Compilation ''Beastside'' * 1999: Feature on the Joe Rilla tape album ''Tritt 2000 Ärsche'' (''"Kick 2000 asses"'') * 1999: Track with Daniel Santiago on the compilation ''Sallys Sounds'' * 2000: Track on the soundtrack to '' Ants in the Pants'' * 2000: Track on the DJ Derezon tape album ''BerlinXklusiv'' * 2000: Track on the Deja Vue album ''Zwei Dumme ein Gedanke'' (''"Two idiots one idea"'') * 2001: Several tracks on compilations, among others: Rappublik Sampler, Berlin macht Schule, Juice Master Blaster, Ladys First, Splash Allstar Event Album, Def Jam Unstoppable * 2001: "Nachtflug RMX" on the Roey Marquis album ''Momentaufnahmen'' (''"Snapshots"'') * 2001: "Special Broadcast" with Fiva Mc on the "Beatz aus der Bude Allstars" compilation * 2002: Feature on the Roey Marquis tape ''Battle Of The Words'' * 2002: Feature on Moqui Marbles' album * 2002: Feature on album "Kopfhoehrer" by Fiva MC & DJ Radrum, Track "Kopf Hoch" * 2002: Feature on Roey Marquis' album "Herzessenz" (''"Essence of the heart"'') * 2003: Several tracks on compilations, among others: Untergrund Experiment, Starting Line-Up XXL Dope Beats, Ghetto Fabulous * 2003: Several features on the soundtrack to the hip hop themed feature film "Status Yo" * 2004: Feature on Kimoe's EP "Ein neuer Morgen" (''"A new morning"'') * 2004: Feature on Jago's LP * 2004: Feature on Yaneq & Freaky Floe's EP "Nachts Draußen" (''"Outside at night"'') * 2004: Feature on Moqui Marbles' LP * 2005: Feature on "Back in the Tapez" by DraQ & Jamie White * 2006: "Guess who's back", track on "

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Exclusive" sampler #61

References

External links

Official websiteOstblokk fan page
(info, large picture gallery, interview collection...)
Pyranja short bio (2006)Interview (2007)
{{Authority control German women rappers 1978 births Living people Musicians from Rostock