SMC Lähiörotat is a group of
Finnish rap artists with their songs focusing in the underground life of
Helsinki
Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...
. Their debut album ' was released on June 15, 2011.
It peaked at #2 on the
Finnish Album Chart.
SMC is known for their humorous skateboarding-themed songs and music videos and their extensive and innovative use of
Helsinki slang
Helsinki slang or ('Helsinki's slang', from Swedish , 'city'; see etymology) is a local dialect and a sociolect of the Finnish language mainly used in the capital city of Helsinki. It is characterized by its abundance of foreign loan words not ...
. Their lyrics are often satirical portraits of skateboarding culture, petty criminal lifestyle and vandalism.
History
2009–2011
The group became known from the YouTube video "SMC Hoodrats". It was filmed for a movie called ''Skatemaniacs'', but also uploaded on YouTube in 2009. On the video, artists rap about good old times and hoods. It was directed by Pablo Films. The background music is originally from
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep was an American Hip-hop, hip hop duo formed in Queens, New York (state), New York in 1990. Consisting of rappers/songwriters/record producers Prodigy (rapper), Prodigy and Havoc (musician), Havoc, they are considered to be among the pr ...
's "
Shook Ones (Part II)
"Shook Ones, Part II" is the lead single from Mobb Deep's 1995 album ''The Infamous''. The song is a sequel to the group's 1994 promotional single "Shook Ones", with similar lyrics, but less profanity. The original song is featured on the B-side o ...
" instrumental version. The video got a lot of viewers in a short time and has been now watched over six million times. The song was named as "Northside nagetti" for the debut album ''Raffii Suomi-flättii''. That version has a new beat, which tries to be more honest for the original "Shook Ones (Part II)".
The second video, "Lähiörotat skujaa" ("Cruising Hoodrats"), from SMC Lähiörotat came out in October 2010. It got over 100,000 views in four days and after two weeks it broke the line of million views. The theme of the song stays same. The video had same director and the beat was from two Finnish producers . The video is also visited by rap artist
Notkea Rotta
Notkea Rotta is a Finnish rap group consisting of members Notkea Rotta, Rautaperse (Komisario Jyrkkä), Rohtori Laine and Meno-Anu. The group mixes humour and comedy in their brand of hip hop, crafting original (and largely fictional) rap saga ...
.
In 2011 SMC Lähiörotat got nominated in three different categories in appreciated Finnish music awards ceremony
Emma-gaala The Emma Gala () is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat (ÄKT), presenting the Emma AwardsMape Ollila, ''Once Upon A Nightwish'' (2008), page 256: "In the midst of a conflict-ridden tour, the band learned they were nominated ...
.
2011-2015
In November 2012 SMC Lähiörotat's new music video of "Vastavirta" was published. Song was featured by Naispyy & Jinks. In May 2013 SMC Lähiörotat/Notkea Rotta - split 10"+CD was published.
SMC Lähiörotat and Notkea Rotta published their EP on 21 February 2014. EP was released as only 666. copy edition in 10-inch vinyl. Through Full House Records, EP's first music video "Rottaradio" came out in November 2013.
In April 2015 group published a new album called ”Ja niin se menee”, with singles ”Lotioonit pannassa”, ”Bitumin katku”, ”Ja niin se menee” and previously released ”Vastavirta”. New album features Davo and Lataaja Wormisto from "Jätkäjätkät" -group.
2020-
On February 29, after 5-year hiatus, SMC Lähiörotat published their new song, "Suolaa haavoihin" with a new music video. One of the members, Juno doesn't appear on the video.
Discography
Albums
* 2011: '
* 2015: ''Ja niin se menee''
Singles
* 2024: ''Ysikuudest Ikuisuuteen''
Music videos
*2009: "Northside nagetti"
*2010: "Lähiörotat skujaa" (feat. Notkea Rotta)
*2011: "Yks risti kaks"
*"Raffii Suomi-flättii" (feat. Asa, HenryWho? & Ameeba)
*"Lahden sininen" (feat. El Maestro & Raikka)
*2012: "Vastavirta" (feat. Naispyy & Jinks)
*2013: "Rottaradio" (Notkea Rotta & SMC Lähiörotat)
*2014: "Bitumin katku"
*2015: "Ja niin se menee"
*2020: "Suolaa haavoihin"
*2024: "Ysikuudest Ikuisuuteen"
References
Finnish hip-hop groups
Musical groups established in 2009
Gangsta rap groups
{{Finland-band-stub