Looptroop
Encyclopedia
Looptroop Rockers is a hip hop
group from Västerås
, Sweden
. The members are rappers Promoe
(Mårten Edh), Supreme
(Mathias Lundh-Isen), DJ/Producer
Embee
(Magnus Bergkvist) and CosM.I.C
(Tommy Isacsson). In February 2007 CosM.I.C, who had been a member of the group since the beginning in 1993, decided to focus on designing and maintaining looptrooprockers.com and not to be an active member of the group. He however rejoined the group in 2010 as Promoe announced at a concert in Helsinki on May 19, it was officially announced on their website on May 21. On their fourth album, Good Things, the group changed its name from Looptroop to Looptroop Rockers, a name they've used unofficially for some years prior to the change.
and Embee
. The two had met while attending school in Västerås
and were still in their teens at the time of the group's inception. Cos.M.I.C joined shortly thereafter and in 1993 the group independently released their cassette-only debut EP
Superstars, which was followed in 1995 by Threesicksteez. By the time they released their third cassette, From The Wax Cabinet (1996), long-time associate and frequent collaborator Supreme
had become a permanent member of the group. It was in the pre-DVSG time when Promoe and Cos.M.I.C were also part of a group of graffiti writers called the "BIF" (Babylon Is Falling) crew in Västerås
.
In 1998, Looptroop started their own record label, David Vs. Goliath (commonly referred to as DVSG), and with distribution handled by the Swedish
punkrock label Burning Heart Records
they released their full-length debut album
Modern Day City Symphony in 2000. The album managed to sell reasonably well despite limited media
exposure and spawned the underground hit single "Long Arm of the Law," which took a critical stance towards the Swedish police force
and has since become one of Looptroop's signature song
s.
In 2001, Promoe became the first member of the group to launch a solo career, with his debut solo album
, Government Music. In 2002 Looptroop released their second album The Struggle Continues.
Embee's solo album Tellings From Solitaria was released in 2004 and featured contributions from several notable Swedish artists, including José González
, Timbuktu
and Daniel Lemma
. The album was critically acclaimed and won a Swedish grammy award
for best hiphop/soul in 2004.
Their third full-length studio album, Fort Europa
, was released in 2005. On the track "Fort Europa," the group takes a particularly critical tone towards their country's immigration policy. In the video, an image of a TV screen reading "Welcome SWE" is smashed by a golf club as the beat drops. In the first verse, Promoe compares immigration policy to the Berlin Wall.
On February 9, 2007 Cos.M.I.C announced that he was leaving the group indefinitely. He stated that there had been no falling-out between him and the rest of the group and mentioned that the group's busy schedule, which prevented him from spending time with his family, prompted this decision. Cos.M.I.C then contributed to two songs on the group's 2008 album "Good Things". After Cos.M.I.C left the group, they have also officially changed the group name from Looptroop
to Looptroop Rockers!
Looptroop Rockers released their fourth album Good Things on 23 April 2008. Cos.M.I.C is featured on one of the tracks on the album. 2008 was also the year that DVSG was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Looptroop Rockers worked with artists like Rakaa Iriscience of the Dilated Peoples
, Cunninglynguists, Timbuktu
and Adam Tensta
for this album.
On 21 May 2010 Looptroop Rockers announced on their website that they were working on a new album. Promoe said it to be slated for a February 2011 release at a gig in Helsinki on May 19. On the same occasion it was announced that Cos.M.I.C. rejoined the group as a full member working on the new album.
In March 2011, the group released their fifth album "Professional Dreamers".
Singles
12" vinyl
EP's
Embee
The Casual Brothers (Embee and Cos.M.I.C)
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group from Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The members are rappers Promoe
Promoe
Promoe is a Swedish rapper, and member of Swedish hip hop group Looptroop Rockers, formed in Västerås, Sweden, 1992. He released his fourth album in 2009 entitled Kråksången, and later the same year followed up with the mixtape Bondfångeri...
(Mårten Edh), Supreme
Supreme
Supreme may mean or refer to:* Supreme , a comic book superhero* Supreme , a term used in cookery* Supreme, Louisiana, a census-designated place in the United States* Supreme , a hip-hop producer* Supreme Records, a record label...
(Mathias Lundh-Isen), DJ/Producer
Hip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
Embee
Embee
Embee is a Swedish hip hop DJ and producer. He was born Magnus Bergkvist on February 24, 1977 in Badelunda, Västmanland, Sweden. He is best known for his work with Swedish hip-hop group Looptroop Rockers...
(Magnus Bergkvist) and CosM.I.C
COSMIC
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate is a program designed to provide advances in meteorology, ionospheric research, climatology, and space weather by using GPS satellites in conjunction with low Earth orbiting satellites...
(Tommy Isacsson). In February 2007 CosM.I.C, who had been a member of the group since the beginning in 1993, decided to focus on designing and maintaining looptrooprockers.com and not to be an active member of the group. He however rejoined the group in 2010 as Promoe announced at a concert in Helsinki on May 19, it was officially announced on their website on May 21. On their fourth album, Good Things, the group changed its name from Looptroop to Looptroop Rockers, a name they've used unofficially for some years prior to the change.
Biography
Looptroop was formed in 1991 by PromoePromoe
Promoe is a Swedish rapper, and member of Swedish hip hop group Looptroop Rockers, formed in Västerås, Sweden, 1992. He released his fourth album in 2009 entitled Kråksången, and later the same year followed up with the mixtape Bondfångeri...
and Embee
Embee
Embee is a Swedish hip hop DJ and producer. He was born Magnus Bergkvist on February 24, 1977 in Badelunda, Västmanland, Sweden. He is best known for his work with Swedish hip-hop group Looptroop Rockers...
. The two had met while attending school in Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
and were still in their teens at the time of the group's inception. Cos.M.I.C joined shortly thereafter and in 1993 the group independently released their cassette-only debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Superstars, which was followed in 1995 by Threesicksteez. By the time they released their third cassette, From The Wax Cabinet (1996), long-time associate and frequent collaborator Supreme
Supreme
Supreme may mean or refer to:* Supreme , a comic book superhero* Supreme , a term used in cookery* Supreme, Louisiana, a census-designated place in the United States* Supreme , a hip-hop producer* Supreme Records, a record label...
had become a permanent member of the group. It was in the pre-DVSG time when Promoe and Cos.M.I.C were also part of a group of graffiti writers called the "BIF" (Babylon Is Falling) crew in Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
.
In 1998, Looptroop started their own record label, David Vs. Goliath (commonly referred to as DVSG), and with distribution handled by the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
punkrock label Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America...
they released their full-length debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Modern Day City Symphony in 2000. The album managed to sell reasonably well despite limited media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
exposure and spawned the underground hit single "Long Arm of the Law," which took a critical stance towards the Swedish police force
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and has since become one of Looptroop's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
s.
In 2001, Promoe became the first member of the group to launch a solo career, with his debut solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
, Government Music. In 2002 Looptroop released their second album The Struggle Continues.
Embee's solo album Tellings From Solitaria was released in 2004 and featured contributions from several notable Swedish artists, including José González
José González
José González is a Swedish-Argentine indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Gothenburg, Sweden.González is also a member of Swedish band Junip, along with Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn.- Biography :...
, Timbuktu
Timbuktu (artist)
Jason Michael Robinson Diakité , known under the stage name Timbuktu, is a Swedish rapper and reggae artist. Earlier in the mid-1990s, he started as part of rap Excel before going solo as Timbuktu.-Biography:...
and Daniel Lemma
Daniel Lemma
Daniel Lemma is a Swedish composer and singer.He's currently a member of the band Mo Blues. Daniel is from Nyhamnsläge, Höganäs Kommun in Skåne, Sweden, but nowadays lives in Gothenburg. Lemmas biggest hit is the song If I Used To Love You which he both wrote and sung himself...
. The album was critically acclaimed and won a Swedish grammy award
Grammis
The Grammis Awards are the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards. The awards ceremony is generally held each year in February in Stockholm.The awards were established in 1969 and awarded until 1972 when they were cancelled....
for best hiphop/soul in 2004.
Their third full-length studio album, Fort Europa
Fort Europa
Fort Europa is the third album by the Swedish hip hop group Looptroop. It was released in 2005 by Burning Heart Records and is entirely produced by Embee...
, was released in 2005. On the track "Fort Europa," the group takes a particularly critical tone towards their country's immigration policy. In the video, an image of a TV screen reading "Welcome SWE" is smashed by a golf club as the beat drops. In the first verse, Promoe compares immigration policy to the Berlin Wall.
On February 9, 2007 Cos.M.I.C announced that he was leaving the group indefinitely. He stated that there had been no falling-out between him and the rest of the group and mentioned that the group's busy schedule, which prevented him from spending time with his family, prompted this decision. Cos.M.I.C then contributed to two songs on the group's 2008 album "Good Things". After Cos.M.I.C left the group, they have also officially changed the group name from Looptroop
Looptroop
Looptroop Rockers is a hip hop group from Västerås, Sweden. The members are rappers Promoe , Supreme , DJ/Producer Embee and CosM.I.C...
to Looptroop Rockers!
Looptroop Rockers released their fourth album Good Things on 23 April 2008. Cos.M.I.C is featured on one of the tracks on the album. 2008 was also the year that DVSG was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Looptroop Rockers worked with artists like Rakaa Iriscience of the Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...
, Cunninglynguists, Timbuktu
Timbuktu (artist)
Jason Michael Robinson Diakité , known under the stage name Timbuktu, is a Swedish rapper and reggae artist. Earlier in the mid-1990s, he started as part of rap Excel before going solo as Timbuktu.-Biography:...
and Adam Tensta
Adam Tensta
Adam Tensta , is a Swedish rapper. His debut album It's a Tensta Thing was a Swedish chart topper, and was awarded the 2008 Swedish Grammis for best Dance/Hip Hop/Soul album....
for this album.
On 21 May 2010 Looptroop Rockers announced on their website that they were working on a new album. Promoe said it to be slated for a February 2011 release at a gig in Helsinki on May 19. On the same occasion it was announced that Cos.M.I.C. rejoined the group as a full member working on the new album.
In March 2011, the group released their fifth album "Professional Dreamers".
Looptroop
Main Albums- Superstars (1993)
- Threesicksteez (1995)
- From the Waxcabinet (1996)
- Punx Not Dead (1998)
- Modern Day City SymphonyModern Day City SymphonyModern Day City Symphony is the first studio album by the Swedish hip hop band Looptroop. It was released in April 2000 by Burning Heart Records and is entirely produced by Embee.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:23#"Zombies" - 5:14...
(2000) - The Struggle ContinuesThe Struggle ContinuesThe Struggle Continues is the second album by the Swedish hip hop band Looptroop. It was released in 2002 by Burning Heart Records and is entirely produced by Embee.-Track listing:#David vs...
(2002) - Fort EuropaFort EuropaFort Europa is the third album by the Swedish hip hop group Looptroop. It was released in 2005 by Burning Heart Records and is entirely produced by Embee...
(2005) - Good Things (2008)
- Professional DreamersProfessional Dreamers (album)Professional Dreamers is the fifth album by the Swedish hip hop group Looptroop Rockers. It was released in 2011 by Bad Taste Records. It is the first album released after the comeback of band member CosM.I.C., and the second one released under the name Looptroop Rockers.-Track listing:#Don't Wanna...
(2011)
Singles
- Fort Europa/Looptroop Radio (2005)
- Naive /w Timbuktu (2008)
- Professional Dreamers (2011)
12" vinyl
- Ambush in the night (1999)
- Long arm of the law (2000)
- Fly Away (2002)
- Looptroopland (2002)
- Don't Hate The Player (2003)
- Fort Europa.(2005)
- The Building" (2008)
EP's
- From the Wax Cabinet EP (1996)
- Fuck A Record Deal (Looptroop/Headtag) (1996)
- Unsigned Hype (1997)
- From beyond K-line (With Kashal Tee & Dj Erase) (1998)
- Heads or Tails EP (1998)
- Schlook From Birth (1998)
- Sedlighetsroteln (2000)
- TBA (2011)
Solo Albums and Side Projects
Promoe- Off the Record (single) b/w It's Promoe/Poor Lonesome Homeboy (1999)
- Government Music (2001)
- The Long Distance Runner (2004)
- White Man's Burden (2006)
- Standard Bearer (2007)
- Kråksången (2009)
- Bondfångeri (2009)
- Never Follow [EP] (2010)
Embee
- From The Way Beyond Mixtape (1998)
- Embeetious Art EP (2000)
- Tellings From Solitaria (2004)
- Mash Hits (2006)
- The Mellow Turning Moment (2010)
The Casual Brothers (Embee and Cos.M.I.C)
- The Casual Brothers (2001)
- Customer's Choice (2003)