Ana Tijoux

Ana Tijoux

Ana Tijoux, also known as Anita Tijoux, is a Chilean hip hop rapper and singer from Lille, Chile. Born Anamaría Merino Tijoux in 1977, she moves to Santiago, Chile in 1993 and remains based there. She is first known in the late 1990s as a female MC in the hip hop group Makiza, and later as a solo artist.

Early work and Makiza

In the 1990s, Tijoux forms the hip hop group Los Gemelos with rapper Zaturno. She first draws major attention in 1997 when she sings on Los Tetas’ single “La Medicina”. She later joins DJ Squat, Cenzi and Seo2, and Makiza is formed. After Makiza goes on hiatus in 2001, she returns to France and pauses music until 2004.

Return to Chile and solo career

After returning to Chile in 2004, she sings with the funk and acid jazz group Aluzinati. In 2005 she reforms Makiza with Seo2 and two new members, and the group releases Casino Royale, the band’s final album to date. In 2007 she appears on Julieta Venegas’ hit single “Eres Para Mí” and releases her solo debut, Kaos. The single “Despabílate” brings her nominations for Best New Artist and Best Urban Artist at the Latin version of the MTV Video Music Awards in 2007.

1977 and later releases

Her second solo album, 1977, is released in 2009. It is named after her birth year and returns to her rap roots, with Spanish and French lyrics and autobiographical themes including friendship, bad luck, loss and creative crisis. The album is produced by Hordatoj, Foex and Tee of Potoco Discos, together with Habitación del Pánico. Guests include saxophonist Agustín Moya, Andrés Celis, Solo Di Medina, Bubaseta, Stailok of Movimiento Original, DJ Dacel, Quique Neira, Cómo Asesinar A Felipes and Detroit MC Invincible, with whom she records “Sube” as a virtual collaboration after meeting online.

The album and its first single, also titled 1977, gain attention in Chile’s underground rap scene. The record is later picked up by Nacional Records and issued internationally. The title track appears on the FIFA 11 soundtrack and in an episode of Breaking Bad. In 2011 she releases La Bala, an album focused on political and social issues in Chile; its lead single, “Shock”, is inspired by the 2011 Chilean student strikes.