Bushido

Bushido is the stage name of Anis Ferchichi, a German rapper born in Bonn in 1978 and raised in Berlin by his mother. He is known for rap strongly influenced by French gangsta rap and also uses the name Sonny Black. He has a Tunisian father and a German mother, and he does not know his father.

Career

He begins his music career in 2000 and gains early recognition through King Orgasmus One and releases on I Luv Money Records. He first releases the tape King Of Kingz, then moves to Aggro Berlin, where he works with Sido, B-Tight and Fler. The project later appears on CD as King Of Kingz (Digital Remastered) and then as the King of Kingz 2004 Edition with remixes.

In 2002 he releases Carlo Cokxxx Nutten under the name Sonny Black, working with Fler, also known as Frank White. His first solo album, Vom Bordstein bis zur Skyline, follows in 2003. It receives strong reviews and is described as an early German gangsta rap album with major underground success.

After artistic disagreements over his solo direction, he leaves Aggro Berlin in 2004 and signs to Urban/Universal. In the same year, together with Ilan, he produces a remix of Rammstein’s Amerika. Electro Ghetto appears in October 2004 and reaches number six on the German charts. On Carlo Cokxxx Nutten II, released in 2005, he again uses the Sonny Black alias and works with Baba Saad instead of Fler.

Labels, releases and collaborations

He appears on several ersguterjunge releases and later runs his own label, ersguterjunge. The sampler ersguterjunge Sampler Vol. 2 - Vendetta features artists signed to the label, with Bushido, Eko Fresh and Chakuza on the title track. He also works with artists including Azad, Eko Fresh and Cassandra Steen.

His later releases include Staatsfeind Nr.1, 7, his biography Bushido, and Heavy Metal Payback. The singles from Heavy Metal Payback are Ching Ching and Für immer jung, the latter featuring Karel Gott.

Chart success and recognition

His albums achieve platinum status in Germany, and he becomes one of the most commercially successful German rappers. Electro Ghetto reaches number six in Germany, and 7 reaches gold status after strong pre-sales. He wins an ECHO award for best hip hop/rap artist in 2007.

Public profile

He is a controversial figure in German media, with criticism directed at lyrics that are described as sexist, nationalist and racist, and at his refusal to distance himself from some supporters. His audience includes both immigrants and extreme right-wing youth, and his partial North African background is sometimes cited in discussions of his work.