Jan Delay

Biography

Jan Philipp Eißfeldt (born 25 August 1976), known professionally as Jan Delay, is a German rapper and singer whose stylistic range includes mainly hip hop, reggae, dub and funk. An accomplished solo artist, he became known to the public as a member of the German bands Absolute Beginner and La Boom. He performed with his group 'Disko No. 1' at the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf.

Early life

Delay was born in Hamburg on 25 August 1976. He attended the bilingual Helene-Lange-Gymnasium from 1986 to 1995.

Career

In the 1990s, Delay became known as one third of the pioneering German hip hop group Beginner. His stage name is a reference to Young Deenay, a pop music act in the 90s: the delay/echo is an important effect in reggae and dancehall music.
Delay's most significant trademark is his somewhat nasal voice. He also frequently changes his stage name depending on his current music style, mood and collaboration partners. Bald, he often wears a hat and sunglasses.

Eimsbush label

In 1997, Delay founded his own record label Eimsbush together with partners from the Hamburg hip-hop scene. The label's main goal was to support and guide fresh underground talents and pave their way into the music business without having them "selling out" to the major labels. The label was initiated by the German hip hop scene while it was going through a boom phase in the mid and late 90s, which led to "every Horst [jerk] being allowed to rap if only he can hold up a mic" (Jan Delay, MTV Germany, 2007). As a result, real talent stepped back for fear of being seen as sellouts by the underground hip-hop scene.
The label was shut down in 2003 due to financial reasons and as a result of the "naive idea of just believing in talent outside the mainstream."

Albums

2001 – Searching for the Jan Soul Rebels
2006 – Mercedes Dance
2007 – Searching – the Dubs
2007 – Mercedes Dance – Live
2009 – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Soul (GER: 23rd best-selling album of 2009)
2010 – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Soul – Live
2014 – Hammer & Michel
2021 – Earth, Wind & Feiern

Singles

1999 – "Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann×Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann1 November 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann5:33A2Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann (Instrumental)5:29B1B-Seite4:09B2B-Seite (instrumental)4:12" (cover version of Nena's song of the same name)
2001 – "Ich möchte nicht, dass ihr meine Lieder singt"
2001 – "Vergiftet×Vergiftet2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Vergiftet (radio edit)4:05A2Vergiftet (instrumental)4:40A3Vergiftet (a cappella)4:25B1Vergiftet (Mitgift mix)5:10B2Vergiftet (club mix)3:38Disc 2CSoundhaudegen4:01DVergiftet (Ruths mix)4:05"
2002 – "Die Welt steht still" (Sam Ragga Band featuring Jan Delay)
2006 – "Klar"
2006 – "Für immer und dich×Für immer und Dich20 October 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Für immer und Dich4:362Für Immer und Dich (Tropf remix)3:483Für Immer und Dich (Beatsteaks / Transporterraum remix)3:584Für Immer und Dich (Beathoavenz remix)4:595Für immer und Dich3:58"
2007 – "Feuer×Feuer2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Feuer3:41A2Feuer (Tropf & DJ Dynamite remix)3:53A3Feuer (instrumental)3:41B1Bitter4:15B2Feuer (Apfel S remix)4:28B3Feuer (Accapella)3:36"
2007 – "Im Arsch" (featuring Udo Lindenberg)
2007 – "Türlich, Türlich" / Word up
2008 – "Ganz anders×Ganz anders2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Ganz anders (radio version)3:512Ganz anders (M. Arfmann, Milan East & Tropf remix)3:583Ganz anders (M. Arfmann, Milan East & Tropf’s disco dub)3:294Interview mit Gott4:175Ganz anders (video)4:06" (featuring Udo Lindenberg)
2009 – "Oh Jonny×Oh Jonny24 July 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAOh Jonny (Sam Gilly Reggae remix)2:51BOh Jonny (radio version)2:57"
2009 – "Disko×Disko20 November 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Disko (single edit)3:47A2Disko (instrumental)3:47B1Disko (Fedde Le Grand remix)6:26B2Disko (acapella)3:37"
2010 – "Hoffnung×Hoffnung5 March 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Hoffnung (single version)4:012Hoffnung (Frost & Wagner remix)5:03"
2014 – "Liebe"
2014 – "St. Pauli×St. Pauli2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1St. Pauli (radio edit)3:542St. Pauli4:283Wacken4:02"
2014 – "Sie kann nicht tanzen×Sie kann nicht tanzen5 September 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sie kann nicht tanzen3:262Sie kann nicht tanzen (Instrumental)3:26"
2016 - "Alle Kinder" (Moop Mama featuring Jan Delay)
2018 – "Grün-weiße Liebe"
2021 – "Intro×Intro29 January 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAIntro (Earth, Wind & Feiern)2:54BIntro (Instrumental)2:54"
2021 – "Eule" (featuring Marteria)
2021 – "Spass" (featuring Denyo)
2021 – "Kinginmeimding" (featuring Summer Cem)
2022 – "Alles gut"
2024 – "Siehst du das genau so?"
2024 – "Hallo!×Hallo!3 May 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Hallo!3:012Siehst Du Das Genau So?3:313Maschin/Füchse3:19"