Sagopa Kajmer

Biography

Yunus Özyavuz (born 17 August 1978), better known by his stage name Sagopa Kajmer (Turkish: [sɑgopɑ kɑʒmæɾ]) or formerly known as DJ Mic Check and Silahsız Kuvvet (lit. 'Unarmed Force'), is a Turkish rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. He is the first and only rapper to have given concerts in all of 81 provinces of Turkey.
He was born in 1978 in Samsun and finished his primary and high school there. He then started working as a DJ in one of Samsun's local radio stations. In order to continue his education, he moved to Istanbul and studied Persian language and literature at Istanbul University. He claims his early musical influences were the African music of his father and the Italian music of his mother.
In 1998, he founded the hip hop band Kuvvetmira and started his career with his stage name "Silahsız Kuvvet". He featured in the compilation album Yeraltı Operasyonu as Silahsız Kuvvet in 1999. He later changed his stage name to Sagopa Kajmer and released an album with the same name Sagopa Kajmer in 2002. Following the release of the album, he released Bir Pesimistin Gözyaşları in 2004. Same year, he contributed to the soundtrack for the movie G.O.R.A.. He released another studio album Romantizma×Romantizma22 August 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1İntromantizma1:302Romantizma4:453Bebeğim Öldü3:494Vasiyet3:255İlgisizlik Hastalığı (skit)0:546Leyli3:197Rak Benadam (Only Human)5:248Her Hayat 1 Sorudur (skit)0:369Baatıl Rhyme4:1710Sagopa Yaşlı Planet3:1811We Got Rhymes4:2012Drama Yolları3:3413Kendime Sarılır Donarım4:1314HipHop Saçmalığı0:1415Sagopa vs. Kolera4:0016Terapi4:3517Kopya Kalpler3:2818Anektod3:1719Hayat Arabamla 2005 Mil4:3020Rüyalarımdaki İşaretler3:2421Çaçaron3:0122Pavlov'un Köpeği3:3923Bana Müsade Beyler2:19 in 2005 and on 11 August 2005 found his own production company Melankolia Müzik. In 2006, he released the compilation album Kafile under the label Melankolia Müzik. On 1 August 2006, he married fellow rapper Kolera (Esen Güler). In 2007, they released their first mutual album İkimizi Anlatan Bir Şey. He released two more solo albums, Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi×Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi14 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1İntro2:462Ben Hüsrana Komşuyum3:583Bir Kulaç Daha Atsam Karadayım3:564Düşersem Yanarım4:395İki Tanık5:006Gölge Haramileri5:277Bir Çıkar Yolum Yok4:118Sahibinin Sesi4:249Beyâban4:0410Sonumuz Yakın Mesafe4:0911Gördüklerime İnanmam Gerek3:4912Vesselam4:3613Tek Başınalığın Yolcusu4:5914Yakın ve Uzak3:3815Düşenin Dostu Olmaz3:3016Dessas4:1217Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi4:19 (2008) and Şarkı Koleksiyoncusuתarkı Koleksiyoncusu22 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Ateşten Gömlek4:462Muamma4:513Hep Taarruz Var4:274Fırtına ve Şimşek4:135Cümle Mühendisi4:016Aşk Yok Artık4:397Şikayetname5:298Kırık Çocuk (orijinal versiyon)3:389Dil Yaratmakta En Asil Silahları3:4710Marifetname3:2611Droppin'em3:2412Kırık Çocuk (Mickolodium mix)3:3813Drama Turnz3:50 (2009), before releasing another mutual album with Kolera, Bendeki Sen×Bendeki Sen7 June 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Bu Böyledir4:322Merhametine Dön4:273Terk-i Diyar5:094Mevsimler Gibisin4:335Bir Dizi İz3:366Zaman Alacak İntikamımı4:357İyi Bilirim4:468Tadı Yok4:399Ne Olur4:4310Bana Ninni Okumayın3:4911Sen Hiç Sevmeyi Bilmezsin3:5912İçeriz Aynı Tastan3:4013Gidenler4:4214Ayılırsın Ve Anlarsın4:0015Onları Da Anlıyorum4:5816Scratch Diploma4:42, in 2010. Since then, he has released four studio albums: Saydam Odalar×Saydam Odalar2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1İnsafa Gel4:392Galiba (Orijinal Rap Version)5:013Herkes4:504Kaç Kaçabilirsen3:575Çünkü Bir Tek Yol Var3:446Bu İşlerden Elini Çek3:587Ardından Bakarım4:418Galiba (Mickolodium Hip Hop Mix)5:039Galiba (80's Groove Mix)5:0310Galiba (Flamenco Vocal Mix)5:2111Galiba (Banjo Mix)5:1412Galiba (Chilly Hip Hop Mix)5:0913Galiba (Groove Mix)5:1014Galiba (Original Rap Enstrumantal)5:0015Galiba (Flamenco Enstrumantal)5:2016Galiba (Chilloutro)5:06 (2011), Kalp Hastası×Kalp Hastası8 July 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Kapılar Açılır... (intro)1:222Uzun Yollara Devam4:353Benim Hayatım4:134Yaptığın Hatalar Kadar Büyük Olmadın5:545Bulun3:286Istakoz4:417Baytar6:158Bugünün Elleri Boştu Ya Yarın4:129Meftun4:3410İster İstemez (ft. Kolera)3:4811Kalp Hastası4:3412Sabah Fabrikam2:5613Düşünmek İçin Vaktin Var5:1814Durdur Beni5:0915Susmak İçin Yok Bahanem3:0716Karne4:5017Taşlama4:5518Dalgın4:0119Ve Kapılar Kapanır (outro)1:05 (2013), Ahmak Islatan×Ahmak Islatan20 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Kanvas5:142Zorla Güzellik5:243Bir Çok Kez Öldüm4:024Yutkunuyorum3:585Ahmak Islatan4:396İçin4:577Aylak Bakkal4:158Baş5:049Scratch Diploma 23:28 (2017) and Kağıt Kesikleri (2022).

1978–2002: Early life and career beginnings

Yunus Özyavuz was born on 17 August 1978 in Samsun. He finished primary and high school in Samsun. In his own words, his interest in music rose after listening to African music by his mother, and Italian music by his father. He started his music career by working as a DJ in one of Samsun's local radio stations. During that period, he used the name DJ Rapper M.C. (DJ Rapper Mic Check). In 1997, he moved to Istanbul to continue his education and studied Persian language and literature at Istanbul University. He graduated 4 years later.
In 1998, he founded the rap group Kuvvetmira. In 1999, he featured in the compilation album Yeraltı Operasyonu as Silahsız Kuvvet. At the same time, he released another album, Gerilim 99 (Promo). In the same month, he released his first EP Pesimist EP 1. In 2000, together with Ceza, he released the album Toplama Kampı. One year later, he released another album Sözlerim Silahım. At the same time period he also released One Second. In 2002, he released the studio album İhtiyar Heyeti, and produced Ceza's album Med Cezir. At the same, he released the album Sagopa Kajmer, which was followed by On Kurşun.

2003–2009: Bir Pesimistin Gözyaşları, Romantizma, İkimizi Anlatan Bir Şey and Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi

In 2004, he gave an interview to Radikal in which he said that after 7 years of using the stage name Silahsız Kuvvet, he would use the stage name Sagopa Kajmer from now on. In the same year, he produced the album Rapstar and appeared alongside Ceza on the music video for "Neyim Var Ki". In June 2003, his new album, Bir Pesimistin Gözyaşları, was released by Hammer Müzik and turned the songs "Maskeli Balo" and "Karikatür Komedya" from the album into music videos. In 2004, he produced Dr. Fuchs's album Huzur N Darem. Later, he made the music for Cem Yılmaz's comedy film G.O.R.A.. On 19 August 2005, he released the album Romantizma×Romantizma22 August 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1İntromantizma1:302Romantizma4:453Bebeğim Öldü3:494Vasiyet3:255İlgisizlik Hastalığı (skit)0:546Leyli3:197Rak Benadam (Only Human)5:248Her Hayat 1 Sorudur (skit)0:369Baatıl Rhyme4:1710Sagopa Yaşlı Planet3:1811We Got Rhymes4:2012Drama Yolları3:3413Kendime Sarılır Donarım4:1314HipHop Saçmalığı0:1415Sagopa vs. Kolera4:0016Terapi4:3517Kopya Kalpler3:2818Anektod3:1719Hayat Arabamla 2005 Mil4:3020Rüyalarımdaki İşaretler3:2421Çaçaron3:0122Pavlov'un Köpeği3:3923Bana Müsade Beyler2:19 under the label İrem Records and later turned the song "Vasiyet" into a music video. The music video for "Vasiyet" won the Best Video Clip award at the 12th Kral TV Video Music Awards in 2005. In the same year, he released Pesimist EP 3. To produce his own albums and to open doors for new opportunities, on 11 August 2005 Kajmer opened Melankolia Müzik together with Kolera. Together with other members of Kuvvetmira, Sagopa Kajmer released the album Kafile in which he was the producer of 1 January 2006 under the label Melankolia Müzik. On 18 May 2006, he released Pesimist EP 4 - Kurşun Asker, in which the last two songs are in English and belong to Ewren, on his website.
On 26 April 2007, he released his first mutual album with Kolera, İkimizi Anlatan Bir Şey. In 2008, his solo album Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi×Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi14 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1İntro2:462Ben Hüsrana Komşuyum3:583Bir Kulaç Daha Atsam Karadayım3:564Düşersem Yanarım4:395İki Tanık5:006Gölge Haramileri5:277Bir Çıkar Yolum Yok4:118Sahibinin Sesi4:249Beyâban4:0410Sonumuz Yakın Mesafe4:0911Gördüklerime İnanmam Gerek3:4912Vesselam4:3613Tek Başınalığın Yolcusu4:5914Yakın ve Uzak3:3815Düşenin Dostu Olmaz3:3016Dessas4:1217Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi4:19 was released alongside two music videos for the songs "Ben Hüsrana Komşuyum" and "Düşersem Yanarım". On 6 May 2008, he released the single "Bu Şarkıyı Zevk İçin Yaptık", which featured Kolera. On 27 December 2008, he released Pesimist EP 5 - Kör Cerrah on his official website. In 2009, he released the songs from his previous EPs in a compilation album, titled Şarkı Koleksiyoncusuתarkı Koleksiyoncusu22 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Ateşten Gömlek4:462Muamma4:513Hep Taarruz Var4:274Fırtına ve Şimşek4:135Cümle Mühendisi4:016Aşk Yok Artık4:397Şikayetname5:298Kırık Çocuk (orijinal versiyon)3:389Dil Yaratmakta En Asil Silahları3:4710Marifetname3:2611Droppin'em3:2412Kırık Çocuk (Mickolodium mix)3:3813Drama Turnz3:50, on 19 February. On 1 April 2009, he released the single "Beslenme Çantam" as a duet with Kolera. On 18 July 2009, he released another single with Kolera, "Hain".

2010–2021: Bendeki Sen, Saydam Odalar and Kalp Hastası

In 2010, he released his second mutual album with Kolera, Bendeki Sen×Bendeki Sen7 June 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Bu Böyledir4:322Merhametine Dön4:273Terk-i Diyar5:094Mevsimler Gibisin4:335Bir Dizi İz3:366Zaman Alacak İntikamımı4:357İyi Bilirim4:468Tadı Yok4:399Ne Olur4:4310Bana Ninni Okumayın3:4911Sen Hiç Sevmeyi Bilmezsin3:5912İçeriz Aynı Tastan3:4013Gidenler4:4214Ayılırsın Ve Anlarsın4:0015Onları Da Anlıyorum4:5816Scratch Diploma4:42, from which the songs "Bir Dizi İz" and "Merhametine Dön" were turned into music videos. Bendeki Sen was nominated for the Best Album award at the TRT Music Awards, which was based on people's votes. In 2010, he also produced Kafile 2. On 4 February 2010, he released the single "Ardından Bakarım". In 2011, he released the album Saydam Odalar×Saydam Odalar2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1İnsafa Gel4:392Galiba (Orijinal Rap Version)5:013Herkes4:504Kaç Kaçabilirsen3:575Çünkü Bir Tek Yol Var3:446Bu İşlerden Elini Çek3:587Ardından Bakarım4:418Galiba (Mickolodium Hip Hop Mix)5:039Galiba (80's Groove Mix)5:0310Galiba (Flamenco Vocal Mix)5:2111Galiba (Banjo Mix)5:1412Galiba (Chilly Hip Hop Mix)5:0913Galiba (Groove Mix)5:1014Galiba (Original Rap Enstrumantal)5:0015Galiba (Flamenco Enstrumantal)5:2016Galiba (Chilloutro)5:06, the songs "Kaç Kaçabilirsen" and "Bu İşlerden Elini Çek" in the album featured Kolera, with a music video being made for "Kaç Kaçabilirsen". In 2013, he announced on his Twitter account that he was working on a new album. Sagopa Kajmer organized a tour with Pesimist Orchestra during March, April and May 2013 and gave concerts in 15 different cities. On 8 July 2013, his new album Kalp Hastası×Kalp Hastası8 July 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Kapılar Açılır... (intro)1:222Uzun Yollara Devam4:353Benim Hayatım4:134Yaptığın Hatalar Kadar Büyük Olmadın5:545Bulun3:286Istakoz4:417Baytar6:158Bugünün Elleri Boştu Ya Yarın4:129Meftun4:3410İster İstemez (ft. Kolera)3:4811Kalp Hastası4:3412Sabah Fabrikam2:5613Düşünmek İçin Vaktin Var5:1814Durdur Beni5:0915Susmak İçin Yok Bahanem3:0716Karne4:5017Taşlama4:5518Dalgın4:0119Ve Kapılar Kapanır (outro)1:05 was released and Kolera was again featured on the song "İster İstemez". One day before the album's release, Sagopa Kajmer released the song "Düşünmek İçin Vaktin Var" on internet together with a music video. This song was later added to Sagopa Kajmer's album Kalp Hastası. Two weeks after the release of the album, a music video was released for the song "Uzun Yollara Devam" as a successor to the clip for "Düşünmek İçin Vaktin Var". In the early months of 2014, the production process for his new EP Pesimist EP 6 began and it was released on 20 March 2014.

On 6 May 2014, together with Birol Giray (BeeGee), he released the song "Abrakadabra" free of charge on internet. He also composed Cem Adrian's song "Artık Bitti" and served as a backing vocalist on it. In the early months of 2015, he shared the beats for some of his songs on YouTube and released the beats for his 1998-2001 songs under the name Underground Years on the platform. On 17 June 2015, his new song, "Bilmiyorum", was released on YouTube. On 12 November 2015, his second mutual work with Birol Giray "Naber" was released together with a music video. In March 2016, it was announced on his official website that he was working on a new song, titled "Tecrübe", together DJ Tarkan. On 31 December 2016, his song "366.Gün" was released on Koleraflow YouTube channel. In 2017, he released "Ne Kaybederdin" on his official YouTube channel. On 23 August 2017, Sagopa Kajmer announced on his official Twitter account that he was working on a new album and on 1 September 2017 Ahmak Islatan×Ahmak Islatan20 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Kanvas5:142Zorla Güzellik5:243Bir Çok Kez Öldüm4:024Yutkunuyorum3:585Ahmak Islatan4:396İçin4:577Aylak Bakkal4:158Baş5:049Scratch Diploma 23:28 was released. On 31 December 2017, he released a new song "Sorun Var" on his YouTube channel, of which he released the music video of on 29 May 2018 on YouTube. On 25 September 2018, Sagopa Kajmer announced on his Instagram account that his new song would be released on 2 October on digital platforms, and one day prior to that on YouTube. On 1 October 2018, "Oldu Olanlar" was released on YouTube. On his 41st birthday, he released the song "Avutsun Bahaneler×Avutsun Bahaneler17 August 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Avutsun Bahaneler5:44". On 29 November 2019, Sagopa Kajmer released the EP Sarkastik×Sarkastik29 November 2019 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Toz Taneleri4:292Neyse5:103Vazgeçtim İnan4:414Maalesef4:565Sal Gitsin4:31. A music video was also released for its lead single "Toz Taneleri". An investigation was started by legal authorities following complaints by the public on the grounds that he encouraged people to smoke by smoking in the music video of the song "Toz Taneleri" published on YouTube. He later gave a statement to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the scope of the investigation.On 12 June 2020, he released the song "Siyah", featuring Patron. The music video of the song was shared on Patron's official YouTube account. On 17 July 2020, Sagopa Kajmer released the song "Bu Sen Değilsin" with Faruk Sabancı on his YouTube channel. On August 17, 2020, he released the album "Yunus EP" with the Melankolia Music label. On February 19, 2021, he released the album "Tek" (lit. Single), in which he compiled and removed the parts his former spouse Kolera sang in their duets with between the years 2005 and 2011. On 7 May 2021, he announced on his official Twitter account that his single "Saldırground" was released. On November 11, 2022, he released the song "Onlarla Konuşuyorum" with Defkhan. The song's official music video was uploaded to Defkhan's YouTube account. On 1 July 2021, he released the single "Kim", which he recorded 2018.

2022-present: Kağıt Kesikleri

On June 2, 2022, he released the album Kağıt Kesitleri. The first music video for the album was shot for the song "Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla", a duet with Şehinşah. On 22 September 2023, he released the song "Geceler×Geceler22 September 2023 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Geceler4:36", a duet with Mine Koşan. On November 15, 2023, he released the song "İstesem de Söyleyemem".

Music style

Sagopa Kajmer is a rap music artist. He started his career under the name Silahsız Kuvvet and later used elements of Anatolian melodies and türküs in his songs. Although he initially used curse words in the album Sagopa Kajmer, he later refrained from using them later in his career. He also performed his songs in a tone different than his actual voice to not become famous. His voice is thought to be of Arabesque style. In his 2003 album, Romantizma×Romantizma22 August 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1İntromantizma1:302Romantizma4:453Bebeğim Öldü3:494Vasiyet3:255İlgisizlik Hastalığı (skit)0:546Leyli3:197Rak Benadam (Only Human)5:248Her Hayat 1 Sorudur (skit)0:369Baatıl Rhyme4:1710Sagopa Yaşlı Planet3:1811We Got Rhymes4:2012Drama Yolları3:3413Kendime Sarılır Donarım4:1314HipHop Saçmalığı0:1415Sagopa vs. Kolera4:0016Terapi4:3517Kopya Kalpler3:2818Anektod3:1719Hayat Arabamla 2005 Mil4:3020Rüyalarımdaki İşaretler3:2421Çaçaron3:0122Pavlov'un Köpeği3:3923Bana Müsade Beyler2:19, there are far more love themes than his previous works.

Influences

Run-DMC's music was influential in forming Kajmer's rap music. He said that he was influenced by the works of Omar Khayyam, Ferdowsi and Rumi. In an interview with Pembe Newspaper, he said: "When I was little I thought I was Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC. LL Cool J and Fat Boys are also very important names. I got my influence from them." The artist's style change and beard gave rise to the rumors that he was influenced by the philosophy of Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü. The artist, however, firmly denied these allegations and said that it was only after reading a hadith that he decided to let his beard grow.

Meaning of 'Sagopa Kajmer'

Yunus Özyavuz explains the meaning of Sagopa Kajmer with these words:

It's an ancient pyramid in Egypt... and the one who's looking for it is Kajmer. So, the one who's trying to look for something or solve it is trying to find his Sagopa's like Kajmer... one who solves his issues.
On Beyazıt Öztürk and Meral Okay's program Nasıl Yani he said:

A scientist doing research in pyramids in Egypt... all the coordination inside is written in hieroglyph, and then he loses his life during his search. Scientists who came after him discovered that the man who originally found the pyramid, as they read from the papyrus, was a man named Kajmer who discovered the Pyramid of Sagopa. I read this article in my college years.
On 17 November 2015, in response to Mesut Yar's question "What does it mean?" he said:

Mystery ... There is also a tree named Sago in Thailand. A nice palm type. Kajmer means child. Troubled child... This is also of a bit of eastern origin in Avesta.

Personal life

His mother is Serpil Özyavuz, and his father is Mehmet Özyavuz. He also has a brother named Emre Özyavuz. He is a graduate of Persian language and literature from Istanbul University. On 1 August 2006, he married fellow rapper Esen Güler (known as Kolera). On 20 November 2017, they announced on their Instagram accounts that they had divorced after 11 years of marriage., with Güler alleging that he physically abused her . In May 2018, in response to one of his followers on social media who asked "what is your religious belief" he said "I have no religious beliefs", although it was previously reported that he was connected to religious groups. . Kajmer has previously filed complaints against fellow rappers such as Ceza, his sister, and Fuat Ergin for Insulting him in their tracks and concerts .
He is a supporter of the Turkish Super League side Samsunspor.
His mother, Serpil Özyavuz, died on June 2, 2024 due to lung cancer.

Illegal drug use

On 18 July 2013, Özyavuz was taken into custody for allegedly ordering marijuana seeds from the UK. According to reports, Özyavuz went to a post office to pick up an order sent from England. A post office staff member called the police after becoming suspicious of the package which contained 100 DVDs in 5 DVD cases and when Özyavuz realized that police were informed, he fled the scene and went home. Responding to claims on his Twitter account, Özyavuz stated that he ordered carnivorous plants and many tropical plant seeds without reading the customs law and asked his fans to not believe "rumors" about him, also stating that he had no bad intentions, he said, "If what I did constitutes a crime, I regret it."
Units from the Istanbul Customs Enforcement Directorate seized the package and raided Özyavuz's house with permission from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The teams who examined the packages found a total of 560 grams of cannabis plants out of 5 DVD cases. He was taken into custody and a lawsuit was filed against him with the demand of imprisonment from 5 years to 15 years for "trafficking or supplying drugs or stimulants" and from 1 year to 2 years for "using drugs" by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. He was later brought to the Haseki Research and Training Hospital for a health check to then be taken to Bakırköy Courthouse and released shortly after on judicial controls. As a result, Özyavuz was banned from leaving the country.

Reception

Fuat Ergin has said about Sagopa Kajmer: "He's not a rapper. I'm a rapper, Ceza is a rapper but he is not ... He's a branch of Arabesque." Erol Köse described Sagopa Kajmer as a "hidden star". Akşam's columnist Çağla Gürsoy said about him: "Sagopa's name appeared as one of the rap geniuses in Turkey from the beginning. I like both his style and his music." For the list of "50 People That Make You Happy", Esquire magazine described Sagopa Kajmer as a person who "brought a new breath to the rap music culture in Turkey."