German rapper Gzuz emerged in 2009 as a member of Hamburg-based hip-hop crew 187 Strassenbande. The group is heavily influenced by hardcore gangster rap and the 187 in its name is a reference to the American police code for murder. Their self-titled debut arrived in 2009, followed in 2011 by the Sampler 2 album, after which Gzuz served three years in prison for predatory theft. Upon his release in 2013, he and fellow 187 Strassenbande member Bonez MC recorded the collaborative album High Hungrig, which became a Top Ten hit in Germany upon its 2014 release. Channeling their momentum back into the group, they quickly issued 187 Strassenbande's Sampler 3 in 2015, this time reaching number two on the charts. That same year, Gzuz made his solo debut with Ebbe Flut, again reaching number two on the German charts. Finally, in 2016, he and Bonez reached the coveted number one slot with their follow-up album as a duo, High Hungrig 2. All the while, Gzuz continued to collaborate with other artists from his crew and the German rap scene. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi