Promoe

Promoe is a Swedish rapper affiliated with the group Looptroop who made his solo album debut in 2001 and eventually topped the singles charts in 2009 with the smash hit "Svennebanan." Born Nils Mårten Ed on April 28, 1976, in Västerås, Sweden, he began his career in the group Looptroop (aka Looptroop Rockers). Founded in 1991 in Västerås, Looptroop is a trio comprised of Promoe (aka Mårten Edh), Supreme (born Mattias Lundh-Isen), and Embee (born Magnus Bergkvist). They made their recording debut in the mid-'90s with a series of demo tapes, Superstars (1993), Threesicksteez (1995), and From the Waxcabinet (1996), the latter of which was released commercially as the group's debut EP. Several other early EPs followed in 1996-1998. Looptroop made their full-length album debut in 2000 with Modern Day City Symphony on their own label, David vs. Goliath. The album spawned a couple singles, "Ambush in the Night" and "Long Arm of the Law," and was a minor hit. Promoe subsequently made his full-length solo album debut with Government Music (2001) on David vs. Goliath. It was also a minor hit, reaching the Top 40 of the Swedish albums chart. The next round of albums -- The Struggle Continues (2002) by Looptroop, The Long Distance Runner (2003) by Promoe -- reached the Top 20 while the one after that -- Fort Europa (2005) by Looptroop, White Man's Burden (2006) by Promoe -- reached the Top Ten. In addition, Promoe released Standard Bearer (2007), a DVD with a bonus CD. The fourth Looptroop album, Good Things (2008), was a Top Five hit, as was Promoe's fourth album, Kråksången (2009), his first full-length Swedish-language effort. Moreover, Promoe topped the Swedish charts in 2009 with the smash hit "Svennebanan," far and away his most popular single to date. ~ Jason Birchmeier