Gimma

Gimma is a Swiss rapper of regional dialect who broke through to mainstream success in 2006 with the Top Ten single "Hymna" from his fourth album, I Gega d'Schwiiz. In addition to his solo output, he is a member of the group OBK and affiliated with the Bauers collective, which also includes the groups Luut & Tüütli, X-Chaibä, Breitbild, and Sektion Kuchikäschtli. Born Gian-Marco Schmid in Chur, Graubünden, Switzerland, he overcame a number of psychological issues while growing up, among them drug addiction and the divorce of his parents. These issues and others characterize the often amusing and sometimes controversial Swiss German raps of Gimma, who made his recording debut in the late '90s in association with the group TAO. He made his solo album debut in 2001 with Droga, Sex, Gwalt, Rap. The follow-up albums Wissa Müll (2003) and Mis Leba Isch So Scheisse (2005) were minor successes at best. Gimma ultimately broke through to mainstream success in 2006 with the Top Ten single "Hymna" from his fourth album, I Gega d'Schwiiz, which includes the additional singles "Superschwiizer" and "Iisziit." The follow-up album Panzer (2007) was his most popular to date, peaking at number six on the Swiss albums chart and spawning another few singles ("Links, Rechts," "Hol dr an Politiker," "Chef vo dr Schwiiz"). Sixth album Hippie (2009) was similarly popular and includes the single "Iar Sind Alles Hippies." ~ Jason Birchmeier