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Rina Balaj
Kosovo-Albanian rapper and singer (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rina Balaj (Albanian: [ɾiˈna baˈlaj]; born 27 January 1999), known mononymously as Rina, is a Kosovo-Albanian rapper and singer.
Life and career
1999–2019: Early life and career beginnings
Rina Balaj was born on 27 January 1999 into an Albanian family in the city of Peja and raised in Istog, Kosovo.[2][3][4] At age 16, Balaj unsuccessfully auditioned for the fourth season of X Factor Albania in 2015.[5][6] In December 2017, she was featured on Albanian singer Endri's single "Janari" and reached number 6 in Albania.[3][7][8] Eventually signed by OnRecords, her debut single "Për ty" followed afterwards in March 2018.[9] In September 2018, Balaj released her breakthrough single "Gigi" in collaboration with Greek-Albanian rapper Sin Boy.[10] The single initially attained success in Albania, peaking at number 8, and later became acclaimed in neighbouring Greece, reaching the top 3.[11][12]
2020–present: Mama and Balerina
In May 2020, Balaj released her first collaborative album, MM, with Sin Boy featuring songs written in Albanian, Greek and English.[13][14][15][16] Four subsequent singles, "Meredith", "Tentacion", "GG" and "Sari" were released from the collaborative album.[17][18][19] "Meredith" peaked at number 86 in Greece, while "Tentacion" reached the top five peaking at number four.[12] "Sari" also experienced commercial success and reached number 32 in Albania and 52 in Greece, respectively.[11][12] In June 2020, her follow-up single, "Fallin In Love", went on to reach number 33 in Greece.[12][20] Later that year in December 2020, her single "Zjarr" in collaboration with Sin Boy reached number 35 in her native country.[11][21]
Artistry
Balaj's music style has generally been regarded as trap although her music also includes various styles of musical genres such as R&B and hip hop.[7][21][22] She has cited American rapper Post Malone as her favourite artist.[23] Music critics compared her music and appearance to that of American rapper Cardi B.[6][24] MM, the collaborative studio album with Sin Boy, was praised for recreating pop music and also adapting to different styles including reggaeton, disco and house.[16][25]
Personal life
Discography
Albums
- MM (2020)
- Balerina (2021)
Singles
As lead artist
2010s
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [11] |
GRE [12] | |||
| "Për ty" | 2018 | 31 | — | Non-album single |
| "Ska konkurenc" (featuring Fero) |
2 | — | ||
| "Ashiqare" | 33 | — | ||
| "Mami" | 28 | — | ||
| "Gigi" (featuring Sin Boy) |
5 | 1 | ||
| "Fly" (featuring Fuego) |
2 | — | ||
| "Ilegal" | 2019 | 29 | — | |
| "Qikat" (featuring Adelina Ismajli) |
— | — | ||
| "Jumanji" (featuring Blake) |
— | — | ||
| "Ideal" (featuring Koston) |
— | — | ||
| "Meredith" (with Sin Boy) |
— | 86 | MM | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
2020s
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [28] |
GRE [29] | |||
| "Tentacion" (with Sin Boy) |
2020 | — | 4 | MM |
| "GG" (with Sin Boy) |
— | — | ||
| "Sari" (with Sin Boy) |
32 | 52 | ||
| "Fallin In Love" (with Sin Boy) |
— | 33 | Non-album single | |
| "Zjarr" | 35 | — | ||
| "Bad Rosita" | 2021 | — | — | Balerina |
| "California" | — | — | ||
| "Addiction" | 16 | — | ||
| "Mia" | 57 | — | ||
| "Sativa" | 2022 | 17 | — | Non-album single |
| "Demon" | — | — | ||
| "Blue" (with Amelia) |
73 | — | ||
| "Si ti" (with Sin Boy) |
39 | 39 | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||