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Karim, real name Konrad Krzysztof Kazanecki, also known as Koszmar (Nightmare) (born on 12 January 1985 in Kraków) – a rapper, publisher and music journalist. A member of the hip hop group Meridialu. He is also a founder of the Underground Renoma Records label.

Konrad Kazanecki was born on 12 January 1985 in Kraków. In 1990 his family moved to Bielsko-Biała, where he grew up. Karim was in touch with music from his youngest age. In the beginning he listened to Polish rock bands such as Lady Pank, Republika, Dżem, T.Love, then he got interested in music from abroad like Metallica and Polish punk bands: Defekt Muzgó, Dezerter, Ga-Ga, Psy Wojny, Włochaty. He got in first contact with hip-hop in 1995 through Liroy’s “Alboom” cassette.

Karim’s first unofficial release entitled “Taki zwykły chłopak” (“Such an ordinary boy”) was out in 2000. It was produced by Zack who then made beats for the underground group Krótka Piłka. The rapper was then fascinated by graffiti, an element of the hip-hop culture. It was then that he went to Stefan Żeromski High School in Bielsko-Biała.

The second album from Cinas&Karimas - „Sprofilu” - was out in 2001. At the same time Karim appeared on the 7 ZOR’s compilation “7Zet Technika”, produced by Iskier. That was the period when a collaboration of bands from three housing estates in Bielsko-Biała was established (7 ZOR, WP, GZ), known as 3oś Pakt.

A long-awaited bootleg release from Meridialu, entitled „Wiesz, że warto” („You known it’s worth it”) came out in 2002. Meridialu’s lineup evolved throughout the years. In its peak period, there were 11 people in it (Karim, Młody, Cinas, Kerbi, WBKdj, Staf, Zack, Mięki, Drewno, Staś, MGO).

Another Karim’s album – „Rap wbity w bity” („Rap beaten in beats”) - came out in 2003. It was released as an underground EP. The album featured the track „Wysoka stawka” (“High stake”) to which FilmArts made a video. This was also a period when RapŁapTo promotion agency was established, which focused on promoting hip-hop events in Bielsko-Biała.

In 2004 a beef emerged on a local scene. Karim, Młody, Mięki, Klono vs. Kaczan from the underground Fatamorgana group. In the same year Karim recorded his verse for his friends’ album: Młody, Mięki, Cin “Co ty mi tu…” in the track entitled “Widok z okna” (“A view from window”). At that time Karim emigrated to Great Britain to live in Oxford for three years. Another Karim’s bootleg release came out in 2006. It was entitled “Koszmar powraca” (“The nightmare returns”). Two videos were made for the album. The first one featured the track „Pod jednym niebem” (Under one sky”) and it was made by Datura Studio. The second one was made by TVP Katowice to the track „Z dnia na dzień” („Day afer day”).

Another bootleg – „Materiał przeterminowany” (“Past the expiry date material”) was out in 2007. Also in 2007, „Silesia na Śląskich Bitach” compilation was published by Gokonda Recordzz in cooperation with the Silesia City Center which featured Karim’s track „Nie mam w nawyku” („I don’t have a habit”). In 2007 Karim returned to Poland and began to study journalism in Wrocław. In the same year Karim was a jury member in “Wojna o Śląsk” (“War of Silesia”) – a freestyle battle organized by Fandango Records.

In 2008 another two Meridialu’s bootlegs came out. „Znowu to samo” („The same again”) was recorded by Meridialu in the following lineup: Karim, Młody, Staf, Mięki and WBKdj. That is the group’s current lineup after many years of changes. The album was promoted by a video to the track “Bolesna lekcja” (“A painful lesson”) featuring Bu as a guest. The video was produced by Yaro. In that time the group began a tour around Poland. That was a result of cooperation with Katowice’s representative – Fokus. The band’s manager was Stafjr who was an executive producer of the album „Dekada” („Decade”) which summed up the band’s decade. A lot of guests appeared on the double album, including Aicha, Asteya, Fokus, HST, K.A.M.S., Majkel and Sonar. That is the time when the group gets in touch with Alien and starts recording their productions in his ¾ Underground Studio. Datura Studio produced a video to the track promoting the album – “Co masz zrobić jutro” (“What you need do tomorrow”). In 2008 Karim was a guest in a TVP-Katowice show “To brzmi” (“It sounds”).

The first official album of Karim, entitled „Wiem, że warto” („I know it’s worth it”) came out on 9 July 2010. It is the first album published in Underground Renoma Records established by Karim. The album featured plenty of guests, including 600V, Lukatricks, Fokus, Rahim, PMX, Gooral. The album was promoted by three videos to „Gotowy na wszystko” („Ready for everything”) (produced by Yaro), “Mamy tu plany” (“We have plans here”) (produced by Datura Studio) and “Andromeda” (produced by Datura Studio). The album’s layout was prepared by Pafterarty and it was distributed by Fonografika. In 2010 Karim went to Bergen in Norway, initially to study, but eventually to live there.

The second official album of Karim, entitled „Warto wiedzieć” (“It’s worth to know”), came out on 28 October 2011. The release was published thanks to cooperation between Underground Renoma Records and Fonografika. The cover of „Warto wiedzieć” featured Turbos’ graffiti under the PCK viaduct in Bielsko-Biała. Typography was prepared by Pafterarty. The album features guests including DJ Feel-X, Dj BRK, HST, BU, Kingsley Anowi. The music production was almost entirely made by Soddy. Mix and mastering was made by Pekos from Kurnik studio in Opole. The title song from the album featuring Kingsley Anowi reached the 1st place of the Egida Radio Chart.

The first mixtape of the Underground Renoma Records label, mixed by Dj Son, was out on 1 September 2012. The album featured guests from USA, Great Britain and Norway. It was distributed for free in a limited series of 100 pieces.