Rina Balaj
Rina Balaj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 January 1999 |
| Nationality | Kosovo-Albanian |
| Citizenship | Kosovo |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2017 – present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Labels | |
Rina Balaj(Albanian:[ɾiˈnabaˈlaj];born 27 January 1999), known mononymously asRina,is a Kosovo-Albanian rapper and singer.
Life and career
[edit]1999–2019: Early life and career beginnings
[edit]Rina Balaj was born on 27 January 1999 into an Albanian family in the city ofPejaand raised inIstog,then part of theFR Yugoslavia,presentKosovo.[2][3][4]At age 16, Balaj unsuccessfully auditioned for thefourth seasonofX Factor Albaniain 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 rapperSin 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:MamaandBalerina
[edit]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
[edit]Balaj's music style has generally been regarded astrapalthough her music also includes various styles of musical genres such asR&Bandhip hop.[7][21][22]She has cited American rapperPost Maloneas her favourite artist.[23]Music critics compared her music and appearance to that of American rapperCardi B.[6][24]MM,the collaborative studio album withSin Boy,was praised for recreatingpop musicand also adapting to different styles includingreggaeton,discoandhouse.[16][25]
Personal life
[edit]In 2019, Balaj began a romantic relationship with Greek-Albanian rapperSin Boy.[6][26][27]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- MM(2020)
- Balerina(2021)
Singles
[edit]As lead artist
[edit]2010s
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [11] |
GRE [12] | |||
| "Për ty" | 2018 | 31 | — | Non-album single |
| "Ska konkurenc" (featuringFero) |
2 | — | ||
| "Ashiqare" | 33 | — | ||
| "Mami" | 28 | — | ||
| "Gigi" (featuringSin Boy) |
5 | 1 | ||
| "Fly" (featuring Fuego) |
2 | — | ||
| "Ilegal" | 2019 | 29 | — | |
| "Qikat" (featuringAdelina 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
[edit]| 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. | ||||
As featured artist
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [30] | |||
| "Janari" (Endri featuring Rina) |
2017 | 6 | Non-album single |
| "Down On Me" (K Kokefeaturing Rina) |
2018 | — | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
References
[edit]- ^"Rina – Universal Music France"(in French).Universal Music France.Archivedfrom the original on 17 June 2021.Retrieved17 June2021.
- ^"Rina Balaj – Biografia"(in Albanian). TeksteShqip.Retrieved15 February2021.
- ^ab"Rina Balaj #Bio"(in Albanian).Top Channel.22 January 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 30 October 2020.Retrieved15 February2021.
- ^Παππά, Μαρία (2 April 2021)."Rina, η σταρ των Βαλκανίων"(in Greek). Lifo. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2021.Retrieved2 April2021.
- ^Gashi, Fjolla (3 January 2021)."Tayna, Enca Haxhia dhe Rina Balaj – Rrugëtimi i artisteve nga 'talent show' në majat e suksesit".Telegrafi(in Albanian). Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2021.Retrieved15 February2021.
- ^abcBairaktaris, Yannis (26 May 2020)."Πριν τον Sin Boy, η Rina ξεκίνησε έναν 'πόλεμο' στην Αλβανία"(in Greek). OneMan. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^ab"Endri dhe Rina sjellin 'Janarin' në dhjetor"(in Albanian).Telegrafi.13 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Bëri debutimin në skenë tre vite më parë, Rina Balaj falënderon fansat për përkrahje"(in Albanian).Telegrafi.13 December 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Rina publikon këngën e re 'Për ty'".Telegrafi(in Albanian). 14 March 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"'Gigi' është dueti i Rinës me Sin Boy ".Telegrafi(in Albanian). 4 September 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^abcdNote:"The Top List" are the charts conducted byTop Channelsince December 2015.For peak positions in Albania:
- For "Për ty":"The Top List – 22 April 2018"(in Albanian).Top Channel.22 April 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 23 October 2020.Retrieved15 February2021.
- For "Ska konkurenc":"The Top List – 29 April 2018"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 29 April 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 13 February 2021.Retrieved15 February2021.
- For "Ashiqare":"The Top List – 23 September 2018"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 23 September 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 3 January 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Mami":"The Top List – 23 September 2018"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 23 September 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 3 January 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Gigi":"The Top List – 23 September 2018"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 23 September 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 3 January 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Fly":"The Top List – 11 November 2018"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 10 November 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Ilegal":"The Top List – 5 May 2019"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 5 May 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 31 December 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^abcdeFor peak positions in Greece:
- For "Gigi":"Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (Local) Week: 4/2020".IFPI Greece.Archived fromthe originalon 2 May 2019.Retrieved15 February2021.
- For "Meredith":"Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (Local) Εβδομάδα: 6/2020".IFPI Greece. Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"MM / Sin Boy".Tidal.16 May 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Rina Balaj dhe Sin Boy lansojnë albumin 'MM'".Telegrafi(in Albanian). 16 May 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Ο Sin Boy και η Rina επιστρέφουν με το 'MM album'"(in Greek). Neolaia. 19 May 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^ab"Η θριαμβευτική επιστροφή του Sin Boy με ένα υπέροχο, απόλυτα feel good άλμπουμ"(in Greek). Lifo. 19 May 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 12 July 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Sin Boy Meredith: Οι στίχοι από το νέο τραγούδι του trapper που σαρώνει"(in Greek). Alpha Press. 29 December 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Rina Balaj dhe Sin Boy sjellin këngën e re 'Tetancion'".Telegrafi(in Albanian). 13 February 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Rina Balaj dhe Sin Boy publikojnë duetin 'GG'"(in Albanian). Literal Media. 16 May 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Rina dhe Sin Boy sjellin këngën e re 'Fallin' in love'".Telegrafi(in Albanian). 17 June 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 18 June 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^ab"Rina e merr 'Zjarrin' me terezi"(in Albanian).Top Channel.2 December 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Η Rina του Sin Boy είναι η πιο καuτή τράπερ της Αλβανίας"(in Greek). Pink. 7 June 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Ky këngëtar është i preferuari i Rina Balaj"(in Albanian). Ballkani. 30 September 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^Velija, Kreizia (5 July 2018)."Top awards: A është Rina, Cardi B shqiptare?"(in Albanian).Top Albania Radio.Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^Bairaktaris, Yannis (19 May 2020)."Ο νέος Sin Boy δεν θυμίζει σε τίποτα τον παλιό"(in Greek). OneMan. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2021.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Rina Balaj në lidhje me reperin Sin Boy?".Telegrafi(in Albanian). 5 December 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2019.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^"Sin Boy: Η δημόσια ερωτική εξομολόγηση στη σύντροφο του μέσω Instagram"(in Greek). Fthis. 6 January 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- ^For peak positions in Albania:
- For "Sari":"The Top List – 21 June 2020"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 21 June 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 17 July 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Zjarr":"The Top List – 26 December 2020"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 21 December 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 28 December 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Addiction":"The Top List – 2 October 2021"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 2 October 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 2 October 2021.Retrieved2 October2021.
- For "Mia":"The Top List – 27/11/2021"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 27 November 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 27 November 2021.Retrieved27 November2021.
- For "Sativa":"The Top List – 5 February 2022"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 5 February 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 5 February 2022.Retrieved5 February2022.
- For "Blue":"The Top List – 7 May 2022"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 7 May 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 28 May 2022.Retrieved18 June2022.
- For "Si ti":"The Top List – 18 June 2022"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 18 June 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 18 June 2022.Retrieved18 June2022.
- ^For peak positions in Greece:
- For "Tentacion":"Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (Local) Εβδομάδα: 48/2020".IFPI Greece. Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2019.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Sari":"Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (Local) Εβδομάδα: 23/2020".IFPI Greece. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Fallin in Love":"Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (Local) Εβδομάδα: 26/2020".IFPI Greece. Archived fromthe originalon 9 July 2020.Retrieved19 February2021.
- For "Si ti":"Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Εβδομάδα: 22/2022".IFPI Greece. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2022.Retrieved18 June2022.
- ^For peak positions in Albania:
- For "Janari":"The Top List – 4 February 2018"(in Albanian). Top Channel. 4 February 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2020.Retrieved15 February2021.
