Paktofonika

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Paktofonika was a Polish hip hop group, which debuted with the album Kinematografia in 2000. Their music is influenced by German hip hop, especially the style popular in Hamburg. The name Paktofonika comes from the words "pakt" and "fonika" as in "paktu zawartego przy dźwiękach z głośnika", an idea created by Rahim and Magik.

[edit] Members

• Piotr „Magik” Łuszcz (1978-2000), formerly of Kaliber 44
• Wojciech „Fokus” Alszer (ur. 1980), ex Kwadrat Skład, since 2004 a member of Pokahontaz
• Sebastian „Rahim” Salbert (ur. 1978), ex 3xKlan, since 2004 a member of Pokahontaz

[edit] History

Paktofonika began when Magik left Kaliber 44 during the recording of their second album, W 63 minuty dookoła świata. Rahim left his group 3xKlan at around the same time, and formed Paktofonika with Magik and Fokus in 1998.

Their first songs were written in October of that year, being Priorytety, Ja to Ja, and Gdyby. Two new members joined Paktofonika, DJ Bambus on turntables, and Sot as a beatboxer. In the spring of 2000 the group signed a contract with Gigant Records. In the summer of that year, the group was in Witten (Germany) where they recorded their song 2 Kilo with German artists. That year, on December 18, their first album entitled Kinematografia was released.

Eight days after the CD was released, December 26, at 6:15 Magik committed suicide by jumping from the ninth floor of his apartment. After his death, the group continued concerts for some time, using pre-recorded material for Magik's vocals. After a while, Fokus and Rahim left the group to pursue other projects.

In the year 2001, a sample of Ja to Ja which was sung by Piotr 'Gutek' Gutkowski was used in an ice cream commercial without the group members' agreement, but with the knowledge of Gigant Records.

In September 2002, the farewell album was released. Archiwum Kinematografii contains studio outtakes from of the first album, and 2 songs recorded later without Magik (JaToJa 2(Dokuadnie tak! and W peunej gotowości). A few months later, in the Spring of 2003 the group announced the end of Paktofonika.

Rahim and Fokus continue to work in other projects, like PFK Kompany and Pokahontaz.

[edit] Discography

• Ja to Ja (single, 2000) - I am Me
• Kinematografia (album, 2000) - Cinematography
• Jestem Bogiem (single, 2001) - I am God
• Jestem Bogiem (single/vinyl, 2001)
• Paktofonika (vinyl, 2001)
• Archiwum Kinematografii (album, 2002) - The Archives of Cinematography
• Archiwum Kinematografii (vinyl)
• Pożegnalny koncert Paktofoniki (DVD/VHS, 2004) - The Goodbye Concert of Paktofonika