Kempi

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kempi

| image = Picture_Of_Kempi.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Jerreley Zanian John Slijger

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|06|18}}

| birth_place = Helmond, North Brabant, Netherlands

| origin = Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands

| death_date =

| death_place =

| genre = {{hlist|Gangsta rap|Nederhop}}

| occupation =

| instrument = Vocals

| years_active = 2006–present

| label = TopNotch

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|www.tiskempi.nl}}

}}

Jerreley Zanian John Slijger (born June 18, 1986), known by his stage name Kempi, is a Dutch rapper.

From 2006 to 2012 Kempi was signed at Dutch label TopNotch. He released two studio albums, four EP's and seven mixtapes to date. In 2008 Kempi was named "Best Hip-Hop Artist" in the Netherlands at the State Awards. Kempi is also notorious for his extensive criminal record.

Early life

Kempi was born on June 18, 1986 in Helmond to Curaçaoan parents and grew up in Woensel-West, a deprived neighborhood in Eindhoven, as the fourth of seven children. As a teenager he went to a school for children with behavioral problems and started to participate in criminal activities, such as dealing in cocaine and heroin. He built a very extensive criminal record, including various prison sentences.

In 2018 he announced that he had converted to Islam.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-07 |title=Rapper Kempi heeft zich bekeerd tot de islam |url=https://www.nu.nl/achterklap/5122295/rapper-kempi-heeft-zich-bekeerd-tot-de-islam.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=NU.nl |language=nl}}

Musical career

Influenced by Tupac Shakur, Lil Wayne, and Dutch rapper Duvel, Kempi began to write down his street-life experiences, but wasn't seriously into hip-hop yet.{{cite web | url=http://sharemyplaylists.com/artists/Kempi | title=Kempi biography | publisher=ShareMyPlaylists.com | accessdate=July 7, 2011}}{{cite web | url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3380/muziek/article/detail/2445519/2011/06/15/Kempi-ooit-hosselaar-nu-furore-in-de-hiphop.dhtml | title=Kempi: ooit hosselaar, nu furore in de hiphop | publisher=De Volkskrant | date=June 15, 2011 | accessdate=June 28, 2011 | author=Van Gijssel, Robert|language=nl}} However, after performing in a hip-hop group named Drama, Kempi got encouraged to make his own music, and subsequently recorded his own mixtape Tsss Kempi in 2006 which was downloaded at least forty thousand times from the internet. Kempi began to gain national prominence and was noticed by record label owner Kees de Koning, who offered him a contract on his label TopNotch which Kempi signed in jail.{{cite news|url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2006/mei/draaideurrapper-kempi-tekent-bij-topnotch-vanachter-de-tralies.html|title=Draaideurrapper Kempi tekent bij Topnotch vanachter de tralies|last=Makkinga|first=Andrew|date=May 10, 2006|publisher=3VOOR12|language=Dutch|accessdate=September 13, 2013}} When Kempi signed the contract (September 2006) he was under suspicion of complicity in a stabbing; he was later found guilty. Kempi came out of custody after his second mixtape Rap 'N Borie (English: Rap 'N Crack) and third mixtape Mixtape 3.1 were released.

On July 17, 2007 Kempi met his father for the first time and his girlfriend gave birth to a son. On September 19, 2008, Kempi's second son was born. Shortly thereafter he was arrested for pointing a gun at Hungarian rapper; he was arrested and sentenced to a year of imprisonment. While in prison, his debut album Du Zoon (English: Tha Son) was released. Kempi's fourth mixtape was released in 2009, Mixtape 3.2: Du Evolutie van 'n Nigga (English: Tha Evolution of a Nigga). In 2010 Kempi produced another mixtape titled Du Gangsta Tape: It's Official. In June 2011 Kempi released his second studio album titled Het Testament van Zanian Adamus (English: The Testament of Zanian Adamus).

On September 7, 2012, Kempi announced that he was going to quit his musical career. Kempi was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for an ongoing lawsuit of domestic violence. He came out of prison in June 2013. In September 2013, he made his musical comeback announcing his single "Trug Ben" (English: "I'm Back"). The same month however, he was sentenced to jail for prostituting a 16-year-old girl. He was released from prison on December 18, 2014.

Criminal history

In February 2007 Kempi was found guilty of assault. During the appeal he was sentenced to one month imprisonment. After spending six months in custody, he left prison. However, in March 2007, Kempi committed another crime, he was involved in an altercation at a nightclub in Veendam, where he threatened another man with a gun. According to a newspaper someone from his rap formation pulled a gun, according to eyewitnesses it was Kempi himself. Kempi attempted to escape when he was arrested near Zwolle. In June 2008, Kempi was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for a series of serious crimes, including threats with a firearm.{{cite web | url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/39757845 | title=Kempi veroordeeld tot 12 maanden cel | publisher=VPRO 3VOOR12| date=June 30, 2008 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | author=De Vrieze, Atze|language=nl}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

Du Zoon (Tha Son) (2008, TopNotch)
Het Testament van Zanian Adamus (The Testament of Zanian Adamus) (2011, TopNotch)
Oompie Keke (2019, TopNotch){{fact|date=November 2024}}

=Collaborations=

Rap & Glorie (Rap & Glory) (2016, TopNotch) (with The Alchemist){{fact|date=November 2024}}

=Mixtapes=

Tsss Kempi (2006, self-published)
Mixtape 2: Rap 'N Borie (Rap 'N Crack) (2007, TopNotch)
Mixtape 3.1 (2007, TopNotch)
Mixtape 3.2: Du Evolutie van 'n Nigga (Tha Evolution of a Nigga) (2009, TopNotch)
Du Gangsta Tape: It's Official (2010, TopNotch)
Du Movement (2011, self-published) (with Rasskulz, Crazyshee, Lens and CocoRas, as Gotti Gang)
DU4 (2017)

=EP=

RockNRolla (2011, self-published)
TegenK4nker EP (AgainstC4ncer EP) (2011) (Financial gainings made through this EP went to a cancer support foundation.)
PeterPanBoy EP (2012, self-published)
PPB2 (2012, self-published)