Cilvaringz

Cilvaringz
Background information
Birth nameTarik Azzougarh
Also known asCilvaringz
Born (1979-01-29) January 29, 1979 (age 45)
Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands
OriginTilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • rapper
  • artist manager
InstrumentVocals
Years active1992–present
Labels
Websitescluzay.com

Tarik Azzougarh (Arabic: طارق أزوگاغ; born January 29, 1979), better known as his stage name Cilvaringz, is a Dutch-Moroccan record producer, rapper, and artist manager from Tilburg, North Brabant. He is associated with the Wu-Tang Clan[1] and is best known for conceptualizing and producing the world's most expensive work of music, Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.[2]

Cilvaringz was discovered by Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man at a Wu-Tang Clan concert in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on May 26, 1997. After impressing ODB with a live freestyle on stage he was introduced to RZA who signed him to Wu-Tang Records in 1999, becoming the first non-American affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan.[3]

Between 2002 and 2010 Cilvaringz toured the world as the official opening act of RZA, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah.[citation needed] On April 9, 2007, he released his first solo album through five different record labels around the world, receiving critical acclaim for its return to the original Wu-Tang sound.[4][5]

In April 2008 Cilvaringz conceptualized and began producing Wu-Tang Clan's secret album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin under the patronage of RZA.[citation needed] The unique release of the secret album as only one available copy in the world became one of the biggest and widely covered music stories of 2014.[6] Forbes magazine broke the story exclusively on March 26, 2014.[7] On May 3, 2015, the album sold for a reported US$2 million to pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, making it the most expensive musical work ever sold.[2]

  1. ^ "Cilvaringz – One Recensie op Cabaretinfo".
  2. ^ a b "Who Bought The Most Expensive Record Ever by Bloomberg". Bloomberg News.
  3. ^ "Vice Interview With Cilvaringz".
  4. ^ "Cilvaringz – I [Review] at Rapreview.com".
  5. ^ "Cilvaringz – I [Review] at Allmusic.com". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "Press Once Upon A Time In Shaolin".
  7. ^ "Forbes Why Wu-Tang Is Releasing only One Copy Of Their Album". Forbes.