R.A.C.L.A.

R.A.C.L.A.
From left to right: DJ Grewu, Rimaru, TKE
Background information
Origin	Bucharest, Romania
Genres	Hip hop Political hip hop Hardcore hip hop
Years active	1993–present (hiatuses 2007-2015, 2017-present)
Labels	Kromm Studio AMMA Record East & Art A&A Records Roton MediaPro Music Universal Music
Members	Rimaru
Past members	Clonatu' K-Gula DJ Dox DJ Swamp Connect-R
Website	facebook.com/RACLA93

R.A.C.L.A. (an abbreviation of Rime Alese Care Lovesc Adânc - Handpicked Rhymes with a Deeper Meaning) is a Romanian hip hop group, founded in 1993 in Bucharest by brothers Călin "Rimaru" Ionescu and Daniel "Clonatu'" Ionescu. The group released the first Romanian hip hop album, Rap-Sodia Efectului Defectului (A Rap-sody for the Shortcoming's Consequence), in 1995 on Kromm Studio, an independent record label and quickly became one of first and most critically acclaimed hip hop acts in Romania. Following Clonatu's departure from the group in 1998, the group went through numerous personnel changes, with Rimaru remaining the sole constant member throughout the years.^[1][2] Originally known among its fans as a hardcore and political rap group, they would later gain a larger fan base in their native Romania following their collaboration with pop singer Anda Adam in 1999.^[3]

In the mid and late 1990s, R.A.C.L.A. also gained notoriety for their involvement in a violent conflict with gangsta rap group B.U.G. Mafia and some of their affiliates at the time, such as La Familia and Il-Egal. The dispute initially produced a number of diss tracks from both sides and would later lead to physical altercations between members of the groups.^[4][5] While never officially announcing their hiatus, the group became largely inactive for a number of years following the release of their fifth album in 2005 and group member Connect-R's departure in 2007. Rimaru made a number of infrequent appearances as a solo artist and, as of 2014, has returned to performing under the group name, while also recruiting DJ GreWu, DJ Semplaru and rappers EyeKon and later TKE and Boka, as touring members of R.A.C.L.A.^[6]