Tram 11

Tram 11 is a Croatian rap group by Nenad Šimun "Target" and Srđan Ćuk "General Woo". Named after a tram line number 11, that connects the western part of Zagreb from where Target is, with eastern part where General Woo lived. They were one of the first prominent rap acts from Zagreb.[1]

Tram 11
OriginZagreb, Croatia
GenresHip hop
Years active1996–2003,
2017–present
MembersGeneral Woo, Target

History

The group formed in 1996. At that time Croatia hip hop had few publicly recognized rappers until Tram 11 emerged in the "Blackout Project", a radio show started at "Radio 101" in 1993 to promote hip-hop and rap in Croatia.[2]

The band's song "Hrvatski velikani" (Croatian Greats), referencing the important historical figures featured on Croatian currency, was the first rap song to hit #1 on Croatian music top-lists.[2]

Their album Čovječe ne ljuti se (Man don't be angry) was released in 1999.

Their song "Kužiš Spiku" (You Understand the Slang) was subsequently included on the compilation The Best of International Hip-Hop.

They disbanded in 2003, because they got in a feud. Soon Target got schizophrenia and started recording solo. He dropped out "MC (album)" that did not have success, same as "The Album... Nastavak". General Woo dropped out his album with Nered, "Baš je lijep ovaj svijet" (This World is So Beautiful).

General Woo produced a commercial promo for Social Democratic Party of Croatia in 2005.[3] In 2009, there was another brief revival for Tram 11 when General Woo appeared on Target's song "Stavi ovo na roštilj" (Put This on the Barbecue) that was featured on his solo album "Još jedan dan u Zagrebu" (One More Day in Zagreb). In 2010, Target and General Woo appeared on the documentary "Hip Hop priča iz Hrvatske", meaning Hip Hop story from Croatia.[4]

Comeback

On April 1, 2017, after 14 years of inactivity Tram 11 announced a big comeback concert to be held on November 11, 2017, at Dom Sportova.[5]

The duo caused controversies on few occasions over political stands, was in conflict for a long time and had not published new song for 17 years, but came back together and announced plans to take part in anti-EURO campaigning.[6]

Hate speech controversy and genocide denial

In January 2022, after 22 years, Tram 11 released their new album Jedan i jedan (One and one). Many in the Croatian media commented on Tram 11 members, the album and the song "PŠK" citing politically incorrect statements and lyrics, especially from the song "PŠK" that expresses their negative opinion towards several minority groups. In the song the duo denies the genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia, calling Jasenovac a myth, referring to the Jasenovac concentration camp. Srđan Ćuk repeated this statement in interviews given afterwards.[7][8][9][10][11]

As a result of public backlash, on 24 January 2022 Menart Records apologized to the public and cancelled their contract with Tram 11, withdrawing the album from physical and digital stores, which led to the group self-publishing the album on their YouTube channel, without much success.[12][13][14]

The controversy sparked reactions from past and present members of the Croatian Parliament.[15][16][17]

Discography

Studio Albums:

Compilations:

  • WorkshopCLASS Volume 11 (1998)
  • Workshopclass#1 (2001)
  • Workshopclass#2 (2002)

References
  1. Skender, Melisa; Čulić, Ivana (25 November 2003). "Novac je ubio hrvatski hip-hop" [Money killed Croatian hip-hop]. Nacional (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. "Hip-hop scena u Hrvatskoj". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 2008-11-02. Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  3. "Sjećate se kad je General Woo snimio reklamu za SDP?". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  4. "Film: Hip Hop Priča Iz Hrvatske". 8 April 2011.
  5. "Nije šala, Tram 11 imaju koncert u Domu sportova!". Muzika.hr. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  6. "Eksluzivno: Nakon 17 godina Tram 11 predstavio novu pjesmu, a sve svađe ostavili su iza sebe!". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  7. "Woo o ubijenoj srpskoj curici: Po njoj se ne treba zvati ni grmlje gdje psi pišaju". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  8. "Album Tram 11 je soundtrack života seksualno frustriranog ustaše". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  9. Stajčić, Zoran (21 January 2022). "Tram 11 'Jedan i jedan' – za 'Bujicu' spremni". Ravno do dna (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  10. "Tram 11 "Jedan i jedan" – što se ovo dogodilo?" [Tram 11 "One and one - what happened here?"]. Muzika.hr. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  11. Horvat, Hrvoje (17 January 2022). "Poput afroameričkih repera Tram 11 prosti su, politički nekorektni i sjajni" [Like afroamerican rappers, Tram 11 are rude, politically incorrect and brilliant]. Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  12. Vecernji.hr (24 January 2022). "Menart raskida ugovor s grupom Tram 11: 'Odlučili smo povući album iz fizičke prodaje te sa svih digitalnih streaming servisa'". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  13. Kučković, Đenada (24 January 2022). "Doznajemo: Menart prekida suradnju s Tram 11, njihov kontroverzni album povlače iz prodaje". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  14. "Na YouTubeu su ponovno objavljene pjesme Tram 11. Broj pregleda je jadan". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  15. "O slučaju Tram 11: "Primitivnoj zajednici jednostavno treba krv, rat i mržnja"". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  16. Croatian News Agency (Hina) (25 January 2022). "Selak Raspudić prozvala Možemo, Milanović Litre kritizirao Menart, a Nikolić spominjala špijuniranje" ["Mrs. Selak Raspudić called out "Možemo!" party, Mr. Milanović Litre criticized Menart, and Mrs. Nikolić mentioned spying]. jutarnji.hr. Jutarnji list. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  17. Index Vijesti (25 January 2022). "Suverenist u saboru citirao stihove Tram 11 pa zaključio: Trebamo ih podržati" [A Sovereignist quotes Tram 11 lyrics and exclaims "They should be supported!"]. index.hr. Index. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
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