Paraziții Player

Paraziții were formed in 1994 in the Colentina neighborhood of Bucharest, Romania. The group consists of two MCs — Cheloo (Cătălin Ștefan Ion) and Ombladon (Bogdan Ionuț Păstacă) — and DJ FreakaDaDisk (Petre Urda). Their first recorded track, "În jur," dates back to September 13, 1994.

The group quickly became known for their aggressive, uncensored approach to hip-hop.

Their musical style blends hardcore hip-hop with political commentary, street poetry, and sharp social satire. Drawing from American hip-hop influences while maintaining a distinctly Romanian identity, Paraziții created a sound that was raw, confrontational, and unapologetic. Their lyrics frequently targeted corruption, social inequality, and Romanian politics, earning them multiple fines from the Romanian National Audiovisual Council (CNA).

Commercially, Paraziții are one of the most successful Romanian hip-hop acts of all time. Ombladon won Best Romanian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2004 with "Egali din naștere." They founded their own label, 20CM Records, in 2003, launching the careers of artists like Spike and Guess Who.

With 12 studio albums spanning 25 years, they remain a defining force in Romanian music.

Paraziții's journey began in 1994, with their debut cassette "Poezii pentru pereți" released in 1995 through KROMM Studio. The early years saw rapid output — "Nimic normal" (1996) and "Suta" (1997) followed on Digital Record, establishing them in Bucharest's underground hip-hop scene.

The transition to CD format came with "Nici o problemă" (1999) on A&A Records and "Iartă-mă" (2000) on Bada, followed by "Categoria grea" (2001) on Alpha Sound/Rebel Music. The breakthrough album "Irefutabil" (2002) on NRG!A/Rebel Music contained the MTV award-winning "Egali din naștere" and cemented their mainstream success.

In 2003, they founded 20CM Records, releasing "Confort 3" (2005) through R.U.L.

/Roton. Their most ambitious project, "Slalom printre cretini" (2007, Cat Music), featured 21 tracks. "Tot ce e bun tre' să dispară" (2010) was their first full release on 20CM Records.

After a 6-year hiatus, they returned with "Lovitură de pedeapsă" (2016) and most recently "Arma Secretă" (2019) on Forward Agency, proving their relevance across three decades of Romanian music.

Paraziții's impact on Romanian culture extends far beyond music. They pioneered hardcore hip-hop in Romania, proving that rap could be both commercially successful and uncompromisingly authentic. Their willingness to confront authority — from government corruption to media censorship — made them cultural icons for multiple generations.

Their label 20CM Records became a launching pad for Romanian hip-hop talent, helping to build an entire ecosystem around the genre. Artists like Spike, Guess Who, and others found their start through the Paraziții network.

With over 25 years of activity, 12 studio albums, and countless controversies, Paraziții remain the gold standard of Romanian hip-hop. Their influence can be heard in virtually every Romanian rapper who followed, and their catalog continues to resonate with new audiences discovering the raw power of Romanian street poetry.