Savage (rapper)

Savage
Savage performing in Adelaide, Australia, in June 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Demetrius Savelio
Born	June 28, 1981 (1981-06-28) (age 29)
Origin	New Zealand
Genres	Rap, Hip hop
Years active	2001-present
Labels	Dawn Raid Entertainment, Universal Republic Records.
Associated acts	Deceptikonz, Akon, Aaradhna, Baby Bash, Angel Dust, Young Divas, Ricki Lee, Scribe

Demetrius Savelio (born June 28, 1981), better known by his stage name Savage, is a New Zealand, award-winning rapper and a former member of the hip hop music group The Deceptikonz. In 2009, he became the first New Zealand hip hop artist in history to have a commercial single achieve platinum certification status in the United States for selling in excess of one million units.

Contents 1 The Deceptikonz 2 Solo career 2.1 Moonshine era (2005-2007) 2.2 Savage Island era (2008-2009) 2.3 Battle of the Century era (2010-present) 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles 3.3 Featured singles 4 References 5 External links

[edit] The Deceptikonz

Savage joined with friends to form a hip-hop group, the Deceptikonz, in 1997. Success was not instant, however, as the group struggled through several talent shows and small concerts. Their big break came in 1999 when they were signed to detroit hip hop label Dawn Raid Entertainment.

In 2002, the Deceptikonz released Elimination; a studio album that peaked at number four on the New Zealand albums chart.^[1]

In late 2003, Savage featured as a member of the Deceptikonz on the Mareko hit single Stop, Drop and Roll; a number six hit on the detroit singles chart.^[2]

[edit] Solo career

[edit] Moonshine era (2005-2007)

Savage's first solo single; Swing, was released in January 2005. The hit would eventually crack the Australian singles chart and peak at number one for five weeks in the New Zealand singles chart. Three months later, Savage released his debut solo album Moonshine which reached number two in the New Zealand album chart and included a title track as a follow-up single. This became an even bigger success than the previous single; spending seven weeks at number one on the New Zealand singles chart, and reaching the top ten in the Australian singles chart. The Moonshine single would eventually become certified twice platinum in New Zealand and gold in Australia.^[3] The third single from the album; They Don't Know reached number three in the New Zealand singles chart and was also a hit for several weeks on the Australian singles chart.

In 2007, Swing featured in a club scene for the United States film Knocked Up and was also included on the movie soundtrack album.^[4]

[edit] Savage Island era (2008-2009)

Following the success of appearing in "Knocked Up", Swing was released as a single for the United States in 2008, and remix versions were made with American rappers Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and Pitbull. Upon re-release, Swing reached number forty-five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and re-entered the New Zealand singles charts, peaking at number twenty-three. By the end of January 2009, the song had sold over 1,500,000 units in the United States alone. Because of this; Swing was certified as a platinum single in the United States.^[5]

In February 2009, Savage released Savage Island, the second studio album of his solo career. The release became his second consecutive top-ten entry on the New Zealand album chart debuting at number nine. The album included Moonshine from the previous album as well as a remix version of the New Zealand number-one hit Not Many. The release also featured two new singles Wild Out (Chooo Hooo) and Hot Like Fire. These songs became New Zealand singles chart hits with the former becoming Savage's fourth top-ten peaking song in the national chart. Savage appeared in an issue of Source Magazine to discuss the lyrical meanings behind the tracks of Savage Island the following month. In October 2009, Savage performed the Savage Island album track I Love The Islands, to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami relief effort.^[6]

[edit] Battle of the Century era (2010-present)

In 2010, Savage featured in "Battle of the Century", a nationwide tour across New Zealand alongside internationally successful New Zealand rapper Scribe. ^[7]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Album Title	New Zealand Chart	United States Rap Chart
Moonshine (2005)	2	-
Savage Island (2009)	9	25

^[8]

[edit] Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions			Album
		NZ	AUS	USA
2005	"Swing (original)"	1	36	-	Moonshine
	"Moonshine" (featuring Akon)	1	9	-
	"If You Love Savage"	-	-	-
	"They Don't Know" (featuring Aaradhna)	3	26	-
2008	"Swing (Remix)" (featuring Soulja Boy Tell'em)	23	-	45	Savage Island
2009	"Wild Out (Chooo Hooo)" (featuring Angel Dust & Baby Bash)	6	-	-
	"Hot Like Fire" (featuring Rock City)	26	-	-
	"I Love The Islands" (featuring Rock City)	-	-	-

^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

[edit] Featured singles

Year	Title	Chart positions			Album
		NZ	AUS	USA
2003	"Not Many - The Remix" (with Scribe and Con Psy)	1	19	-	The Crusader
2004	"Hook Up" (with Dawn Raid All-Stars)	9	-	-	Non-album single
2007	"Turn Me Loose" (with Young Divas)	-	15	-	New Attitude

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Savage's Myspace
• Dawn Raid - Savage's Official Record Label Website
• Deceptikonz Myspace
• Horsemen Family Myspace
• RIANZ Chart