Phat Phillie is a resident DJ (and promoter) of some of Zagreb’s coolest monthly events, held at the city’s urban nightspots such as Peti Kupe, Pločnik & Aquarius… These events hosted sold-out shows by artists such as Redman & Method Man, Busta Rhymes, DJ Premier, Jazzy Jeff, De La Soul, OC and Big L (R.I.P.), Naughty By Nature, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, The Brand New Heavies, Big Daddy Kane to name a few.
Phillie got into hip-hop way back in 1984 after hearing UTFO’s Roxanne Roxanne on Zagreb’s legendary station Radio 101 and watching classic films such as Beat Street, Wild Style and Breakin’. Following a brief stay in the US in the summer of 1991, he met DJ Frx, with whom he co-hosted Blackout Rap Show since 1993, Croatia’s number-one-rated hip-hop radio show. To mark the show’s 10th anniversary, they released a double vinyl: Blackout 10 (The Best Of Hip-Hop), a compilation of the most essential tracks released by artists from Croatia’s richly diverse and exceptionally creative hip-hop scene. In 1996, Phillie started Croatia’s Zulu Nation chapter and made a move to London, UK, to further make his connections in the Hip-Hop game.
With partners from France, Portugal, and Belgium, his Blackout Hip-Hop association is spearheading an 18-month-long international EU-funded program called “She Raps” which educates, helps, and develops female MCs from the Balkan region.
