Jack Parow

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Last updated 27 07 11

Jack Parow Bio: 

PAROW Dangerous Romantic Afrikaans Rapper

I was really drunk and was watching Pirates of the Caribbean and I said: "Jack Sparrow the pirate of the Caribbean, I'm Jack Parow, pirate of the caravan park." Jack Parow

A Brief History 

Twenty-eight years ago, Zan der Tyler was born in Parow, Cape Town. Today he is known as Jack Parow, original donker dodgy afrikaans rapper. Contrary to popular belief, his wild-fire success did not happen overnight. Jack started out rapping with crews from the Cape Flats and has been at it for nine years. 

He studied to be a mechanic, but had to take jobs like packing fish in Cape Town harbour and allocated graves for the Cemetery Division of the Cape Town municipality to support his rap habit. Performing only for a beer and pizza soon changed, when his collaboration with Die Heuwels Fantasties on the track, Die Vraagstuk, put him in the limelight. 

It's been almost two years since his breakthrough in 2009 and since Jack Parow has released his first self-titled full length album that struck gold within two weeks of its release and went platinum within a year; headlined at major festivals in South Africa; toured Europe and played before packed out shows there. His music video for the hit Cooler as Ekke has over 1 million views on YouTube. His songs are hits on national radio stations and he has been on prime TV shows and on covers and centre-folds of publications in South Africa and in Europe. 

"...it is safe to say that he is one of the most popular artists in the country at the moment." Rebecca Khan - Rapport My Tyd

Discography: 

COOLER AS EKKE - EP 

Jack Parow released an EP in December 2009. It was released on a USB flash drive in the shape of an ice-cream, and featured 10 songs as well as 6 music videos, only 600 of these flash drives were produced. They were sold out instantly. 

JACK PAROW - FULL LENGTH ALBUM 

The debut full length album was released at the end of April 2010. This album reached gold status within two weeks and topped the best seller charts of Musica and Look and Listen stores. The album reached platinum status in February 2011, less than a year after the album's release. 

He collaborated with Francois van Coke (Fokofpolisiekar & Van Coke Kartel), Die Heuwels Fantasties, rapper JR and others on this album. 

The photos on the album sleeve were taken by Sacha Waldman. He has photographed artists such as Eminem, Jay Z, David Bowie and 50 Cent.

Reviews: 

"It's like a smack upside the head followed by the best kiss of your life. Jack Parow is a brilliant lyricist - Afrikaans or English - and his words have been perfectly set to bouncing beats." Jo-Ann King - Heat 

The rapper's lyrics are so funny on the album that you want to SMS them to your friends immediately. Yvonne Beyers - Huisgenoot

Parow is cool Internationally: 

Australian booking agent, Screaming House, as well as Dutch booking agent, Agents After All both represents Parow. In America, he is represented by Paradigm, who has Snoop Dogg and My Chemical Romance on their books. 

Jack Parow completed three very successful tours to Europe last year, including show at the PukkelPop Festival in Belgium, as well as the Lowlands Festival in Holland in August 2010. He will return for another tour at the end of April 2011. 

International media has picked up on this phenomenon. He has been on the covers of Live XS (Holland) and NL20 (Holland) and was featured in Global Post (USA), BoingBoing (USA), Dazed and Confused (UK), Vice (Holland) amongst many others. 

Cooler as Ekke was on rotation on MTV Europe and was featured on RTL Nieuws.nl 's (NL) Summer Hit Chart. This hit was also Single of the Week on 2voor12 radio (NL) last year. Parow's tracks have even travelled as far as WKDU 91.7 FM in Philadelphia (USA). He has been interviewed by radio stations in Germany, Belguim and Holland and was on high rotation on Radio Brussels. 

Fans across the globe are learning Afrikaans because they love his music and vibe. Solid proof that Parow is world class, indeed.

Fast Facts: 

    * A little know fact is that Parow started Die Antwoord with Ninja and Yo-Landi Visser, but he chose to follow his own creative path.

    * He has his own clothing label, Parowphernalia and his special braai sauce will the shelves in 2011.

    * Parow is the face of the Pendoring Awards 2010.

    * Jack Parow was the ambassador for Movember in Holland in November 2010

    * A GPS with Jack Parow's voice is available: www.gps-creative.com/products/jack-parrow.

    * Jack Parow's website hosts a KIEF online video game: www.jackparow.com.

    * Cooler as Ekke was play listed on 5 FM. Only Fokofpolisiekar has managed to get all Afrikaans tracks play listed on this station. I miss was the next single to be on high rotation on 5FM. Three is a charm with the play listing of Byellville in April 2011.

    * Parow's tracks are on high rotation on most radio stations in South Africa, including Y FM, SA's largest Urban youth station.

    * Must read: www.thoughtleader.co.za/davidjsmith/2010/02/03/is-afrikaans-cooler-as-engels/

    * The music videos for Cooler as Ekke and Dans Dans Dans reached No1 on MK's Top 10.

    * He is scared of spiders.

Good to know: 

What is your best attribute?

"My moustache... it's an attribute alright!" 

Worst attribute?

"I never think before I speak."

Where do you get your inspiration for your lyrics from?

"Parties, drunk people, lekker cars, lekker tunes...basically anything crosses my path."