Sisu Si Puya

Romanian rap group formed in January 1996, three years after B.U.G. Mafia, and two years after Parazi?ii, but still early by Romanian hip hop standards. They established a national reputation with a style of gangsta rap similar to B.U.G. Mafia and distinct from R.A.C.L.A. and Parazi?ii's acts. The group was founded by Tudor Si?u and Drago? Gardescu (a.k.a. Puya). Like many hip hop artists, they fought a hard battle for visibility and success. Si?u was raised by his mother and Puya was the youngest of four brothers, both from a periphery neighborhood of Bucharest.

The group was founded by Tudor Si?u and Drago? Gardescu (a.k.a. Puya). Like many hip hop artists, they fought a hard battle for visibility and success. Si?u was raised by his mother and Puya was the youngest of four brothers, both from a periphery neighborhood of Bucharest.

By 1997 they had held concerts throughout the country. In 1998, their album Nic?ieri nu-i ca acas? ("No Place Like Home") was one of the best selling albums in Romania, and with their video Tupeu de Borfa? ("Hustler Nerve") in heavy rotation in Romania for several months, they became well-known all over the country.

In 2003, Tudor Si?u was sentenced to 3 years in prison for drug possession and trafficking.

The same year they had a feud with the well known rap-group B.U.G. Mafia in which they lost the rights to use "La Familia" as their official name after B.U.G. Mafia's producer, Tataee, had registered the name with OSIM (the Romanian Office for Inventions and Trademarks) and asked for ?15,000 to give it back. The single Foame de bani was released as a diss-track for B.U.G. Mafia (who never officially answered it).

In 2005 Si?u and Puya founded their own music label called "Scandalos Music" and Dj Wicked become part of the band. Puya said he was interested in signing not only rap artists, but any other talented musician who wants to collaborate with them. In 2006 they signed C.I.A., a rap group from Craiova, and featured them on the Mai vrei? (You Want More?) track off the O mare familie (One Big Family) album.

In October 2005, Tudor Si?u was released on parole after serving 2 years, but he was arrested again in June 2006 by the police on grounds of drug trafficking. He stays in custody from June 2006 until October 2007 when was release from police custody. As of the and of 2007 he is still awaiting trial to finish.

In 2007 they settled their feud with B.U.G. Mafia in court, being reinstated by the court with their rights to use the "La Familia" name, the official reason being that Tataee registered the name with harmful intentions to the group's image and brand.

[edit] Band Members

* Tudor Si?u - Si?u
* Drago? Gardescu - Puya
* Nicula Adrian Daniel - Dj Wicked

[edit] Discography

* 1997 - B?ie?i de cartier (Homeboys)
* 1998 - Nic?ieri nu-i ca acas? (No Place Like Home)
* 1999 - Dumnezeu e b?iat de cartier (oare?) (Is God a Homeboy (maybe?))
* 1999 - Bine ai venit ?n paradis (Welcome To Paradise)
* 2000 - Ca la noi (Like We Do It)
* 2000 - Strada mea (My Street) - Sisu's Solo Album
* 2001 - Familiarizeaz?-te (Familiarize Yourself)
* 2002 - Punct si de la capat (Stop.From The beginning) - Puya's Solo Album Unreleased
* 2003 - Zi de zi (Day by Day)
* 2003 - Punct ?i de la cap?t (Full Stop - From The Beginning)
* 2003 - Via?? bun? (Good Life)
* 2004 - Foame de bani (Money Hunger)
* 2006 - Pune-i la p?m?nt (Single) (Knock'em to the Ground)
* 2006 - O mare familie (One Big Family)
* 2007 - De 10 ani tot ?n familie (By 10 years still in Family)