Rina Balaj
Born (1999-01-27) 27 January 1999
Peja, FR Yugoslavia
NationalityKosovo-Albanian
CitizenshipKosovo
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer
Years active2017 – present
Musical career
GenresTrap
Labels

Rina Balaj (Albanian: [ɾiˈna baˈlaj]; born 27 January 1999), known mononymously as Rina, is a Kosovo-Albanian rapper and singer.

Life and career

1999–2019: Early life and career beginnings

Rina Balaj was born on 27 January 1999 into an Albanian family in the city of Peja and raised in Istok, then part of the FR Yugoslavia, present Kosovo.[2][3][4] At age 16, Balaj unsuccessfully auditioned for the fourth season of X Factor Albania in 2015.[5][6] In December 2017, she was featured on Albanian singer Endri's single "Janari" and reached number 6 in Albania.[3][7][8] Eventually signed by OnRecords, her debut single "Për ty" followed afterwards in March 2018.[9] In September 2018, Balaj released her breakthrough single "Gigi" in collaboration with Greek-Albanian rapper Sin Boy.[10] The single initially attained success in Albania, peaking at number 8, and later became acclaimed in neighbouring Greece, reaching the top 3.[11][12]

2020–present: Mama and Balerina

In May 2020, Balaj released her first collaborative album, MM, with Sin Boy featuring songs written in Albanian, Greek and English.[13][14][15][16] Four subsequent singles, "Meredith", "Tentacion", "GG" and "Sari" were released from the collaborative album.[17][18][19] "Meredith" peaked at number 86 in Greece, while "Tentacion" reached the top five peaking at number four.[12] "Sari" also experienced commercial success and reached number 32 in Albania and 52 in Greece, respectively.[11][12] In June 2020, her follow-up single, "Fallin In Love", went on to reach number 33 in Greece.[12][20] Later that year in December 2020, her single "Zjarr" in collaboration with Sin Boy reached number 35 in her native country.[11][21]

Artistry

Balaj's music style has generally been regarded as trap although her music also includes various styles of musical genres such as R&B and hip hop.[7][21][22] She has cited American rapper Post Malone as her favourite artist.[23] Music critics compared her music and appearance to that of American rapper Cardi B.[6][24] MM, the collaborative studio album with Sin Boy, was praised for recreating pop music and also adapting to different styles including reggaeton, disco and house.[16][25]

Personal life

In 2019, Balaj began a romantic relationship with Greek-Albanian rapper Sin Boy.[6][26][27]

Discography

Albums

  • MM (2020)
  • Balerina (2021)

Singles

As lead artist

2010s
List of singles in the 2010s decade, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak
chart
positions		 Album
ALB
[11]		 GRE
[12]
"Për ty" 2018 31— Non-album single
"Ska konkurenc"
(featuring Fero)		 2—
"Ashiqare" 33—
"Mami" 28—
"Gigi"
(featuring Sin Boy)		 51
"Fly"
(featuring Fuego)		 2—
"Ilegal" 2019 29—
"Qikat"
(featuring Adelina Ismajli)		 ——
"Jumanji"
(featuring Blake)		 ——
"Ideal"
(featuring Koston)		 ——
"Meredith"
(with Sin Boy)		 —86 MM
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
2020s
List of singles in the 2020s decade, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak
chart
positions		 Album
ALB
[28]		 GRE
[29]
"Tentacion"
(with Sin Boy)		 2020 —4 MM
"GG"
(with Sin Boy)		 ——
"Sari"
(with Sin Boy)		 3252
"Fallin In Love"
(with Sin Boy)		 —33 Non-album single
"Zjarr" 35—
"Bad Rosita" 2021 —— Balerina
"California" ——
"Addiction" 16—
"Mia" 57—
"Sativa" 2022 17— Non-album single
"Demon" ——
"Blue"
(with Amelia)		 73—
"Si ti"
(with Sin Boy)		 3939
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak
chart
positions		 Album
ALB
[30]
"Janari"
(Endri featuring Rina)		 2017 6 Non-album single
"Down On Me"
(K Koke featuring Rina)		 2018 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ↑ "Rina – Universal Music France" (in French). Universal Music France. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Rina Balaj – Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Rina Balaj #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Channel. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Παππά, Μαρία (2 April 2021). "Rina, η σταρ των Βαλκανίων" (in Greek). Lifo. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Gashi, Fjolla (3 January 2021). "Tayna, Enca Haxhia dhe Rina Balaj – Rrugëtimi i artisteve nga 'talent show' në majat e suksesit". Telegrafi (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Bairaktaris, Yannis (26 May 2020). "Πριν τον Sin Boy, η Rina ξεκίνησε έναν 'πόλεμο' στην Αλβανία" (in Greek). OneMan. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Endri dhe Rina sjellin 'Janarin' në dhjetor" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "Bëri debutimin në skenë tre vite më parë, Rina Balaj falënderon fansat për përkrahje" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Rina publikon këngën e re 'Për ty'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "'Gigi' është dueti i Rinës me Sin Boy". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 4 September 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 For peak positions in Greece:
  13. ↑ "MM / Sin Boy". Tidal. 16 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Rina Balaj dhe Sin Boy lansojnë albumin 'MM'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 16 May 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ο Sin Boy και η Rina επιστρέφουν με το 'MM album'" (in Greek). Neolaia. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Η θριαμβευτική επιστροφή του Sin Boy με ένα υπέροχο, απόλυτα feel good άλμπουμ" (in Greek). Lifo. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Sin Boy Meredith: Οι στίχοι από το νέο τραγούδι του trapper που σαρώνει" (in Greek). Alpha Press. 29 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Rina Balaj dhe Sin Boy sjellin këngën e re 'Tetancion'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Rina Balaj dhe Sin Boy publikojnë duetin 'GG'" (in Albanian). Literal Media. 16 May 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "Rina dhe Sin Boy sjellin këngën e re 'Fallin' in love'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  21. 1 2 "Rina e merr 'Zjarrin' me terezi" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Η Rina του Sin Boy είναι η πιο καuτή τράπερ της Αλβανίας" (in Greek). Pink. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "Ky këngëtar është i preferuari i Rina Balaj" (in Albanian). Ballkani. 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  24. ↑ Velija, Kreizia (5 July 2018). "Top awards: A është Rina, Cardi B shqiptare?" (in Albanian). Top Albania Radio. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  25. ↑ Bairaktaris, Yannis (19 May 2020). "Ο νέος Sin Boy δεν θυμίζει σε τίποτα τον παλιό" (in Greek). OneMan. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "Rina Balaj në lidhje me reperin Sin Boy?". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "Sin Boy: Η δημόσια ερωτική εξομολόγηση στη σύντροφο του μέσω Instagram" (in Greek). Fthis. 6 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  28. ↑ For peak positions in Albania:
  29. ↑ For peak positions in Greece:
  30. ↑ For peak positions in Albania:
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