Xatar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Xatar
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Xatar in 2018
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Giwar Hajabi
24 December 1981 Sanandaj, Kurdistan Region, Iran
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| Died | 7 May 2025 (aged 43) Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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| Education | London Metropolitan University |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | German hip hop |
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| Years active | 2007–2025 |
| Labels | Alles oder nix Records, Groove Attack TraX |
Giwar Hajabi (born December 24, 1981 – died May 7, 2025), known as Xatar, was a German rapper and businessman. He was born in Iran to Kurdish parents. Xatar created and owned several record labels, including Alles oder Nix Records and Groove Attack TraX. He also studied Music Business at London Metropolitan University.
Contents
Xatar's Early Life and Music Journey
Growing Up and Moving to Germany
Xatar, whose real name was Giwar Hajabi, was born in 1981 in Sanandaj, Iran. His father, Eghbal Hajabi, was a music professor. In the early 1980s, his family moved to Iraq to escape conflict. During this time, his parents faced difficult situations and were imprisoned. Giwar himself was held for three months near Baghdad. Later, his family found a new home in Germany.
Starting Out as a Rapper
In the late 1990s, Giwar began rapping and making music under the name Xatar. This name means "danger" in Kurdish. He started by producing beats and rapping in a youth center's recording room.
Xatar's Music Career and Businesses
Founding Alles oder Nix Records
In 2007, Xatar started his own record label called Alles oder Nix Records. He signed his first artists, Samy and SSIO. His first album, Alles oder nix, came out in late 2008. This album featured other rappers like Azad and La Honda.
Making Music from Prison
In 2009, Xatar was involved in a robbery and later went to prison. He was sent back to Germany in 2010 and continued to run his record label from there. He even signed a new rapper, Schwesta Ewa. While in prison, he worked on his second album. He used a smuggled phone to play music and recorded his lyrics. He then sent these recordings to his label.
His second album, Nr. 415, was released in April 2012. The album's name came from his prisoner number. It became very popular, reaching number 19 on the German album charts. During his time in prison, Alles oder Nix Records also released albums by SSIO, Schwesta Ewa, and Kalim.
Reaching New Heights with Baba aller Babas
After his release, Xatar quickly released Schwesta Ewa's first album. He then started working on his third album, Baba aller Babas. This album featured many famous guest artists like SSIO and Haftbefehl. When it came out in May 2015, Baba aller Babas hit number 1 on the German charts. It also reached number 3 in Austria and Switzerland.
In 2015, Xatar and SSIO opened a shisha bar called Bar Noon in Cologne. Xatar also published his autobiography, Alles oder Nix: Bei uns sagt man, die Welt gehört dir. He presented his book at the Frankfurt Book Fair. He also started a second record label, Kopfticker Records, for different styles of rap music.
Expanding His Business Ventures
In 2016, Xatar performed at a charity event in Berlin to help fund an orphanage in Iraq. His main label, Alles oder Nix Records, continued to release successful albums. Xatar also teamed up with rapper Haftbefehl for a joint album called Der Holland Job. This album was released in August 2016 and reached number 1 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In 2017, Xatar started to expand his work beyond just music. He launched his own shisha tobacco brand, Orijinal, with Golden Pipe. He also began designing fashion and jewelry with the company Massari. Xatar helped create a music collection for the German movie Nur Gott kann mich richten. He even had small acting roles in this movie, as well as in Familiye and the TV show Blockbustaz.
In March 2018, Xatar signed a deal with Universal Music Group. This company then helped distribute his label's music. To celebrate ten years since his first album, Xatar released his fourth solo album, Alles oder Nix II, in September 2018. This album also reached number 1 on the charts.
New Labels and Restaurants
At the end of 2018, Xatar founded another label called Groove Attack TraX. Mero was the first artist to sign with this new label. Mero's first three songs and his album Ya Hero Ya Mero all reached number 1 in Germany.
In 2020, Xatar opened a fast-food restaurant called Haval Grill in Bonn. This restaurant specializes in kofta, a type of meatball. He planned for it to be the first of many restaurants. In early 2021, Xatar started another label, Goldmann Entertainment, to support international musicians. It was also announced that a movie about Xatar's life, called Rheingold, was being made.
Xatar's Passing
Xatar passed away in his apartment in Cologne, Germany, on May 8, 2025, at the age of 43. It was later shared that he had suffered a stroke in 2021. After the stroke, he worked to improve his health and lost 50 kilograms. He was buried on May 15 in the Muslim section of Bonn's Nordfriedhof cemetery.
Xatar's Works
Music Albums
- 2008: Alles oder nix
- 2012: 415
- 2015: Baba aller Babas
- 2016: Der Holland Job (with Haftbefehl)
- 2018: Alles oder Nix II
- 2021: Hrrr
Movie Soundtracks
- 2018: Nur Gott kann mich richten
Movies and TV Shows
- 2017: Nur Gott kann mich richten
- 2018: Blockbustaz
- 2018: Familiye
- 2022: Rheingold
Books
- 2015: Alles oder Nix: Bei uns sagt man, die Welt gehört dir
