Xatar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Xatar
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Xatar in 2018
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| Born |
Giwar Hajabi
24 December 1981 |
| Died | 8 May 2025 (aged 43) |
| Education | London Metropolitan University |
| Occupation |
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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 (Kurdish: ژیوار حاجبی, romanized: Jîwar Hacibî), known as Xatar, was a German entrepreneur, publisher, rapper, and producer. He was of Kurdish descent. Xatar also started and owned several music labels. These included Alles oder Nix Records, Kopfticker Records, Groove Attack TraX, and Goldmann Entertainment.
Through his labels, Xatar helped many hip hop artists become famous. Some of these artists were SSIO, Schwesta Ewa, Kalim, Eno, and Sero el Mero. Besides music, Xatar also started other businesses. He had a fast food company called Haval Grill. He also owned a hookah lounge called Bar Noon. He created a tobacco brand named Orijinal. Xatar also designed jewelry and clothing for his brand Massari. In 2015, he wrote his own life story in a book. It was called Alles oder Nix: Bei uns sagt man, die Welt gehört dir. The newspaper Die Zeit called him "The Hype Machine." This means he was very good at making new businesses successful.
Career
Early Life
Xatar, whose real name was Giwar Hajabi, was born in 1981. His parents were Kurdish and lived in Sanandaj, Iran. He passed away on May 9, 2025. His father, Eghbal Hajabi, was a music professor. In the early 1980s, his family moved to nearby Iraq to escape conflict. At that time, the first Gulf War was happening. Later, his parents were held in prison in Iraq. Giwar himself was also held for three months near Baghdad.
Music and Business Journey
Starting as a Rapper and Founding Alles oder Nix Records
In the late 1990s, Giwar Hajabi started using the name Xatar. This name means "danger" in Persian (Farsi). He began rapping and making beats in a youth center. In 2007, he created his own music label, Alles oder Nix Records. This label partnered with Groove Attack for music distribution. The first artists he signed were Samy and SSIO.
His first album, Alles oder nix, came out in November 2008. Other artists like Samy, SSIO, and Azad also appeared on the album. Less than a year after its release, a German board reviewed Xatar's first album. They decided it was not suitable for young people.
In 2010, Xatar faced a challenging time and was away for a period. However, he continued to manage Alles oder Nix Records remotely. During this time, he signed the rapper Schwesta Ewa. He also worked on his second album. He found creative ways to record his music and send it to his label. The album, called Nr. 415, was released in April 2012. It was named after a number he used during that time. The album did very well. It reached number 19 on the German album charts. It also charted in Switzerland and Austria. While Xatar was away, Alles oder Nix Records also released albums by SSIO, Schwesta Ewa, and Kalim.
Big Success with Baba aller Babas and Working with Haftbefehl
One month after his return, Xatar released Schwesta Ewa's first album, Kurwa. At the same time, he started making his third album. Many famous artists joined him on this album. These included SSIO, Haftbefehl, Schwesta Ewa, and Kalim. In May 2015, his album Baba aller Babas was released. It became number 1 on the German charts. It also reached number 3 in Austria and Switzerland.
In the same year, Xatar and SSIO opened a Shisha bar called Bar Noon in Cologne. On October 12, 2015, Xatar published his autobiography. It was called 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 label, Kopfticker Records. This label was for rappers with a different style. Plusmacher was the first artist on this new label.
In early 2016, Xatar performed at a charity event in Berlin. The event helped raise money for an orphanage in northern Iraq. Other artists like Azad and Haftbefehl also performed. In the same year, Xatar's main label released successful albums. These included SSIO's 0,9, which hit number 1. In May 2016, Xatar and Haftbefehl announced a joint album. It was called Der Holland Job. This album also reached number 1 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Growing Business and Partnering with Universal Music
In 2017, Alles oder Nix Records released albums by Samy and Kalim. Kopfticker Records also released several albums. In November, Xatar closed his second label, Kopfticker Records. This meant artists like Eno and Yonii lost their contracts. At the same time, he announced a new platform called PUSH. This platform allowed artists to show their music. If they got enough views, they could release an album.
In 2017, Xatar also expanded his work beyond music. He started a shisha tobacco brand called Orijinal. He also began designing fashion and jewelry with Massari. Xatar helped create a music collection for the German movie Nur Gott kann ich richten. He also had a small acting role in that movie. He appeared in the film Familiye and the TV show Blockbustaz.
In March 2018, Xatar signed a deal with Universal Music Group. This company now helps distribute his label's music. In September, Xatar released his fourth solo album, Alles oder Nix II. This was to celebrate ten years since his first album. Famous rappers like Capital Bra and Azet were featured on it. Alles oder Nix II was Xatar's third album to reach number 1. Eno, who joined Alles oder Nix Records, also released a successful album. Schwesta Ewa and Samy released albums in 2018 as well.
Starting Groove Attack TraX, Haval Grill, and Goldmann Entertainment
At the end of 2018, Xatar started a new label called Groove Attack TraX. He partnered with Groove Attack for this. Mero was the first artist to sign with them. Mero's first three songs and his album Ya Hero Ya Mero all reached number 1 in Germany. His song Baller los also earned gold records in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In May 2019, Eno's album Fuchs was released by Alles oder Nix Records. His song Ferrari with Mero was number 1 in three countries.
In May, a documentary discussed how music streaming numbers might be influenced. The documentary mentioned Mero and Sero el Mero. Xatar denied any claims that he had bought "fake streams." Groove Attack and Groove Attack TraX also stated they never tried to unfairly make artists famous. Around this time, Groove Attack TraX signed rapper Sero el Mero. His album BabyFaceFlow came out in August.
In summer 2020, Xatar opened his fast food restaurant, Haval Grill. This restaurant in Bonn specializes in kofta. It was the first of many planned locations. Xatar also started selling his restaurant's food as frozen food. In early 2021, Xatar created Goldmann Entertainment. This new label aimed to promote international musicians. It was also announced that German director Fatih Akin would make a movie about Xatar's life. The movie would be called Rheingold. Actor Emilio Sakraya was set to play Xatar.
Work
Discography
- Studio albums
- 2008: Alles oder nix
- 2012: 415
- 2015: Baba aller Babas
- 2016: Der Holland Job (with Haftbefehl)
- 2018: Alles oder Nix II
- 2021: Hrrr
- Soundtracks
- 2018: Nur Gott kann mich richten
- EPs
- 2018: AGB 1
- 2018: AGB 2
- Singles
- 2008: § 31
- 2012: Interpol.com
- 2015: Original
- 2015: Iz Da
- 2015: Mein Mantel
- 2016: 500 (with Haftbefehl)
- 2016: Ich zahle gar nix (with Haftbefehl)
- 2017: Status Qou
- 2018: Nur Gott kann mich richten (with Samy & Gringo)
- 2018: Balla (with Azet)
- 2018: Weiter Weg (with Nu)
- 2018: Gaddafi
- 2018: Schwesterherz
- 2020: Bayda (with Navid Zardi)
Filmography
- 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, Riva Verlag, Munich, ISBN: 978-3-86883-755-1
