Hooligan, who led the way in Malta’s rap and hip-hop scene, yesterday launched his third CD album – Triloġinali.

The album, which features 17 tracks, is an experimentation of blending rap and hip hop with dance music.

He combined his style with that of other local singers including La Barokka (classical music), Fabrizio Faniello, Adie, Dime’N’D and J’Anvil.

The main theme running through the tracks is everyday life “because this is how I express myself in my lyrics while I deliver my messages”, he said. Hooligan, who has been working on the album for the past year, also included the song It-Telgħa tal-Kalvarju, released two years ago.

“I first thought of producing this album in English. However, after feedback from my fans I decided to do the songs in Maltese. After all I am Maltese and writing rap in my mother tongue is the basis of my career…,” he said.

“The lyrics I pen are sometimes controversial but all have a positive message in them. Through these lyrics, I feel closer to people of all ages, feeding them a message that others may not do in their music.”

Hooligan made his debut on the local music scene in February 2003 with his album Oriġinali Bħali, which was an immediate hit. From then on he has performed in hundreds of musical events around Malta and Gozo.

His second project, which followed a similar curve, was the single Nieħdu Buzz, released in the summer of 2004. His second album, Hooliġinali, had 12 tracks and as a bonus included the music video of Nieħdu Buzz.

The CD album’s producer and sound engineer is Elton Zarb (Freetime Productions) while the sleeve photographs were taken by Charles Zammit of Fotogenic.