Sfera Ebbasta - Rockstar (Popstar Edition) (2018)

Italian rapper Jonathan Groves (aka Sfere Ebbasta) was born and raised in Cinisello Balsamo in 1992, a fact that he often referenced in his music. At the young of 13, his father passed away, leaving Groves responsible for his mother and sister -- a responsibility he coped with by writing rhymes. Although he dropped out of school, it wasn't long before he found the means to forge a successful rap career in Italy. Alongside close friend and producer Charlie Charles, Groves spent ten years perfecting his craft; by age 23, he was regarded as an emerging talent within the Italian rap scene. Together with Charles they founded their own brand, Billionheadz, through which they released merchandise and music; their first release was a mixtape titled XDVR Reloaded. Cinisello Balsamo -- or Ciny as they referred to it -- was located just outside of Milan, and in order to further pursue their dreams, both Groves and Charles moved to the bigger city, giving them access to a wider variety of media opportunities. By 2016, Groves released his debut self-titled album; this time through publication deals with Universal and Def Jam. Sfera Ebbasta featured two collaborative tracks with French rapper SCH, "Balenciaga" and "Papers Cartier."