JóiPé & Króli are an Icelandic hip hop duo consisting of Jóhannes Damian Patreksson [1] (JóiPé, born 2000) [2] and Kristinn Óli Haraldsson [1] (Króli, born 1999). [2] They first became known for their 2017 summer hit song "B.O.B.A." [3] They had the best selling album in Iceland in 2018 [4] and won the 2018 Icelandic Music Awards for hip hop album of the year and hip hop song of the year. [5]
JóiPé & Króli began their collaboration in early 2017 when they were both in junior college. [3] JóiPé is from Garðabær and Króli from Hafnarfjörður. [1] [3] JóiPé is son of handball player Patrekur Jóhannesson [3] and nephew of the president of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. [6]
The duo first became known for their 2017 summer hit song "B.O.B.A." [3] [2] [7] It topped Icelandic music charts [3] and (although being extremely disputed) has been called one of the most popular Icelandic songs of all time. [8] It is a lighthearted and witty hip hop song referencing Hyundai i30 and Ronda Rousey. [3] [9] [7] The song's name references a well-known slipup by Bubbi Morthens in 2002 when he misspelled bomba ("bomb") when giving live commentary on a boxing match. [2] [10] The song was produced by Þormóður Eiríksson [11] from Ísafjörður. [9]
Later albums would also become popular in Iceland. [8] JóiPé's is noted for his baritone voice [12] which contrasts with Króli's tenor. The song "Í átt að tunglinu" won the 2018 Icelandic Music Awards as hip hop song of the year. [5] They performed the final song of the 2018 Áramótaskaupið. [13]