Cell 7

Ragna Kjartansdottir, also known as CELL7, is a Filipino-Icelandic rapper, songwriter and sound engineer. In 2013 she returned to the music scene, after a long hiatus, and released her first solo album, CELLF. The album received outstanding reviews and was mentioned on most national lists for the best Icelandic albums of the year 2013. Moreover, the album received the Kraumur Music Award, chosen by a diverse panel of experienced Icelandic music and radio journalists. CELL7 initially gained recognition as one of the rappers in the first Icelandic hip-hop group, Subterranean, while still a teenager. Their first album, Central Magnetizm, was well received by the public and sold out quickly. The same year the band was voted the most promising band at the Icelandic Music Awards. CELL7 was also nominated in the category “Best Female Artist”, a first for an Icelandic hip-hop artist. Subterranean played a number of live shows and opened for several world-renowned artists such as The Fugees and De La Soul. After Subterranean, Cell7 sought out an education in sound engineering in New York since at the time such education was not accessible in Iceland. After finishing her degree, she interned at the prestigious Chung King Studios in Manhattan, which is known for recording artists such as Timbaland, Talib Kweli and Beastie Boys. Upon returning home she focused on her career as a sound engineer for several years. However, the urge to make music never left her. The year 2013 CELL7 therefore decided to make her first solo record. The album, entitled CELLF, was released November 4th 2013. CELL7 joined forces with two of Iceland’s best producers, Earmax and Introbeats, in working on the album. She also collaborated with singer songwriters Lori Walsh, Drífa Sigurðardóttir and Sunna Ingólfsdóttir. Other contributors to the album include the polish powerhouse production team PlanB. This rap veteran has maintained a significant following throughout the years and with her extensive performance experience and DJ Big Gee by her side, her live performance promises to be dynamic and energetic, taking audiences back to hip hop’s golden era with DJ cuts, crowd anthems as well as something new and unheard of - but always hip hop infused.