Jake La Furia is an Italian rapper, DJ, producer, and founder of influential Italian rap crews Sacre Scuole, Club Dogo, and Dogo Gang. His work has ranged from gritty hardcore rap to more polished, danceable pop-rap. Born Francesco Vigorelli in Milan in 1979, and initially going by the moniker Fame, he co-founded Sacre Scuole with Dargen d'Amico and Guè Pequeno in 1999. The group released one album, 3 MC's al Cubo, before breaking up in 2001 due to creative differences between Fame and Dargen d'Amico. Fame (changing his pseudonym to Jake La Furia) and Guè Pequeno then founded Club Dogo along with Don Joe, who had produced a track on 3 MC's al Cubo. The group's anime-inspired debut album, Mi Fist, arrived in 2003 on MiResidenza Entertainment, and was an immediate commercial and critical success, becoming one of the country's biggest-selling independent records of the year. Vibrarecords reissued the album the following year. Club Dogo then teamed up with Marracash to form the Dogo Gang collective, releasing mixtapes PMC vs Club Dogo - The Official Mixtape (2004) and Roccia Music (2005). Club Dogo's second album, Penna Capitale, was released by Vibrarecords in 2006. Lyrically, the album was more personal and introspective than previous works, as well as more socially conscious. Club Dogo subsequently signed to Virgin and released Vile Denaro, their most accessible and commercially minded album to date, which hit number 11 on the Italian charts. Dogo Gang released their first official album, Benvenuti Nella Giungla, in 2008. Meanwhile, Club Dogo signed with Universal, which released Dögöcrazïa in 2009. The album featured several collaborations with Italian rappers as well as American MCs Kool G Rap and Infamous Mobb, and was an even bigger success, hitting the Italian Top Ten. The 2010 album Che Bello Essere Noi continued the group's growth in popularity, hitting number two on the charts. The 2012 follow-up Noi Siamo il Club marked the group's shift toward dance music, recalling an updated version of the early-'90s hip-house sound. The album hit number one and eventually went platinum, spawning several hit singles. Jake La Furia announced intentions to release solo material in 2013, and Musica Commerciale appeared late in the year. The album hit number two on the charts and went gold early in 2014. Club Dogo returned that year with Non Siamo Più Quelli di Mi Fist, another number one smash. ~ Paul Simpson
