Jovanotti and Gabry Ponte

Jovanotti's career is most certainly one of evolution and growth. He started his music career working as a DJ at various clubs, eventually gaining a slot at Rome's Radio DeeJay, a prominent national radio station. Developing an infatuation with American rap, Jovanotti created his first album, "Jovanotti For President" (1988), a collection of unimaginative dance-based tracks interspersed with Jovanotti's rap quotes that was dismissed by critics. However, the album became a huge success, with Jovanotti singlehandedly bringing rap music to the Italian mainstream music scene. The singles "Gimme Five" and "E Qui La Festa" reached the top of the Italian charts, with the success bolstered by his 1989 album "La Mia Moto," catapulting Jovanotti to national stardom. Despite being considered a fad rather than a serious hip-hop artist, Jovanotti hosted his own television show, bringing legends of the rap game, such as Public Enemy and Run-D.M.C, to appear on his show.

After his third album flopped, Jovanotti was deemed a spent force. However, he was able to reestablish himself as a serious artist through his next releases, which featured a sociopolitical consciousness and intelligent pop-rap tunes that moved away from dance influences and finding some heavier grooves. 1991's "Una Tribu Che Balla" returned him to the charts, establishing his new found identity as an artist.

From here on, Jovanotti began to release album after album of hits, such as "Serenate Rap," (1994) which became one of the year's most played songs on MTV Latin America and MTV Europe, gaining international exposure for the artist. He embarked on several prestigious tours, alongside artists such as Luca Carboni,cementing his fan base and becoming a huge star.

His 1997 album, "Lorenzo 1997: L'Albero" reflected the time he had spent travelling in the two years prior, incorporating world music influences from Cuba, South America, Africa and India into his music, being one of the first artists to bring these eclectic sounds to the Italian pop charts. His song, "Bella" was a huge singalong track, becoming one of the star's biggest hits.

Jovanotti became heavily involved with humanitarian work, as well as continuing his interests in writing and painting. His musical output began to lessen after 2002, however his popularity remained and new releases in 2008, "Safari" were received with huge fanfare. This album became one of his biggest sellers, chosen as the best Italian album of the 2000's, featuring collaborations with artists as diverse as Ben Harper, Sly & Robbie and Sergio Mendes.

In recent years, Jovanotti has attempted to establish himself in the international market, with the US-only live album, "Oyeah" and his 2011 electronica-influenced "Ora" hoping to find new markets having accomplished so much in Italy. In 2011, he performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee, US, gaining new fans in America.