Born Federico Leonardo Lucia in Milan, Italy, socially minded rapper Fedez made a splash in 2011, when he released the download-only sets Penisola Che Non C'è and Il Mio Primo Disco da Venduto. Signed to the Sony label, his first official album, Sig. Brainwash: L'arte di Accontentare was issued in March 2013. It topped Italy's FIMI chart and was later awarded platinum status.