Markoolio

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Marko Lehtosalo (born January 1, 1975 in Lahti, Finland) better known by his stage name Markoolio, is a Swedish-Finnish multi-platinum selling recording artist, singer, musician, songwriter, actor, and comedian. His stage name Markoolio is a portmanteau on his first name Marko and the stage name of the world renowned American rapper Coolio.

Markoolio
Markoolio (Marko Lehtosalo)
Background information
Birth name	Marko Kristian Lehtosalo
Born	January 1, 1975 (1975-01-01) (age 33) Lahti, Finland
Origin	Orminge, Sweden
Genre(s)	Hip-Hop, Comedy rap
Years active	1998–present
Website	www.markoolio.com

1 Biography
2 Discography
3 Sources
4 External links

[edit] Biography

At the age of six months, Lehtosalo migrated from Finland to Sweden where he grew up completing primary and secondary school in the small Stockholm suburb of Orminge. Following the completion of his compulsory military service as a coastal ranger sniper in Ekenäs, Finland, he returned to Sweden and was discovered when rapping on a commuter train in Stockholm.^[1]

Markoolio is known in particular for his humorous songs dealing with partying, drinking, and girls such as "Sommar och sol", "Vi drar till fjällen" and "Sola och bada i pina colada"; his songs mocking contemporary life and phenomena such as "Åka Pendeltåg" and "Värsta schlagern"; and songs relating to his native Finland such as "Drömmen om Finland" and "Jag orkar inte mer".

He has released five studio albums, hosted and participated in numerous television and radio programs, and won several prizes and awards such as Male Artist of the Year at the Swedish Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2007.^[2]

He is also the owner of a nightclub and the board member of British company Netgames Holdings which he reportedly owns 3.3 percent of.^[3]

[edit] Discography

Album Information
”Sticker hårt Released: 1998 IFPI Certification: Platinum^[4] Singles: "Sommar och sol","Drömmen om Finland","Vi drar till fjällen","Åka Pendeltåg"
Dikter från ett hjärta Released: 1999 IFPI Certification: Platinum^[5] Singles: "Mera mål", "Sola och bada i pina colada","Gör det igen","Millenium 2"
Tjock och lycklig Released: 2001 IFPI Certification: Platinum^[6] Singles: "Rocka På!", "Vi ska vinna","Jag orkar inte mer"
I skuggan av mig själv Released: 2003 IFPI Certification: Platinum^[7] Singles: "Vilse i skogen" (6X-platinum single in 2003)^[8]
Suomessa Syntynyt Released: 2004 IFPI Certification: - Singles: -
Bäst Off Released: 2004 IFPI Certification: Gold^[9] Singles: "In med bollen"
Värsta Plattan Released: 2007 IFPI Certification: Double platinum^[10] Singles: "Värsta schlagern","Ingen sommar utan reggae", "Emma, Emma", "Idållåten"