Cilvaringz

Tarik Azzougarh (; born January 29, 1979), better known by his stage name Cilvaringz, is a Dutch-Moroccan record producer, rapper, and artist manager from Tilburg, North Brabant. He is associated with the Wu-Tang Clan and is best known for conceptualizing and producing the world's most expensive work of music, Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.

Cilvaringz was discovered by Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man at a Wu-Tang Clan concert in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on May 26, 1997. After impressing ODB with a live freestyle on stage he was introduced to RZA who signed him to Wu-Tang Records in 1999, becoming the first non-American affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Between 2002 and 2010 Cilvaringz toured the world as the official opening act of RZA, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. On April 9, 2007, he released his first solo album through five different record labels around the world, receiving critical acclaim for its return to the original Wu-Tang sound.

In April 2008 Cilvaringz conceptualized and began producing Wu-Tang Clan's secret album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin under the patronage of RZA. Forbes magazine broke the story exclusively on March 26, 2014. On May 3, 2015, the album sold for a reported US$2 million to pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, making it the most expensive musical work ever sold.

Discovery by Wu-Tang Clan On May 26, 1997, the Wu-Tang Clan performed at the Melkweg in Amsterdam as part of the Wu-Tang Forever promo tour. As the concert came to an end Wu-Tang Clan members Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man announced a freestyle session for local talent. Cilvaringz rushed to the stage but could not reach it due to the excitement of many fans. Ol' Dirty Bastard spotted Cilvaringz struggling from the side and pulled him up on stage, giving him his microphone. Capturing the attention of the entire group and crowd with his freestyle, he was pulled to the side by Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard and then introduced to RZA who was watching the freestyle from the side of the stage. When a fight broke out between the Wu-Tang Clan and a group of fans whose girlfriends were getting undressed by Ol' Dirty Bastard on stage, security rushed in and cleared the stage. Not knowing how to get backstage Cilvaringz lost contact with RZA. After that, he traveled multiple times to New York looking for RZA. According to Cilvaringz, RZA had just told him that he was interested in signing him to Wu-Tang Clan's extended group the Wu-Tang Killa Beez. In managing their careers, RPEG Ltd collaborated with De La Soul, Damon Albarn, Gorillaz, IAM, Sefyu, Mala Rodriguez and others.

In 2007, RPEG Ltd served as the executive producer for Salah Edin's debut album Nederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie which became the most controversial album in the history of Dutch Hip Hop music, also winning the Best Dutch Album Award. Later that year, Jive/Epic France and RPEG Ltd collaborated on the production of French artist La Fouine's second album Aller-Retour.

In 2008, RPEG Ltd and lawyer Margriet Koedooder sued Dutch politician Geert Wilders for wrongfully portraying the image of the artist Salah Edin in the controversial anti-Islam movie Fitna. The court ruled in favor of Salah Edin and awarded 10.000 euros in copyright infringement and defamation damages. It was the first time Wilders lost a lawsuit.

In 2010, RPEG Ltd teamed up with Universal Music Spain for the production of Mala Rodriguez's fourth studio album Dirty Bailarina. Focus was enlisted to produce the majority of the album. Dirty Bailarina won two Latin Grammy Awards for Best Urban Music Album and Best Urban Song.

Once Upon A Time In Shaolin Photo of the Wu-Tang Clan in 2004. Cilvaringz is the third person standing from the right. In 2014, Cilvaringz and RZA announced the release of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a Wu-Tang Clan album that was recorded in secret over a period of six years and of which only one single copy exists.

On May 3, 2015, the album sold to controversial pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli for a reported two million dollars, making it the most expensive musical work ever sold in the history of music. Martin Shkreli's identity as the buyer was kept secret until Bloomberg News revealed his identity in November 2016.

The Disciple documentary In January 2026, a documentary film about Cilvaringz's career and life titled The Disciple, directed by British filmmaker Joanna Natasegara, premiered in Sundance Film Festival. The film follows and documents Cilvaringz's role in the creation of the Wu-Tang Clan’s one-copy album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. It follows his journey from a huge Wu-Tang fan in the Netherlands to becoming the first non-American affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Film Cilvaringz played a small role in the movie Shouf Shouf Habibi. He also appeared in the theme song of the movie.

Discography Studio albums Artist Album Label & Year CilvaringzI Instrumental Albums Artist Album Label & Year CilvaringzThe Mental Chambers CilvaringzThe Third Chamber CilvaringzI CilvaringzThe Mental Chambers V Singles Artist Album CilvaringzThe B-Sides CilvaringzThe Stone, The Gun & The Book CilvaringzThe Weeping Tiger [DJ Van Remix] Executive Produced Albums Artist Album CilvaringzI Salah EdinNederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie Salah EdinHorr – The Album Eslam JawaadThe Mammoth Tusk Wu-Tang ClanOnce Upon a Time in Shaolin Executive Produced Singles Artist Album ManalKoulchi Ban ManalNah. feat. Shayfeen ManalTaj ManalSlay DJ VanMa Khasser Walou feat. Hanane El Khader & Mehdi Mozayine

Videography Artist Song Credit Director(s) RZAChi Kung Appearance Joseph Kahn SkrillexFuck That Appearance Nabil Elderkin FnaireYed El Henna Producer Ivan Herrera Salah EdinVrouwtje Is Een Bitch Treatment / Appearance Ivan Herrera Salah EdinGeliefd Om Gehaat Te Worden Treatment / Appearance Ivan Herrera Salah EdinNsani Ya Habibi Treatment Ivan Herrera Salah EdinTfoe [Remix] Producer / Treatment / Appearance Matt Alonzo Salah EdinGena Tahtha Aqdama Al Qumahat Producer / Treatment / Acting Matt Alonzo Eslam JawaadPivot Widdit Treatment / Appearance Ivan Herrera ManalKoulchi Ban Producer / Assistant Director / Treatment Frank Telli ManalTaj Producer / Treatment / Director Cilvaringz ManalNah Producer / Treatment / Director Cilvaringz ManalSlay Treatment Said Naciri Van feat. Hanane El Khader & Mehdi MozayineMa Khasser Walou Producer / Treatment / Director Cilvaringz