Olaf Jeglitza

Olaf Jeglitza (born 15 February 1965), known professionally as O-Jay, is a German rapper best known as the frontman of the '90s Eurodance and pop music project Real McCoy (also known as M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy).

Early life Jeglitza was born in West Berlin in 1965. After finishing school, he studied at the Lette-Verein, a technical college for photography in Schöneberg. At age 18, he started working as an independent photographer. After two years, he was hired by an advertising agency as an assistant photographer and became their head of the photo department a year later.

Music career 1984–88 In the mid-1980s, Olaf Jeglitza was a key figure in the early Berlin hip-hop scene. In 1984, Jeglitza started working with the Berlin-based DJ and musician Frank “Quickmix” Hassas (Richie) and co-founded the collective Freshline, which was built on multiple pillars: a regularly published fanzine (Freshbeat Magazin), a cassette-based radio show (Freshline Radio Show), as well as event organization and live performances under the name of their group Masterplan. Masterplan consisted of Olaf Jeglitza (O.J. The Mighty Crash), Richie (DJ Quickmix), and the third member Aram Mouchegh (The A). The aim of Freshline was to establish an independent Berlin-based hip-hop culture inspired by American models. In this context, they also planned the creation of their own hip-hop label named Freshline.

The activities of Freshline were thoroughly documented in a two-page article in the Berlin city magazine tip (Issue 2/1987), which states: “The two [O.J. and Richie] are true enthusiasts and built up the Freshline organization.” – tip Berlin, Issue 2/87 In the same spirit, Jeglitza and Richie also founded the Imperial Nation Germany, an alliance of hip-hop activists in Berlin modeled after the Zulu Nation from New York.

In 1988, Jeglitza and Hassas together with DJ Careem Da Dream (Karim Zouaui) formed a new project called the Alliance. The first single release, "Action!" was released on their own label Freshline Records. The label sold approximately 20,000 units with the help of their distribution partner 99 Records. This first 12" was followed by more releases, leading them to a first label deal with Rough Trade Records. While "Action!" and the second release "Come into My Life – Rap Version" (The Admirers) ended up being re-released by ZYX Records, the first album of the Alliance (It's Time…) and a couple of other products were released by Rough Trade.

1988–95 1988 saw the birth of the group M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy, in connection with a production request by Reinhard Piel (head of A&R at ZYX Records) for a cover version of the Technotronic hit "Pump up the Jam". The following year, the group signed a new label deal with ZYX Records and made further releases by M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy, such as the song "It's on You". They also created a number of other productions, projects and remixes. Around 1992, the label had financial problems and O-Jay started to work part-time as a photographer again.

In 1993, M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy signed a new deal with the German BMG/Hansa label. The first single, "Another Night" was only a minor hit in Europe, barely making it into the top 100 in several European countries. With the help of Vincent DeGiorgio, the song reached number one in Canada and the act was signed to Arista Records in the U.S. thanks to Arista CEO Clive Davis.

With the upcoming release of "Another Night" in the U.S., the decision was made to change the name M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy, to simply Real McCoy. The single "Another Night" reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it had a 40-week run inside the top 40. The single was certified platinum (1,000,000 copies sold), and became the best-selling single by a German artist in the American market. "Run Away", the follow-up single, entered the top 40 of the Hot 100 Singles chart on 11 March 1995, eventually also reaching number three, and being certified gold (500,000 copies sold) in the US and over 1,500,000 copies sold around the world. The album Another Night was released by Arista in the US on 28 March 1995, and the group won several awards around the world. However, despite what some sources mention, there was no Grammy nomination involved.

1999–present In 1999, after the unexpected death of his father, Jeglitza focused on the production of other artists. In 2000, he founded the production service, Blue PM Productions.

In 2001, he produced the German boy band B3 in collaboration with the Berman Brothers and the German-based production company Maxi-Media. This was followed by several other top 20 and top 10 productions.

In 2003, they produced and wrote the hit "Ab in den Süden" performed by their artist Buddy. Shortly after, O-Jay had a heart attack but made a full recovery.

As of 2006, Jeglitza has been working for several national and international labels as a producer, songwriter, publisher, and A&R adviser.

Jeglitza represented Poland, with Ich Troje, in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2007, his new label Phears Music was launched, and the Real McCoy single "People Are Still Having Sex", a cover of the song by William David LaTour, was released.

In 2009, Jeglitza performed in Canada (July 2009, Z103.5 Summer Rush Halifax and Toronto concerts) and Austria (August 2009, DJ BoBo and Friends concert) as part of the current Real McCoy formation.

Discography Album appearances Artist Album Date Credit The Alliance It's Time... 1988 Producer / songwriter / artist / executive producer MC Sar & the Real McCoy On the Move! 1990 Songwriter / artist MC Sar & the Real McCoy Space Invaders 1993 Songwriter / artist Real McCoy Another Night 1994 Songwriter / artist Real McCoy The Remix Album 1996 Songwriter / artist Real McCoy One More Time 1997 Producer / songwriter / artist B3 First 2001 Producer Yvonne Catterfeld Meine Welt 2002 Producer / songwriter Buddy Buddy Music 2003 Producer / songwriter B3 N.Y.C.B3 2003 Producer Shelo Producer Rod Michael 2003 Producer Kim Styles 2003 Producer D!Nation 2003 Producer

Single appearances Artist Title Date Credit Masterplan We Wanna Be Stars 1987 Producer / songwriter / artist Captain Hollywood & B.P.M. Tribute / JayBee 1988 Songwriter / Artist The Alliance Action! 1988 Songwriter / Artist The Admirers Come Into My Life - Rap 1988 Artist The Alliance Action! - Remix 1988 Songwriter / Artist The Admirers Come Into My Life - Rap (Re-Release) 1988 Artist The Alliance Action! - Remix (Re-Release) 1988 Songwriter / Artist D.J. Chrizz Hui Buh 1989 Producer The Alliance Sweat 1989 Songwriter / Artist EMCEE We're Cruisin´ 1989 Songwriter / Artist The Admirers Tonite 1989 Songwriter / Artist The All-Stars Hello Babe 1989 Producer / Artist Michael L. Williams That Feelin´ 1989 Producer Quickmix feat. La Rose Love Is In The House 1989 Producer / Songwriter / feat. Artist The Deep Curtain 1989 Producer Berlin Adler Touchdown 1989 Songwriter Rap IV Rap Keep On Movin´Rap 1989 Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy Pump Up The Jam Rap 1989 Artist Rap IV Rap Let's Come Together 1990 Songwriter / Artist Masterplan Stars 1990 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You 1990 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You - Remix 1990 Songwriter / Artist The Admirers Got To Get Rap 1990 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You - The Re-Remix 1990 Songwriter / Artist The Admirers Out On A Limb 1990 Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy feat. Sunday Don't Stop 1990 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy It's On You - UK-Remix 1990 Songwriter / Artist Patsy Dreamin´ 1990 Songwriter / feat. Artist Sugar Daddy Are You Ready ? 1990 Songwriter Jam Tronik "Another Day in Paradise (Remix)" 1990 Remixer / feat. Artist Jay Rapper Wake Up 1991 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy Make A Move! 1991 Songwriter / Artist Rap IV Rap Hold you tight - Rap 1991 Songwriter / Artist PRO-A Trance 1991 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy No Showbo 1991 Artist Construction Oh girl ! 1991 Producer Hype-a-delics So what ! 1991 Songwriter / feat. Artist Lucky Nineties Ohh la la la 1991 Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar Let's Talk About Love 1992 Songwriter / Artist Cold as Ice feat. Eboni ¡ Urgent ! 1992 Producer Construction Sex Is Like Fire 1992 Producer / Songwriter Kirk Smith Rise & Shine 1992 Producer M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy Another Night 1993 Songwriter / Artist M.C.Sar & The Real McCoy Automatic lover (Call for love) 1994 Songwriter / Artist M.C.Sar & The Real McCoy Automatic lover (Call for love) Remixes 1994 Songwriter / Artist M.C.Sar & The Real McCoy Run Away 1994 Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy Automatic lover (Call for love) 1995 Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy Love And Devotion 1995 Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy Come And Get Your Love 1995 Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy Sleeping With an Angel/Ooh Boy 1995 Artist Real McCoy Operator (Canadian Edition, Promo) 1995 Songwriter / Artist Tronik Magic Fly 1996 Producer Real McCoy One More Time 1997 Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy I Wanna Come (With You) 1997 Songwriter / Artist Troja Tiefer 1998 Producer Ganesha Jiggy Love 1998 Producer Juize Club Denise 1998 Producer Troja Träume 1998 Producer / Songwriter Admirers feat. Killer and Ayman Come Into My Life 1998 Producer / Songwriter Savannah I´ll Be There 1998 Producer / Songwriter / Artist M.C. Sar vs. D.J. Dee Pump Up The Jam - Rap 98 1998 Producer / Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy It's On You 1999 Producer / Songwriter / Artist Killer Bring It On 1999 Producer Der Nachbar Knall-Erbsen-Strauch (Die Antwort) 1999 Producer / Songwriter / Artist Real McCoy Hey Now 1999 Producer / Songwriter / Artist Fev-Zee Hadi Bir Bak 2000 Producer Gangsta Boogie Ernst oder Spass 2000 Producer o-jay.com Nite to remember 2000 Producer / Songwriter / Artist Blockwart P. Fett & Brutal 2000 Producer Blockwart P. Schwarze Witwe 2000 Producer Oli. P & Jan van der Toorn Girl you know it's true 2001 Producer Husam Bitte Bitte 2001 Producer Diskobitch Rock da beat 2001 Producer / Songwriter Buddy Ab in den Süden 2001 Producer / Songwriter Marie Picasso Tell the world 2001 Remixer B3 You win again 2001 Producer Catterfeld Komm zurück zu mir 2001 Producer / Songwriter Right Said Fred Mojive 2001 Producer / Remixer ATC I´m in heaven 2001 Remixer Roland Kaiser Ich geh´mit Dir wohin Du willst 2001 Remixer Marta Yeah, Yeah, Yeah 2002 Remixer Right Said Fred Stand Up (For The Champions) 2002 Remixer Acrylite What Is It ? 2002 Songwriter B3 I.O.I.O. 2002 Producer Kim Styles Every 1's A Winner 2002 Producer / feat. Artist Buddy vs. D.J. The Wave Ab in den Süden 2003 Producer / Songwriter Düse Nackig 2003 Producer Buddy vs. D.J. The Wave Ab in den Süden Remixes 2003 Producer / Songwriter Buddy Ab Auf Die Piste 2003 Producer / Songwriter Buddy Wattn Ding / Dicka gehts nich 2004 Producer / Songwriter Buddy Gott sei Dank (Wochenende) 2004 Producer / Songwriter Alexander Sunshine after the rain 2004 Producer / Remixer Daniel Küblböck The lion sleeps tonight 2004 Producer Urbi & Orbi feat. Buddy Wir sind Papst! 2005 Producer Buddy Mama Mallorca 2005 Producer / Songwriter