AraabMuzik
| AraabMuzik | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Abraham Orellana |
| Born | June 16, 1989 |
| Origin | Providence, Rhode Island, US |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, disc jockey |
| Instruments | Drums, MPC sampler, keyboard |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Araab Muzik LLC, Diplomat, Duke Da God Productions, Da Zombeez |
| Associated acts | Azealia Banks, Cam'ron, Vado, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Fabolous |
| Notable instruments | |
| MPC 2500 | |
AraabMuzik is the stage name of Abraham Orellana (born June 16, 1989), an American record producer and DJ. He first rose to fame after showcasing his skills of making live beats and instrumentals on a Music Production Center (MPC) drum machine. He uses MPC to produce rapid, rhythmic drum patterns and creates melodies with samples and other sounds.[1] He calls himself the "MVP of the MPC".[2]
Early life and education
Orellana is originally from Providence, Rhode Island, where he continues to reside.[3] He is the middle child of three in a musical household of Dominican and Guatemalan ancestry. His mother was a professional singer. He learned to play the drums at age three and began playing the keyboard and producing his own music by age ten. His influences included Swizz Beatz, Dr. Dre, Premier, J Dilla, 9th Wonder, and Alchemist.[2]
Career
After meeting with record producer and A&R of Diplomat Records, DukeDaGod in 2006, he was able to become affiliated with the Dipset label and began making music under the Duke Da God Productions imprint. He began making beats for Diplomat artists such as Hell Rell and Cam'ron.[4][5]
Whilst steadily gaining more popularity from videos of himself on the Internet showing him using the MPC to make live beats and drum patterns, he soon began getting booked for various clubs and shows to perform his music using the drum machine as an instrument. He was also featured on the Akai Pro website as an official Akai Pro artist, alongside other MPC users such as Alchemist and DiViNCi.[6]
In 2009, AraabMuzik was featured as a main producer on rapper Cam'ron's album Crime Pays, producing the single "Get It In Ohio". From 2009 to 2010, he contributed many instrumentals to a series of mixtapes called Boss of All Bosses by Cam'ron and upcoming rapper Vado. He is also noted for producing the comeback single "Salute" of rap group The Diplomats in 2010, as well as tracks for Capone-N-Noreaga's album War Report 2 and Jim Jones' Capo.
In early May 2013, he was shot in an attempted robbery. He was walking around his neighborhood in the company of his friends when several men attempted to take his money. He resisted and was shot in the process.[7]
By 2013 he was performing at electronic dance music festivals, claiming, "That’s where the money is. That’s where music is basically going".[3] In an interview with NPR he called "Salute" a different sound "that pretty much got me into the EDM".[2]
In April 2015 AraabMuzik released a music video for "Day Dreams", his first single on Dream World, to be released on June 16, 2015, via AraabMuzik Label Group/Distrolord Digital as a follow-up to his 2011 LP Electronic Dream.[8]
Production style
AraabMuzik's style often employs samples arranged and triggered in real time on the MPC drum machine, with fast-paced drum patterns involving rapid hi-hats and kick drums. He has used samples from a variety of music, including electro, dubstep, gabber, and trance music. Although his main tool is still an Akai Music Production Center (MPC) drum machine, he has also used keyboard controllers and occasionally live drums.
He has worked with several artists including ASAP Rocky and ASAP Mob, Cam'ron, Azealia Banks, Vado, The Diplomats, Hell Rell, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and Eminem, among many others.[9]
In an interview he has revealed that he made all of his music while sober.[3]
Releases
- 2010 – AraabMuzik Beatz Vol. 1 And 2
- 2010 – AraabMuzik and J. Armz: Instrumental Kings, part 5 (How To Be An MC hosted) [instrumental mixtape]
- 2011 – Electronic Dream
- 2012 – Instrumental University
- 2012 – Daytrotter Session EP
- 2013 – For Professional Use Only
- 2013 – The Remixes, Vol. 1
- 2014 – For Professional Use Only 2
- 2015 – Dream World
Production discography
References
- ↑ "AraabMuzik Bio, News, Music & Shows". DJZ.com. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley (January 20, 2015). "AraabMuzik: 'I Have So Much Music, It Doesn't Make Sense'". Microphone Check (NPR).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sowmya Krishnamurthy (July 16, 2013). "Araabmuzik on Being Shot and Why He Records Sober". MTV Hive.
- ↑ "araabMUZIK". Akaipro.com. 2011-02-13. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ↑ "Salute: Behind the Beats with AraabMuzik". Wecreatemusic.ascap.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ↑ "Akai Pro Artists". Akaipro.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ↑ Cubarrubia, RJ (3 May 2013). "AraabMuzik Shot, Recovering After Attempted Robbery". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ↑ Evan Minsker (April 20, 2015). "AraabMuzik Announces New Album Dream World, Releases 'Day Dreams' Video". Pitchfork.
- ↑ "AraabMUZIK". Schedule.sxsw.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-27.