Abdominal (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Biography
He grew up in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and attended Northern Secondary School in the late 80s and early 90s, gaining a reputation there for his cartoons and graphic design work. Using the name Abdominal, he formed his first rap crew with DJ Serious and Scott C. called Rushholme and they started recording tracks. A chance meeting in 1998 with DJ Fase led to them teaming up as Abs & Fase. They began recording and released the limited single Vinyl Frontier. This drew the attention of DJ Format
DJ Format
Matt Ford, better known as DJ Format , is a hip hop DJ born in Southampton, England who lives in Brighton...
and led to them collaborating. Abdominal's raps became a standout feature on DJ Format's first album, Music For the Mature B-Boy
Music for the Mature B-Boy
-Track listing:# "Intro# "Ill Culinary Behaviour" # "We Know Something You Don't Know" # "Last Bongo In Brighton "# "The Hit Song" # "Here Comes The Fuzz"...
, released in 2003. From 2003 to 2005 they toured as part of Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
's European tour while in 2004 Abs and Fase released an album called Flowtation Device. Abdominal also appeared on DJ Format's second album, If You Can't Join 'Em… Beat 'Em
If You Can't Join 'Em… Beat 'Em
-Track listing:# "Intro"# "3 Feet Deep" # "Participation Prerequisite" # "Another One of Those Songs" # "The Turning Point"# "Ugly Brothers"...
, in 2005, alongside fellow Canadian rapper, D-Sisive.
His first solo album, Escape from the Pigeon Hole
Escape from the Pigeon Hole
Escape from the Pigeon Hole is the debut studio album of Canadian hip hop artist Abdominal.-Track listing:...
, was released in May 2007 in the United Kingdom by Antidote Records
Antidote Records
-Currently signed artists:*Abdominal*Aspects*DJ Format*DJ MK*DJ Paul Nice*DJ Shortkut*DJ Yoda*DJ Yoda & Dan Greenpeace*Juju & Bloody Moon*Madlib*The Nextmen*Osymyso*Prince Paul*Quasimoto*Steinski*Ugly Duckling...
and features collaborations with DJ Format
DJ Format
Matt Ford, better known as DJ Format , is a hip hop DJ born in Southampton, England who lives in Brighton...
, Cut Chemist
Cut Chemist
Lucas MacFadden , better known as Cut Chemist, is an American DJ and record producer. He is a former member of the funk Latin band Ozomatli, and of hip hop group Jurassic 5...
, DJ Fase, DJ Serious, Notes to Self, Circle Research, Young Einstein from hip-hop group Ugly Duckling
Ugly Duckling (hip hop group)
Ugly Duckling is an American hip hop group that formed around 1993 in Long Beach, California. Ugly Duckling's members include Dizzy Dustin , Young Einstein and Andy Cat . They took the name Ugly Duckling because they felt like outcasts on the Southern California hip hop scene of the mid-1990s...
and jazz musician Elizabeth Shepherd
The Elizabeth Shepherd Trio
The Elizabeth Shepherd Trio is a Juno Award nominated jazz outfit from Toronto, Canada, fronted by vocalist and pianist Elizabeth Shepherd.The trio is completed with bassist Scott Kemp and drummer Colin Kingsmore...
.
Aside from being a recording artist Abdominal also appears regularly at the Supermarket Club in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
hosting 'Do Right Saturdays' alongside DJ Fase and others from the Toronto hip hop scene.
In June 2007 Abdominal toured the UK with DJ Fase. During their performance at the Jazz Café
Jazz Café
The Jazz Café is a music venue in Parkway in Camden Town, London, England. It opened in 1990, in the former premises of Barclays Bank, and has been run by Mean Fiddler Music Group since 1992, now a subsidiary of the MAMA Group.-History:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Abdominal & DJ Fase were joined by DJ Format
DJ Format
Matt Ford, better known as DJ Format , is a hip hop DJ born in Southampton, England who lives in Brighton...
onstage for a version of Format's song, "Ill Culinary Behaviour".
His song "Pedal Pusher", co-written with Rodney Pleasant, won the 2007 Echo Songwriting Prize, awarded for the best song in Canadian independent music by the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.
His latest collaboration is with UK duo, Jellybass on a track called 'Transatlantic', available in March 2008.
He is currently working on a second album with The Obliques which will use no sampling and solely rely on live instruments. It's due out late 2010 or 2011.
Discography
- Flowtation Device – 2004
- Escape from the Pigeon HoleEscape from the Pigeon HoleEscape from the Pigeon Hole is the debut studio album of Canadian hip hop artist Abdominal.-Track listing:...
– 2007 - Sitting Music – 2011
Music videos
- "DJ Format (Feat Abdominal) - The Hit Song", directed and hosted by Ruben Fleischer
- "DJ Format (Feat Abdominal) - Vicious Battle Raps", directed and hosted by Ruben Fleischer
- "DJ Format (Feat Abdominal & D-Sisive) - 3 Feet Deep", directed and hosted by Keith Schofield
- "Abdominal - Abdominal Workout", directed by Adam Christl and hosted by 3AM Design