Bad Rabbits
Encyclopedia
Bad Rabbits is an American Pop
/ Funk / Punk / R&B band from Boston, Massachusetts, founded in September 2007. The band consists of Fredua Boakye (Vocals), Sheel Davé (Drums), Salim Akram (Guitar), Graham Masser (Bass), and Santiago Araujo (Guitar). Sheel, Santiago and Fredua are first generation descendants of Indian
, Argentinean, and Ghanaian lineage. All five members of the band originally played in the Boston-based band The Eclectic Collective
, which in 2007 they reworked and renamed Bad Rabbits. The band released an early demo in 2008 called “The Bad EP” and followed up with their debut EP, “Stick Up Kids,” in December 2009. Bad Rabbits performed as the backing band for legendary rapper Slick Rick
the Ruler in 2007-2010. They have been nominated for five Boston Music Awards, winning Best Pop
/R&B band in 2010. Bad Rabbits also won the 2010 Phoenix Music Poll award for Most Downloaded Band. Throughout 2010-2011, they have gone on five national tours, including the 2011 Vans Warped Tour. The band is currently finishing production of two separate albums: one with producer Teddy Riley (Michael Jackson
, Lady Gaga
, Blackstreet
, Bobby Brown
, Guy
), and one with Oakland, CA, producer B. Lewis. Releases are tentatively scheduled for 2012.
, and Araujo was playing in a jam/rock band with Masser. A mutual friend introduced Masser and Araujo to Davé at the YMCA
dormitory on Northeastern’s campus. Davé, who had previously gone to summer camp in the Boston suburbs with Akram, had been writing music with Akram and Boakye at the YMCA
. He invited Araujo and Masser to jam with them at their practice space in Brockton, MA, where the group wrote in the Summer/Fall of 2002. They performed their first show as The Eclectic Collective
on January 16, 2003, at All Asia in Cambridge. The lineup also included RP Thompson on keys and Geoff “DJ Special Blend” Ford on turntables. The band went through various lineup changes but primarily included Akram, Boakye, Davé, Araujo, Masser, Thompson, Ford, as well as singer Noni Kai on vocals, trumpet player and rapper Peter “Afrodzak” Shungu, and saxophonist Robert Oswald. After two independent album releases and a tour in the Fall of 2007 with artist Gavin Castleton
, the group decided to call it quits.
Not happy with the direction The Eclectic Collective
had taken, the band decided to change its name and overall direction. Ford, Shungu, Oswald, and Kai went their separate ways, and Thompson stayed on as a studio performer for the band. Bad Rabbits takes its name from one of Castleton’s songs, which the group performed while on tour with him.
, Crookers
, Roxy Cottontail, Hot Pink Delorean, and Alex Suarez
. Tracks on this release is as follows: "Booties" , "Neverland", "Stick Up Kids", "Girl I'm Like Damn!" (featuring Travie McCoy
of Gym Class Heroes
), "She's Bad", "Advantage Me" , "Can't Back Down."
and meet with several producers. The band spent one day in the studio with producer Mike Elizondo
(Dr. Dre
, Eminem
, 50 Cent
, Maroon 5
, Gwen Stefani
). Karmaloop.com CEO Greg Selkoe
introduced the band to famed New Jack Swing
creator and producer Teddy Riley
. After an initial meeting at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA, Riley signed on to produce their full-length album. Writing and recording for the album, which is tentatively titled American Dream, began during their June visit and continued throughout the summer at Encore Studios in Burbank and Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA. The album is slated for release in 2012. In Spring 2011, the band began work on a new EP tentatively titled American Love with Oakland, CA, producer B. Lewis. The album is also slated for release in 2012.
Richard Paul Thompson (studio musician)
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/ Funk / Punk / R&B band from Boston, Massachusetts, founded in September 2007. The band consists of Fredua Boakye (Vocals), Sheel Davé (Drums), Salim Akram (Guitar), Graham Masser (Bass), and Santiago Araujo (Guitar). Sheel, Santiago and Fredua are first generation descendants of Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Argentinean, and Ghanaian lineage. All five members of the band originally played in the Boston-based band The Eclectic Collective
The Eclectic Collective
The Eclectic Collective was a crossover band from Boston, Massachusetts. Members include Dua Boayke , Salim Akram , Sheel Dave , RP Thompson , Graham Masser , Special Blend , Santi Araujo , AfroDZak , Rob Oswald , and Noni Kai...
, which in 2007 they reworked and renamed Bad Rabbits. The band released an early demo in 2008 called “The Bad EP” and followed up with their debut EP, “Stick Up Kids,” in December 2009. Bad Rabbits performed as the backing band for legendary rapper Slick Rick
Slick Rick
Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
the Ruler in 2007-2010. They have been nominated for five Boston Music Awards, winning Best Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/R&B band in 2010. Bad Rabbits also won the 2010 Phoenix Music Poll award for Most Downloaded Band. Throughout 2010-2011, they have gone on five national tours, including the 2011 Vans Warped Tour. The band is currently finishing production of two separate albums: one with producer Teddy Riley (Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, Blackstreet
Blackstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
, Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
, Guy
Guy (band)
Guy are a hip hop, R&B and soul band most closely associated with the new jack swing style of the 1980s and 1990s.-Origins :Guy was formed in Harlem, New York in 1987 by R&B singer-songwriters Aaron Hall, young musician/record producer Teddy Riley and Timmy Gatling...
), and one with Oakland, CA, producer B. Lewis. Releases are tentatively scheduled for 2012.
Early History
The five members of Bad Rabbits first came together in 2002 while attending Northeastern University and Audio Institute in Boston, MA. Around this time, Boakye and Akram were performing as a duo, Davé was a member of experimental metal band IrepressIrepress
Irepress is a five-piece instrumental rock / metal band from Sharon, Massachusetts. Associated with the Boston music scene, Irepress have been together since high school, and remain a band to this day. Their unique and complex sound fuses elements of dance, metal, sludge, and electronica...
, and Araujo was playing in a jam/rock band with Masser. A mutual friend introduced Masser and Araujo to Davé at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
dormitory on Northeastern’s campus. Davé, who had previously gone to summer camp in the Boston suburbs with Akram, had been writing music with Akram and Boakye at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. He invited Araujo and Masser to jam with them at their practice space in Brockton, MA, where the group wrote in the Summer/Fall of 2002. They performed their first show as The Eclectic Collective
The Eclectic Collective
The Eclectic Collective was a crossover band from Boston, Massachusetts. Members include Dua Boayke , Salim Akram , Sheel Dave , RP Thompson , Graham Masser , Special Blend , Santi Araujo , AfroDZak , Rob Oswald , and Noni Kai...
on January 16, 2003, at All Asia in Cambridge. The lineup also included RP Thompson on keys and Geoff “DJ Special Blend” Ford on turntables. The band went through various lineup changes but primarily included Akram, Boakye, Davé, Araujo, Masser, Thompson, Ford, as well as singer Noni Kai on vocals, trumpet player and rapper Peter “Afrodzak” Shungu, and saxophonist Robert Oswald. After two independent album releases and a tour in the Fall of 2007 with artist Gavin Castleton
Gavin Castleton
Gavin Castleton is a musician/songwriter from Providence, Rhode Island. Originally known for his work with Gruvis Malt as keyboardist and singer, Castleton has also released seven full length albums and 5 EPs Gavin Castleton is a musician/songwriter from Providence, Rhode Island. Originally known...
, the group decided to call it quits.
Not happy with the direction The Eclectic Collective
The Eclectic Collective
The Eclectic Collective was a crossover band from Boston, Massachusetts. Members include Dua Boayke , Salim Akram , Sheel Dave , RP Thompson , Graham Masser , Special Blend , Santi Araujo , AfroDZak , Rob Oswald , and Noni Kai...
had taken, the band decided to change its name and overall direction. Ford, Shungu, Oswald, and Kai went their separate ways, and Thompson stayed on as a studio performer for the band. Bad Rabbits takes its name from one of Castleton’s songs, which the group performed while on tour with him.
The Bad EP (2008)
The band took most of 2008 to write, record, and experiment with new material. They self-released a four-song demo that Fall titled “The Bad EP.” The EP contained the early songs “Trix are For Kids,” “Game of Chess,” and “Vera,” and “The Bad,” which became the song now known as “She’s Bad,” the first song written for their “Stick Up Kids” EP.Stick Up Kids EP (2009)
In Spring 2009, the band entered the studio with producer Jayson Michael Dezuzio to record their debut EP “Stick Up Kids.” The album was completed in Fall 2009 and released independently that December. The band also entered into a relationship with Boston-based online retailer Karmaloop.com, who distributed and promoted the album through their website. A remix compilation of the “Stick Up Kids” EP was released in the fall; it included remixes from Clinton SparksClinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks is a Boston-based radio, mixtape & Club DJ as well as a recording artist, writer, producer and TV personality.-Biography:...
, Crookers
Crookers
Crookers are an Italian DJ/production duo who have worked together since 2003. When the two artists met, both were trying to branch out of their genre and explore dance music. Their first collaboration worked...
, Roxy Cottontail, Hot Pink Delorean, and Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez is the bass player and additional keyboardist and vocalist for Cobra Starship as well as co-founder of This is Ivy League, a band created with fellow Cobra Starship member and high school best friend Ryland Blackinton.-Early life:...
. Tracks on this release is as follows: "Booties" , "Neverland", "Stick Up Kids", "Girl I'm Like Damn!" (featuring Travie McCoy
Travie McCoy
Travie Lazarus McCoy is an American singer and rapper. He is the lead vocalist of the alternative hip-hop band Gym Class Heroes. He released his debut solo album Lazarus on June 8, 2010....
of Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
), "She's Bad", "Advantage Me" , "Can't Back Down."
American Love EP and American Dream LP (TBD) (2012-2013)
Bad Rabbits traveled to Los Angeles in June 2010 to perform at the PacSun Ballyhoo festival on the Santa Monica PierSanta Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.-Pacific Park:...
and meet with several producers. The band spent one day in the studio with producer Mike Elizondo
Mike Elizondo
Michael "Mike" Elizondo is a well-known songwriter, bassist, keyboardist, and hip hop music producer.-Musical career:Mike Elizondo is especially known for his collaborations with internationally successful producer Dr. Dre and rapper Eminem. He has played the bass for many of Dr...
(Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
, Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
). Karmaloop.com CEO Greg Selkoe
Greg Selkoe
Greg Selkoe is an American entrepreneur, personality and the CEO and founder of Karmaloop.com and Karmaloop TV .Since January 2010 he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.-Biography:...
introduced the band to famed New Jack Swing
New jack swing
New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle which became extremely popular from the late-1980s into the mid-1990s. Its influence, along with hip-hop, seeped into pop culture and was the definitive sound of the inventive Black New York club scene...
creator and producer Teddy Riley
Teddy Riley
Teddy Riley is the name of:* Teddy Riley , jazz trumpeter* Teddy Riley , singer-songwriter, musician, record producer...
. After an initial meeting at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA, Riley signed on to produce their full-length album. Writing and recording for the album, which is tentatively titled American Dream, began during their June visit and continued throughout the summer at Encore Studios in Burbank and Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA. The album is slated for release in 2012. In Spring 2011, the band began work on a new EP tentatively titled American Love with Oakland, CA, producer B. Lewis. The album is also slated for release in 2012.
Members
Current members- Fredua Boakye - vocals
- Sheel Davé - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Salim Akram - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Graham Masser - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Santiago Araujo - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
Richard Paul Thompson (studio musician)
Discography
Albums- The Bad EP (2008)
- Stick Up Kids EP (2009)
- American Love EP (Unreleased and Tentatively Titled) (2012-2013)
- American Dream LP (Unreleased and Tentatively Titled) (2012-2013)