Mubarik Gyenne-Adams (born December 18, 1991) known professionally as Emay, is a Canadian rapper and record producer from Hamilton, Ontario.
Emay | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Emay performing in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mubarik Gyenne-Adams |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | December 18, 1991 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Origin | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | emay |
Early life
editMubarik Gyenne-Adams (preferred name Mubarik Gyenne-Bayere) was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 18, 1991, the son of a couple who had immigrated to Canada from Ghana. He and his four sisters were raised in the tradition of Islam by his single mother. The family regularly moved between shelters throughout Ontario, living in Brampton briefly before settling in Hamilton.[1][2][3]
Career
editThe stage name Emay came from Gyenne-Adams's initials "M" and "A" pronounced as a single word.[4] Emay began his musical career in 2008 releasing mixtapes and collaborations before releasing his debut album entitled Adam in 2012.[5][2][6] His first extended play, entitled Into It, was released later that year.[7][8] In 2014 he released his second extended play, which was entitled Sinner, Song-writer.[9][10][11] In 2017, Emay released his first music video for the track "Bakkah: The History of Humankind",[12][13] before releasing his sophomore album entitled Ilah.[14][15] "Israfil 'Angels Trumpet'" was the first track from the album to be released as a single.[16]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Adam (2012)
- Ilah (2017)
Mixtapes
edit- A.D.D. (Altered Dynamic Dimensions) (2008)
- Emay, Karen O, and the Kids (2010)
- Rock. Paper. Scissors. (2010) (with EOM and Remot as Rockpaperscissors)
- Mind Altering Dynamics (2011)
- Mind Altering Dynamics (Instrumentals) (2011)
- Incorruptible (2011)
Extended plays
edit- Sounds Like (2010) (with Ivan Ice)
- Into It (2012)
- Sinner, Song-Writer (2014)[17]
Singles
edit- "Child (Refugee)" (2009)
- "Ze Drums" (2010) (with Ivan Ice)
- "Worried Shoes" (2010)
- "Breaking" (2010) (with Star Slinger and Blackbird Blackbird as Seeing Suge)
- "Wudhu "Cleanlinessness" (Demo)" (2014)
- "Blaow 'That Hurts'" (2016)
- "Bakkah: The History of Humankind" (2016)
- "Israfil 'Angels Trumpet'" (2016)
- "Yesu" (2017)
- "Paystyle" (2018) (as nk. archaic)
- "Republic of New Afrika" (2020)
Guest appearances
edit- M+A – "Takes Me Back (M+A Remix)" from M+A Remixes.yes (2012)
- M+A – "When" from These Days (2013)
- M+A – "When" from When (2014)
- Mother Tareka – "Blow" from Imagine Something Different (2015)
- Klune – "Cinnamon" from Klune (2015)
- Quadrafonics – "Kissing the Gun" from Assemble (2016)
Compilation appearances
edit- "Fresh Prince 2019 – Hjemmesnekk" from Fresh Prince 2019 – Hjemmesnekk (2019) (with Cree, unge Almen, and Hammern)
- "Because Winter (feat. Lowell Boland)" from URBNET: Underground Hip-Hop Volume 7 (2011)
References
edit- ^ Baulcomb, Andrew (February 19, 2015). "Emay is Hamilton's Hip-Hop Bright Spot: Emay Waxes Knowledge on His Ep 'Sinner, Song-Writer' and How He Got Prominent Collaborators to Give Him a Shot". Vice. Vice Media. ISSN 1077-6788. OCLC 30856250. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ a b Elaine, Zoë (April 18, 2017). "Are Our Gods Best? Ruminating on Emay's New LP, Ilah". Grimy Goods. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Wright, Jesse (February 21, 2017). "An Interview With Emay". The Paper Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ Planes, Pigeons and. "P&P Interview: Emay". Complex. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Free Album: Emay – "Adam"". Respect Magazine. Musinart LLC. April 10, 2012. ISSN 2150-8674. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ Hiam, Kamir (April 11, 2012). "Free Download: Emay – Adam (2012)". The Find Magazine. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ Hiam, Kamir (October 31, 2012). "Free Download: Emay – Into It". The Find Magazine. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Khal (October 30, 2012). "Emay – "Into It" EP". Pigeons & Planes. Complex Magazine. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "New CDs in stores this week". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 16, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ Levine, Matthew (December 8, 2014). "Emay Rails Against Romance on New Track 'MAIR'". Spin. ISSN 0886-3032. OCLC 12872607. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ Jorgensen, Chris (December 26, 2014). "Off the Charts: Emay, Willie Nile, Davis-Coltrane". Billings Gazette. Lee Enterprises. ISSN 2372-8698. OCLC 10317615. Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ Darville, Jordan (October 26, 2016). "Emay Dances with a Riot Gear Devil in the Video For "Bakkah: The History of Humankind"". The Fader. ISSN 1533-5194. OCLC 607570214. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Njegovan, Biljana (October 28, 2016). "Emay – Bakkah: The History of Humankind". Cut From Steel. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Biljana, Njegovan (May 16, 2017). "Emay's 'Ilah' is Your New Favourite Rap Album". The Inlet. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Joey (March 18, 2017). "Emay – Ilah". SoundChips. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Low, Jeff. "Bands Spotted: May Edition – Novella". Novella Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Emay Announces New Release, "Sinner, Song-Writer"". Hi-Scores Recording Library. September 11, 2014. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
External links
edit- Official Website at Bandcamp
- Emay discography at Discogs