Adil Omar
Adil Omar | |
---|---|
Birth name | Adil Omar |
Born | 17 May 1991 |
Origin | Islamabad, Pakistan |
Genres | Hip-Hop, alternative hip hop, Experimental hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer-songwriter, producer |
Instruments | Vocals, lyrics, rapping, production |
Years active | 2008–Present |
Associated acts | Saturday Night Killing Machine, Talal Qureshi, Diplo, Elliphant, Bun B, B-Real, Cypress Hill, Soul Assassins |
Website | Twitter Account |
Adil Omar (born 17 May 1991), is a Pakistani rapper, singer-songwriter and producer from Islamabad. In addition to being a solo artist, he is also one half of the duo Saturday Night Killing Machine with Talal Qureshi.
Biography and early life
Omar was born on 17 May 1991 in London, England but spent his entire childhood growing up in Islamabad. He lost his father at 10 to alcoholism and his mother suffered from amnesia, leaving her with epilepsy the same year.[1] His great grandfather, Zafar Omar is credited to be the first Urdu crime and detective novelist with his book "Neeli Chathri" (blue umbrella).[2] He dropped out of school at 17 to pursue a career in music.[3]
Music career
Career beginnings
Omar had started writing lyrics at the age of 9 and began recording by 14. In 2008, when Omar was 16, he found himself catching the attention of B-Real of Cypress Hill through Myspace who invited him to visit Los Angeles, helping launch his music career.[4]
Between 2010 - 2012, Omar put together The Mushroom Cloud Effect, a street album consisting of compiled tracks and demos. The most notable song was "Paki Rambo".[5][6][7] In 2012 he was nominated in Pakistan's Lux Style Awards for Best Emerging Talent as well as getting "Paki Rambo" directors Shahbaz Shigri and Aisha Linnea recognized for Best Music Video.[8][9][10]
2013 – 2015
In 2013, Omar was commissioned to write and perform Burka Avenger's "Lady In Black" theme song.[11][12][13]
In early 2014, Omar and Talal Qureshi joined Pakistani comedian and MC Ali Gul Pir for a guest spot on#KholoBC, inspired by an effort by Pakistan For All to get the Pakistani authorities to lift the country's ban on YouTube. Upon its release, #KholoBC went viral in Pakistan and gained international coverage from BBC, CNN and Al-Jazeera. This was followed by "Exploding Heart".[14][15][16]
In March 2015, Omar released an EP with Talal Qureshi titled Saturday Night Killing Machine which came out with Omar's directorial debut for "Nighat & Paras" and followed by his first showcase at SXSW, marking the birth of Saturday Night Killing Machine.[17][18]
2016 present
Having officially formed Saturday Night Killing Machine, Omar and Qureshi collaborated and performed alongside Diplo and Elliphant for their first ever Pakistan show. This was followed by the duo's second appearance at SXSW and Omar's solo EP Margalla King. In addition to Saturday Night Killing Machine's production debut for a solo artist's project, the EP also featured "Wedding Shells" in collaboration with Bun B.[19][20][21]
Personal life
Omar was born with sound-color synesthesia, a neurological condition in which the person afflicted "sees" colors when a tone is sounded.[22][23]
Discography
Solo
- 2013: The Mushroom Cloud Effect
- 2016: Margalla King
With Saturday Night Killing Machine
References
- ↑ "Rapper breaks new ground in conservative Pakistan". Yahoo News Philippines. 1 November 2011.
- ↑ "Full Text Of "A Cultural History of India"". Archive.org. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-15486039
- ↑ http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/middle-east/article24732724.html
- ↑ "INSTEP Magazine".
- ↑ "Adil Omar: Paki Rambo, uncut".
- ↑ "In conversation with Adil Omar, hip-hop’s ‘Paki Rambo’".
- ↑ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\05\12\story_12-5-2012_pg9_8
- ↑ "Talking Mushroom Clouds with Adil Omar".
- ↑ Jinjoo Lee, CNN (6 August 2013). "Pakistani artists challenging YouTube ban". CNN.
- ↑ "Pakistan's new hero Burka Avenger". Yahoo News. 24 July 2013.
- ↑ "Burka Avenger: Pakistan's cartoon superhero battling for girls' education". the Guardian.
- ↑ "Here's the Pakistani Rapper Adil Omar's Video for "Saza"". NOISEY.
- ↑ "‘We want to be global citizens’: Pakistani rapper Adil Omar on YouTube ban".
- ↑ "Viral video reignites fight to end Pakistan's YouTube ban". Viral video reignites fight to end Pakistan's YouTube ban.
- ↑ CNN. "CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com". CNN Video.
- ↑ http://www.mtviggy.com/videos/adil-omar-talal-qureshi-nighat-and-paras/
- ↑ http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_MS29418
- ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1055778/islamabad-raises-hands-for-dj-diplo/
- ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1075655/from-paki-rambo-to-margalla-king/
- ↑ http://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/107183-SXSW-2016-Artists-from-Pakistan-shine
- ↑ http://synesthesia-test.com/people-with-synesthesiahttp://synesthesia-test.com/people-with-synesthesia
- ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/616258/hottie-of-the-week-adil-omar/
External links
- Adil Omar on YouTube
- Adil Omar on Twitter
- Adil Omar on Facebook
- Adil Omar on SoundCloud
- Adil Omar on Instagram
- Adil Omar at the Internet Movie Database