Abradab and “Abradabing” at Kultowa: a fourth solo album with a five-piece band

8 OCTOBER 2010

The Polish hip-hop star known from legendary Kaliber 44 will premiere fresh songs from his fourth solo album that evening. There will also be guests, although who else will appear shall remain a surprise.

Leading Polish rapper and producer O.S.T.R. worked with AbradAb on the latest material, overseeing the entire album both musically, creating backing tracks, and in production. This is entirely new in AbradAb’s work. He explains: “I have never worked this way before. Personally, it is a unique experience and an excellent change from my previous working style. For the first time, an excellent rapper recorded my vocals, giving me extra confidence in the material’s sound.”

The album reveals real chemistry and a superb rapport between the Polish rap masters. Supported by DJ FEEL-X, responsible for most of the scratches, AbradAb and O.S.T.R. have created a solid album in the vein of Kaliber 44's third record. Much of the new material is built on samples, a departure from the approach taken on O.P.K., where AbradAb opted for live instruments.

The title “Abradabing” refers to dubbing, turning an incomprehensible film into an understandable message. “Abradabing” is the world interpreted by AbradAb and expressed in powerful tracks such as “Mamy królów na banknotach”, “Czuję się jak” and “Zawalidroga”. The album also features guests O.S.T.R., DJ Haem, Frenchman, Kontrabanda, Gutek and Cadillac.

The album delivers hip-hop at one hundred per cent concentration. “Abradabing” has every chance of creating positive upheaval in a hip-hop world that has grown rigid in recent years. All that remains, following AbradAb's words, is to “pull down your trousers and wait for Abradabing to kick your arses”.

The album is promoted by the single Mamy Królów Na Banknotach.

About the artist:

When hardcore psycho-rap emerged in the mid-nineties, it shook the Polish music scene. Psychedelic rhymes shattered established patterns and poured a powerful dose of novelty into listeners' ears and minds. One of the people behind this musical revolution is AbradAb, a co-creator of hardcore psycho-rap and one of the founders of rap group Kaliber 44.

With Kaliber 44, AbradAb received Polish recording’s most important honours. It began with a Fryderyk nomination for debut “Księga Tajemnicza – Prolog” (1996), followed by Gold for “W 63 minuty dookoła świata” (1998). “3:44” (2000) earned the band a Fryderyk for Poland’s Best Hip-Hop Album. Its “Konfrontacje” remained on Radiostacja’s chart for over 200 weeks, setting a Polish hip-hop record.

In 2000, after their third album and seven years, Kaliber 44 suspended activity. AbradAb was already a Polish hip-hop legend. Having helped change Polish music with his rap group, he chose a solo career and a new style: hip-hop with varied influences, particularly funk and reggae. Kaliber 44’s dark sounds disappeared, while originality and thoughtful lyrics remained.

“Czerwony Album” (2004) was AbradAb’s first solo record, earning him a Fryderyk for Best Polish Hip-Hop Album. The video for “Rapowe Ziarno 2. Szyderap” received an MTV award and the Audience Yach award. Gutek, Tede and WSZ & CNE made their first guest appearances on the record. Songs from the album, including “Miasto Jest Nasze” and “Rapowe Ziarno 2. Szyderap”, took audiences by storm and became enduring hip-hop classics.

The second album, “Emisja Spalin”, appeared unexpectedly in 2005. It included “Rap to nie zabawa już”, featuring Joka and DJ Feel-X. Meanwhile, Kaliber 44 reunited for several concerts.

AbradAb’s third solo album, “Ostatni Poziom Kontroli”, appeared in 2008. It was a gentle, mature record, enriched musically by live instruments that brought a spontaneity unavailable to dry beats. AbradAb’s rap finesse, combined with the guests’ individual personalities, produced an album of consistently high quality.
Abradab is preparing another album, this time with an entirely different concept. For the first time, another rapper, O.S.T.R., will oversee the whole project, handling its music and production, a new departure in Abradab’s work.
Abradab continues performing across Poland and abroad, including in the USA, England, Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and France.