| Abdominal | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andy Bernstein |
| Also known as | Abs |
| Born | 1974 |
| Origin | Toronto, Canada |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Label(s) | Antidote |
| Associated acts |
DJ Format |
| Website | myspace.com/mcabdominal |
Abdominal, real name, Andy Bernstein, is a rapper from Toronto, Canada.[1]
Contents |
Biography
He grew up in Toronto and 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 and led to them collaborating. Abdominal's raps became a standout feature on DJ Format's first album, Music For the Mature B-Boy, released in 2003. From 2003 to 2005 they toured as part of Jurassic 5'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, in 2005, alongside fellow Canadian rapper, D-Sisive.
His first solo album, Escape From The Pigeon Hole, was released in May 2007 in the United Kingdom by Antidote Records and features collaborations with DJ Format, Cut Chemist, DJ Fase, DJ Serious, Notes to Self, Circle Research, Young Einstein from hip-hop group Ugly Duckling and jazz musician Elizabeth Shepherd. Abdominal stands out from many other rappers with the subjects he raps about. Instead of rapping about fast cars and other things more regularly associated with hip hop he raps about things as diverse as fast food and on the track A Good Day from the album Flowtation Device, a summer Sunday. His latest album features tracks about being a bike courier, relationships and things that annoy him, such as people jumping queues on the track "Walk Left/Stand Right". The song "T. Ode", about living in Toronto, includes an introduction by Toronto mayor David Miller. Aside from being a recording artist Abdominal also appears regularly at the Supermarket Club in Toronto 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 in London, Abdominal & DJ Fase were joined by DJ Format 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.
External links
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
