ABSOLUTE
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | INDIE
Music
Press
2 years after the release of the “ABSOLUTE EP,” the full follow up project is now available for download. A 6 song mixtape includes a feature on every single. Artist features include BEENIE MAN, KURUPT, CRAIG SMART, CHIN INJETI and OMAR KHAN. Production on the mixtape include DJ KEMO, TROY SAMSON, CHIN INJETI, OMAR KHAN and STRESS. A remix of the single “Party In Paradise” is also available on the mixtape. ABSOLUTE links up with Netherland’s DJ/Producer/Remix, INMADO. INMADO brings an EDM flare to the pop single. - Twelve.5 Records
A year after ABSOLUTE’S introduction to the music world, DJ KEMO (KARIDNAL OFFISHALL. AKON, PITBULL) and ABSOLUTE get into the studio to work on the debut mixtape “FEATURES.” The mixtape includes an original production from DJ KEMO featuring multiplatinum Grammy Award winning King Of The Dancehall, Beenie Man. - Twelve.5 Records
After spending a week on the beaches in California, ABSOLUTE, and VEVO release the official video for “Party In Paradise.” - Twelve.5 Records
After months of gathering on air spins in the USA, “Party In Paradise” bursts through the charts hitting the US Top 100 DRT Hip Hop Chart at #6 with his debut single - Twelve.5 Records
NOVEMBER 7, 2013 (VANCOUVER, BC) - After hitting the US Top 100 DRT Hip Hop Chart at #6 with his Debut Single “Party In Paradise”, Canadian Hip Hop Artist ABSOLUTE follows his success with his heartfelt track “Never Cry Again” dedicated to the Armed Forces and their families.
“I wanted to give back to the men and women that serve our countries so I recorded a love story of a solider fighting to stay alive and make it back to his beloved family. I thought this would be a great way to share what I love to do and raise money and awareness for the armed forces”
ABSOLUTE has teamed up with Soldier On in Canada www.soldieron.ca and Mission One Voice in the United States www.missiononevoice.org and will be donating 50% of all proceeds from sales to these partners, which provides support for injured service members and awareness to the pressing issues affecting them and their families. - Twelve.5 Records
Representing Vancouver, Canada a cultural manner, ABSOLUTE is ready to show the world how to bring diversity into hip hop. The single "Party In Paradise" gives you a great feeling on the dance floor with his catch lyrics about living life to the fullest. Collaborating with Grammy Award winning producer Chin injeti, who has worked with Drake, Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr.Dre and Pink. ABSOLUTE'S Middle Eastern heritage and grassroots upbringing has helped him cultivate a hybrid fusion sound that has captivated broad audiences and fans of his music internationally.
ABSOLUTE is leveraging his career by creating music with veterans such as Craig Smart, Kurupt and Beenie Man. He is making his mark by developing a unique musical brand with great musical influences such as Tupac, Jay Z, Bone-Things-N-Harmony, to Metallica, Pearl Jam and Nirvana. With such inspiration behind his craft he is sure to keep his style a unique multi-cultural blend that embraces his heritage and unifies people of all walks of life. - Twelve.5 Records
In February 2013, CBC Radio hosted their annual Searchlight Canada's Next Best Artist Competition. Over 3000 entries were received from all over Canada. ABSOLUTE entered his popular hip hop/dubstep fusion track "Moon Music" as a Vancouver music artist. From over 3000 entries the competition was narrowed down in the first round to the Top 20 finalists in each region. Based completely on fan voting, ABSOLUTE'S presence was becoming noticed, especially being one of the only 2 hip hop artists left in the competition. His momentum started picking up and he was voted as into the top 5 in his region. His social media presence was growing daily. Soon after, ABSOLUTE was announced as a Top 5 winner and moved on to became a regional representative for the city of Vancouver. As the only Hip Hop artist left in the competition, Absolute was invited to join Stephen Quinn live on air to talk about his regional winning song "Moon Music." Voting then opened for the "Sweet 16" where fans of ABSOLUTE in cities all across Canada were voting, putting up vote posters and calling the CBC stations to request "Moon Music." As a thank you to the fans ABSOLUTE went to his second home, The Warehouse Studios, owned by singer Bryan Adams, and recorded a thank you video for all of his loyal fan base and new fans. With the momentum of the video and social media presence, the fans helped advance ABSOLUTE into the "Sweet 16" and into the "Elite 8." Gaining support across the city of Vancouver, Dipt Clothing, the "VanCity" brand originators and biggest hip hop clothing store in Vancouver, invited Absolute and "Moon Music" track producer Kultar Randhawa, to film their second thank you vlog in their clothing store. With seven days to make it to the "Final 4," Team Absolute worked endless hours to get the word out as much as possible. Hip Hop Canada and Hip Hop Vancouver also jumped in to their show support behind the lone hip hop artist from Vancouver. Unfortunately ABSOLUTE did not see his way into the"Final 4" but the rising awareness of the contest and ABSOLUTE'S rising popularity led him to be acknowledged by Roger's Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks. The organization invited him to shoot his last thank you video live from the bleachers of Roger's Arena. Although falling short, ABSOLUTE was grateful and blessed for the opportunity to share his music. The fan support and the city support was overwhelming and has continued to grow ever since.
Hip Hop Canada
http://www.hiphopcanada.com/2013/03/absolute-moon-music-audio/
Hip Hop Vancouver
http://hiphopvancouver.com/news/52-showcase/790-cbc-searchlight-sweet-16-absolutekultar-randhawa-.html
CBC Press
http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/3/Searchlight-showdown-Absolute-Forever-vs-Henry-Norwood
http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/3/Alan-Cross-Andres-Mendoza-and-Emily-Smart-rate-the-Searchlight-top-16
- Twelve.5 Records
Discography
SINGLES
1. Party In Paradise (featuring Craig Smart)
2. Never Cry Again
ABSOLUTE EP
1. Moon Music
2. Alphabet Killa
3. Spider Webs
4. Sweet Talker
5. Take It Off You
6. 99 Bottles
7. Tell Me Somethin'
8. Top In The Trunk (Feelin' Myself Freestyle)
Photos
Bio
Sam Halaby a.k.a. ABSOLUTE was born and raised in a Lebanese – Canadian family in Edmonton, Canada. Like most young Canadian boys, he dreamt of playing in the NHL. What started as a hockey dream fortunately turned into a music career.
Throughout his hockey career, road trips and hours of traveling on buses served as his creative pod for writing music. A talented soul passionate about music, he started writing songs when he was eleven years old and developed a boundless appetite for writing. After a car accident ended his highly touted hockey career, he moved on from his beloved sport and went into the family restaurant business. While bartending and managing, napkins and bills became ABSOLUTE’s lyrical canvas. For years, his dreams of being in the music industry gnawed at his soul. One night after closing his Uncle’s restaurant, everyone gone, he sat alone in a booth and contemplated his life and going after his dream. Coincidentally, he received a call from a good friend at that moment that echoed his feelings. He knew that was a sign. The next day he booked a local studio and time off work. In February 2010, he gathered his library of lyrics and went into the studio and poured his heart and soul into the microphone for first time.
In a mere seven days, ABSOLUTE managed to write and record 15 tracks. During his first studio sessions, ABSOLUTE contacted one of his favorite lyricists, multi-platinum and GRAMMY AWARD NOMINEE KURUPT for a potential collaboration. After a few emails, recognizing the serious talent of ABSOLUTE, KURUPT was down and got on the phone to discuss the direction of the track. The end result was a hypnotic beat matched with fierce back and forth lyrics titled “Truth Hurts. ABSOLUTE also reached out to GRAMMY AWARD WINNING, number one billboard chart artist BEENIE MAN to collaborate on one of his tracks. Appreciating ABSOLUTE'S talent, the multi-platinum artist was happy to join forces. This led to the creation of “She Got Da Credit”, a brilliant fusion of reggae and hip-hop, which is soon to be released. Both tracks are scheduled for release this year on ABSOLUTE’S mixtape, “FEATURES”.
After releasing his first studio session tracks through his social networks, the result was overwhelming. Gaining popularity in his hometown, the word started getting out about ABSOLUTE’S undiscovered talent. The growing popularity led ABSOLUTE into a meeting with Canada’s largest independent label in July 2010 and a record deal was offered. At the same time he reconnected with his cousin “NIZ” who recently came back from overseas that shared the same dream of being in the music industry. An entrepreneur with several years of business experience, NIZ decided to join ABSOLUTE on his journey and they co-founded their own record label, TWELVE.5 RECORDS (twelve five) and decided to go after their dream independently to insure that ABSOLUTE'S artistic vision was not compromised.
After creating an independent label with his manager and business partner NIZ, ABSOLUTE moved to Vancouver, Canada to work side by side with GRAMMY AWARD WINNING producer CHIN INJETI (DR.DRE, DRAKE, PINK, EMINEM and 50 CENT). Creating some really innovative tracks combining their diverse backgrounds of music, they co-wrote and recorded 4 new tracks, with their most diverse track “A Little Bit Of” ready to be released on ABSOLUTE’S upcoming mixtape “FEATURES”. Tapping into his Middle Eastern roots, ABSOLUTE linked up with Hit Maker and MULTIPLE JUNO NOMINATED producer TROY SAMSON (SNOOP DOGG, KELLY ROWLAND, HEDLEY) and #1 HIT SONGWRITER AND INTERNATIONAL PLATINUM ARTIST, CRAIG SMART. The collaboration, “Party In Paradise” landed ABSOLUTE a worldwide distribution deal with UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP/ INGROOVES FONTANA. The song gained major spins on air spins and landed them on the USA top 100 DRT HIP HOP CHART AT #6. The official video made its debut on VEVO last summer and gained popularity at Canadian Radio.
ABSOLUTE continues to create music with traces from his wide-ranging musical influences from the likes of artists such as Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, DMX, Kurupt, Jay Z, Nas, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Kanye West… to Nirvana, Pearl Jam and even heavy metal legends Metallica. All these musical geniuses have been the inspiration that have helped ABSOLUTE develop a style that is unique, diverse and original. Be it a smooth sexy track about his appreciation for all women, a life story exemplified or an entertaining unique track that shows off his creative ability, ABSOLUTE'S vision is to inspire and entertain his fans throughout the world.
He’s since teamed up with SOCAN SONG OF THE YEAR NOMINEE producer and MULTI-GOLD songwriter/producer OVIDIU BISTRICEANU “OVI” (MASSARI, MIA MARTINEZ) for the release of “The World Is Mine”.
Band Members
Links
