Belly (rapper)
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| Belly | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ahmed Balshe |
| Also known as | Rebellyus, BellyBoy |
| Born | April 7, 1984 Jenin, Palestinian territories |
| Origin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | hip hop, |
| Occupations | Rapper |
| Years active | 2001–Present |
| Labels | Capital Prophets (CP) Records Inc. |
| Associated acts | Snoop Dogg, Danny Fernandes, Drake (entertainer), Kobe. Kurupt, Massari, Ginuwine, Nina Sky, Mario Winans. |
| Website | http://www.bellylive.com |
Ahmed Balshe (in Arabic أحمد بلشي) (born April 7, 1984), better known by his stage name Belly, is a Palestinian-Canadian Juno Award-winning rapper.
Born in Jenin, Palestine, his musical career has been based in Ottawa, Ontario. In addition to a Juno, he has won three MuchMusic Video Awards and has twice attained a top chart position in the national Much Music Countdown. Belly has written many #1 and platinum gold/hits for other artists. His stage name of Belly/Rebellyus was derived from the term "rebellious."
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[edit] Career
His first single "Pressure" featuring Ginuwine peaked at the #10 position on Canadian CHR radio charts, and #1 on MuchMusic's Video chart. In April 2007, Belly released the video for his second single "Don't Be Shy" featuring Nina Sky, as well as the video for "History of Violence" Directed by Martin Verigin and Jeffrey Hagerman. The video remains his most controversial record to date. In "History of Violence," Belly explains his views on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the War in Iraq.[1]
Shortly after, he released "I'm the Man" featuring Kurupt produced by Footage Entertainment. it was premiered as the "Big One" on MuchMusic station. He also released a video for "Smells Like Money" (produced by Whosane?) on MySpace in early October 2007.
In late October 2007, his third single featuring Mario Winans entitled "Ridin'" was released. The video features Mario Winans, model KD Aubert, who plays Belly's lead-girl, and Dr. Benjamin Chavis.
[edit] Go Sens go
During the 2007 NHL Playoffs, as the Ottawa Senators were competing, Belly released a single entitled "Bandwagon" (produced by Whosane?). When the Senators made the Stanley Cup Finals, Belly released a second version of the song which featured goaltender Ray Emery.[2]
[edit] 2007: The Revolution
His debut album, The Revolution, was released on June 5, 2007. This double disc album was divided into two sections: "The People" and "The System." "The People" contained more in depth songs, such as "History of Violence" (produced by Whosane?), "Follow Me," and "Revolutionary," where he challenges his listeners to discover the facts regarding the Middle-East situation. Other songs on this disc include "People Change" (produced by Whosane?), "Leave me Alone," where he talks about his long time friends and the memories that he kept from them. "The System" contained his hit singles "Don't Be Shy," "Ridin'," and "Pressure"
The Revolution achieved Gold sales in Canada and won the 2008 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.[3] Singles from The Revolution won two MuchMusic Video Awards for Best Rap Video; "Pressure" in 2007 and "Ridin'" in 2008.
[edit] 2008: Police raid
A major police raid was conducted at the artist's home in Greely, Ontario on August 15, 2008 based on a search warrant to seek firearms there. However, the only items of note found in this raid were three BB guns that were purchased, on sale, from a Canadian Tire store. No charges were laid and Belly later commented that the raid "was a waste of Ottawa taxpayers' money, but now my neighbours can see that I don't have anything to hide."[4]
[edit] 2009: Mixtapes – present
In 2009 Belly spent some time in Miami, Florida working with some of the industry’s most notable producers and artists. (Jim Jonsin, Blackout Movement, Snoop Dogg, Diaz Brothers, DJ Infamous, Da Heala, Whosane, Mario Winans and more). The first single "Hot Girl"[5] featuring Snoop Dogg was released in July 2009, and the video, directed by MMVA award-winner RT!, was added on MuchMusic’s “BIG ONE.” Later that year, Belly released a mixtape titled "DJ Smallz Presents: Back For the First Time Vol. 1". Artists featured on the mixtape were Snoop Dogg, Drake, Kurupt, P Reign. Stack Bundles, Bynoe and Belly’s brother Truth.
After *Back For The First Time* Belly worked with labelmate and Canadian pop star Danny Fernandes for his single “Automatic” and released records like “Kill Bill” with Mistah Fab and “Murder Music” with Barrington Levy among others, which were featured on his mixtape SleepLess Nights hosted by DJ Ill Will released in 2011. Belly's first single of 2011 was "Back Against the Wall"[6] featuring Grammy nominated singer Kobe Honeycutt. The second song, “Must Be Nice” featuring Vado was released shortly after. Production on the mixtape was mainly handled by DannyBoy Styles of Blackout Movement, with tracks from Boi-1da, Da Heala, Aliby, Whosane? and JGramm as well.
Belly's latest body of work was a compilation of songs he had worked on with Dogg Pound rapper Kurupt some time after his first album The Revolution. Some songs were unreleased with a few that had seen release dates on previous mixtapes. This mixtape was called Belly & Kurupt The Lost Tapes 2008 hosted yet again by DJ Ill Will. In 2011, Belly released another new mixtape titled The Greatest Dream I Never Had which he has said will have no features.[7]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | |||
| 2007 | The Revolution
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| TBA | Champagne Dreams, Marijuana Thoughts EP
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[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | |||
| 2007 | "Pressure" (feat. Ginuwine) | 10 | The Revolution |
| "Don't Be Shy" (feat. Nina Sky) | 45 | ||
| "I'm the Man" (feat. Kurupt) | — | ||
| "Ridin'" (feat. Mario Winans) | 80 | ||
| 2008 | "Get to Know You" (feat. Keshia Chanté) | 74 | non-album single |
| 2009 | "Hot Girl" (feat. Snoop Dogg) | 58 | Back for the First Time Vol. 1 |
| 2010 | "To The Top" (feat. Ava) | — | Champagne Dreams, Marijuana Thoughts EP & Sleepless Nights |
| "Back Against The Wall" (feat. Kobe) | — | ||
| "Make It Go" (feat. Drake) | — | ||
| 2011 | "She Ride" (feat. Gucci Mane & JRDN) | — | Champagne Dreams, Marijuana Thoughts EP |
| "I Drink I Smoke" (feat. Snoop Dogg) | — |
[edit] Collaboration in singles by other artists
- 2006: "Rush the Floor" by Massari feat. Belly (Massari album)
- 2006: "Don't Let Go" by Massari feat. Belly (Massari album)
- 2008: "Private Dancer" by Danny Fernandes feat. Belly (Intro album)
- 2009: "Amnesia" by Caspian feat. Belly
- 2010: "Automatic" by Danny Fernandes feat. Belly (AutomaticLUV album)
- 2011: "Hit Me Up" by Danny Fernandes feat. Josh Ramsay & Belly (AutomaticLUV album)
[edit] Official mixtapes
- 2005: DJ Kool Kid Presents: Death Before Dishonor: Vol. 1
- 2006: DJ Kay Slay Presents: Death Before Dishonor: Vol. 2
- 2007: Big Mike Presents: Death Before Dishonor: Vol. 3
- 2009: DJ Smallz Presents: Back for the First Time Vol. 1
- 2011: DJ Ill Will Presents: Sleepless Nights
- 2011: DJ Ill Will Presents: Belly & Kurupt The Lost Tapes 2008
- 2011: DJ Drama Presents: The Greatest Dream I Never Had
[edit] Awards and nominations
- 2007: Won MuchVibe Best Rap Video for Pressure
- 2008: Won MuchVibe Best Rap Video Ridin' Ridin
- 2008: Won Juno Award Hip Hop Recording of The Year
- 2010: Won VideoFACT Indie Video of the Year "Hot Girl"
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Belly shoots from the gut". http://music.aol.ca/article/belly/42/. Retrieved June 2007.
- ^ "Champions, baby". http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Playoffs/Ottawa/2007/05/18/4190720-sun.html. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
- ^ CP Records Releases New Belly and Keshia Chante single "Get To Know You"
- ^ Dimmock, Gary; Nixon, Geoff (August 17, 2008). "Police gun raid on rapper's home a total bust". Ottawa Citizen. http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a4574180-f7ef-43df-ba72-c92ce04ab4e3. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
- ^ Music video for "Hot Girl"
- ^ Music video for "Back Against The Wall"
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/2007/06/13/
- ^ http://www.cria.ca/gold/1107_g.php
[edit] External links
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