Adil Omar

Adil Omar
Native name عادل عمر
Birth name Adil Omar
Born (1991-05-17) 17 May 1991
Origin Islamabad, Pakistan
Genres Hip-Hop, psychedelic, industrial, pop, alternative hip hop, experimental hip-hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, record producer, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, lyrics, rapping, production, keyboards, sampler
Years active 2008–Present
Associated acts SNKM, Talal Qureshi, Diplo, Elliphant, Bun B, B-Real, Cypress Hill, Soul Assassins
Website Twitter Account

Adil Omar (born 17 May 1991), is a rapper, record producer, songwriter and singer from Islamabad, Pakistan. In addition to being a solo musician, he is one half of the duo SNKM 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.[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 online who then 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 unheard demos. The most notable song was "Paki Rambo".[5][6][7][8][9][10]

2013–2015

In 2013, Omar was commissioned to write and perform Burka Avenger's "Lady In Black" theme song.[11][12]

In early 2014, Omar and Talal Qureshi joined Pakistani comedian and MC Ali Gul Pir for a guest spot on #KholoBC 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, beginning a government dialogue towards lifting the ban. The ban would later be lifted in 2016.[13][14][15]

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 SNKM.[16][17]

2016–present

Having formed SNKM (an abbreviation for Sonic Nocturnal Kinetic Movement), Omar and Qureshi collaborated and performed with 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 SNKM's production debut for a solo artist's project, the EP also featured "Wedding Shells" in collaboration with Bun B.[18][19][20]

SNKM debuted at Mad Decent Block Party 2016 alongside Diplo, Kesha, Marshmello and others.[21]

Personal life

Omar was born with sound-color synesthesia, a neurological condition in which the person afflicted sees colors when tones are sounded.[22][23]

Discography

Solo

With SNKM

References

  1. ↑ "Rapper breaks new ground in conservative Pakistan". Yahoo News Philippines. 1 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "Full Text Of "A Cultural History of India"". Archive.org. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  3. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-15486039
  4. ↑ http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/middle-east/article24732724.html[]
  5. ↑ "INSTEP Magazine".
  6. ↑ "Adil Omar: Paki Rambo, uncut".
  7. ↑ "In conversation with Adil Omar, hip-hop's 'Paki Rambo'".
  8. ↑ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\05\12\story_12-5-2012_pg9_8
  9. ↑ "Talking Mushroom Clouds with Adil Omar".
  10. ↑ Jinjoo Lee, CNN (6 August 2013). "Pakistani artists challenging YouTube ban". CNN.
  11. ↑ "Pakistan's new hero Burka Avenger". Yahoo News. 24 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Burka Avenger: Pakistan's cartoon superhero battling for girls' education". the Guardian.
  13. ↑ "'We want to be global citizens': Pakistani rapper Adil Omar on YouTube ban".
  14. ↑ "Viral video reignites fight to end Pakistan's YouTube ban". Viral video reignites fight to end Pakistan's YouTube ban.
  15. ↑ CNN. "CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com". CNN Video.
  16. ↑ http://www.mtviggy.com/videos/adil-omar-talal-qureshi-nighat-and-paras/
  17. ↑ http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_MS29418
  18. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1055778/islamabad-raises-hands-for-dj-diplo/
  19. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1075655/from-paki-rambo-to-margalla-king/
  20. ↑ http://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/107183-SXSW-2016-Artists-from-Pakistan-shine
  21. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1160745/adil-omar-talal-qureshi-perform-diplo-kesha-mad-decent-block-party/
  22. ↑ http://synesthesia-test.com/people-with-synesthesia
  23. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/616258/hottie-of-the-week-adil-omar/

External links

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