Rebstar

Rebstar

Rebstar at Orkansbiblioteket in Malmö
Background information
Birth name Rebin Shah
Born (1988-10-04) October 4, 1988
Malmö, Sweden
Genres hip hop, R&B,
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
Instruments Vocals, keyboards, sampler
Years active 2008–present
Labels Today Is Vintage
Associated acts Saint, Trey Songz, Drake, DJ Pain 1, Kállay Saunders
Website www.rebstar.com

Rebin Shah (born 4 October 1988) better known by his stage name Rebstar, is a Swedish recording artist and entrepreneur. He is also the founder Swedish record label Today Is Vintage serving as CEO.

Rebstar is one of the most prominent independent artists from Sweden gaining international exposure and is known to be Sweden's leading hip hop export.[1][2][3]

Early life

Rebin Shah was born in Malmö, Sweden on October 4, 1988. He is the only child of a Persian mother and a Kurdish father. He found his love for hip hop at an early age, having mentioned Fresh Prince and Redman as his early influences. He grew up in the infamous district Rosengård until his late teens.[4] Rebstar was introduced to the English language that would fuel his songwriting at an early age. His mother insisted he enroll in an international elementary school that taught English, hoping that it would afford him more opportunities in the future. Upon graduation from high school, he moved to the UK to study Law at the University of Aberdeen. However he is known to have dropped out and moved back to Sweden to pursue music full-time.[5]

Music career

2008–2011: Rebstar's Arrival and 2fresh Records

In late 2008 Rebstar released his debut single "Without You". The song is produced by Canadian T-Minus and features Trey Songz.[6] "Without You" quickly became a hit and was the 3rd most requested song on Swedish radio. The success of the single led to Trey Songz coming to Sweden for a promotional tour with Rebstar in December 2008.[7] A music video for the song was released in January, 2009, directed by Manuel Concha.[8] "Without You" has garnered airplay on MTV outlets in over 10 countries worldwide, including Finland, France, UAE, Netherlands and New Zealand.

In 2008, Rebstar founded 2fresh Records with the intent of self-publishing and release his own music.[9] The label had been prominent since its inception for its strong international ties with major artists and producers.[10][11]

2fresh served as the label for Rebstar's music and has released singles in collaboration with acts such as Trey Songz,[12] Ray J,[13] Boi-1da[14] and more. The label was commemorated for being the first Swedish independent label to collaborate with American urban major-label artists.[7]

In October 2009, the song "Drive" leaked which is rumoured to be a featured cut from the upcoming Need for Speed: Burnout soundtrack.[15] In December 2009, during an interview with Craig David on Kiss 100, he mentioned that he has collaborated with Rebstar for an upcoming project. Whether or not these songs will be on Craig David or Rebstar's album remain unclear.

Rebstar's debut mixtape Arrival was released on his birthday, October 4, 2010. It features Ray J, Trey Songz, Boi-1da, T-Minus, REO, DJ Pain 1.[16] A follow-up mixtape entitled Arrival 2.0 was released on May 3, 2011 including three new songs.[17]

On July 2011 a song by Rebstar entitled "Good Life" featuring Drake & Rock City was leaked and surfaced on multiple blogs.[18] The song is produced by Canadian producers Boi-1da and T-Minus. Rebstar commented on his Twitter that it was a premature leak and encouraging fans not to download it. In September 2011, Swedish pop singer Eddie Razaz announced he has commissioned Rebstar as a songwriter for the singer's debut album.[19] As of October 2011 Rebstar announced plans to release his upcoming project titled "Bad Karma". The first song Falling was released online October 3, 2011.

2012-2013: Bad Karma and Today Is Vintage

March 2012 he released the mixtape Bad Karma with promotional support from The Piratebay, Spotify and Mediafire. Bad Karma. It was dowloaded over 150 000 downloads since its release. The mixtape features production mainly by DJ Pain 1 and additional production by Kid Klassic and Madison with a much darker overtone than his previous mixtapes.

In August 2012, Rebstar featured on American Hungarian singer Kállay Saunders single Tonight. . The song peaked #4 on the Top 40 Hungarian Charts with an accompanying music video released on September 6, 2012.[20][21]

During Autumn 2012, Rebstar announced the founding of a new label Today Is Vintage.[22][23] In November 2012, American-Hungarian artist Kállay Saunders became the first signee under Today Is Vintage.[24] On December 2012, Kállay Saunders' first single under Today Is Vintage was released titled My Baby (Kállay Saunders song). It peaked #1 on the Hungarian Top 40 Charts as well as becoming the #2 most played song in Hungary in 2013[25] and leading to international success and was a top contender for Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, ending up as the runner-up in the Hungarian qualifiers.

On August 2013 Rebstar announced that he has partnered up with educational association Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan to form Vintage Initiativet, a non-profit organization for young musicians in Malmö.[1][26] Rebstar serves as the chairman of the organization and as a mentor for young teenagers interested in music.

On August 21, 2013, Rebstar featured on "Play My Song" by Kállay Saunders peaking the Hungarian MAHASZ Top 40 Radio Charts at #16 leading to an Eastern-European tour co-headlined by Rebstar and Kállay Saunders.[27] The single was followed up with a music video released on October 7, 2013.

2014-2015: Safe Safe and You Know Nothing About Love

On September 29, 2014 Rebstar released Safe Safe (040 Zlatan Mix) featuring several prominent rappers from Malmö.[28] The song and music video is a tribute to legendary football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic who is also from the same neighborhood as Rebstar, the infamous district Rosengård. Safe Safe became an international sensation and Rebstar became a topic of controversy due to the video's depiction of Zlatan.[29][30][31][32]

In Mid-2014 he began working closely with Gambian recording artist Saint which led to eventually signing him to Today Is Vintage.[33][34]

On June 13, 2015 Rebstar released the a new single "Thing About You" and announced that he's working on his album titled Girls Like Nicole.[35] The single has garnered a lot of attention due to it marking Rebstar as the first Swedish rapper of this century to be gaining airplay on American MTV.[36][37]

In October 2015, Rebstar released yet another single Reputation[38][39] On November 30, 2015 Rebstar followed up a surprise-release of his debut EP You Know Nothing About Love[39] consisting of six songs.

As of December 2015, the current roster of Today Is Vintage consists of Rebstar, Kállay Saunders, Saint, Vivi, Almushi and Madison.[40][41]

According to an interview in Forbes on March 8, 2016, Rebstar's debut full-length album Girls Like Nicole is slated for a late spring release.[42]

Rebstar's debut album Girls Like Nicole was released on June 3, 2016 via Today Is Vintage.

Discography

Mixtapes

EP

Album

Singles

Collaborations

Notes

  1. 1 2
  2. ↑ http://www.yoraps.com/next2blow1.php?subaction=showfull&id=1291027647&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4
  3. ↑ http://noisey.vice.com/en_dk/blog/rebstars-remix-of-nomads
  4. ↑ Rosengård#Notable people
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. 1 2 http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/warnermusic/pressrelease/view/trey-songz-foersta-sverigebesoek-243167
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Arbsjö, Karin (2010-02-08). "Stjärna på kärlekstrubbel". Sydsvenskan. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  10. ↑ http://thekonclusion.com/2010/05/swedens-best-kept-secret-rebstar-supported-by-trey-songz-others/
  11. ↑ "Rebstar ft. Trey Songz - Without You". Newsdesk.com. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ http://www.freeonsmash.com/news/2011/05/03/rebstar-rebstars-arrival-2-0-mixtape/
  18. ↑ http://www.dubcnn.com/media/audio/rebstar-drake-rockcity-goodlife/
  19. ↑ http://www.scandipop.co.uk/?p=6926
  20. ↑ "Archívum - Slágerlisták - MAHASZ - Magyar Hangfelvétel-kiadók Szövetsége". Mahasz.hu. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  21. ↑ "Kereső - előadó/cím szerint - Archívum - MAHASZ - Magyar Hangfelvétel-kiadók Szövetsége". Zene.slagerlistak.hu. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  22. ↑ http://www.credxtra.com/cred%20main%2018.htm
  23. ↑ http://www.sydsvenskan.se/kultur-och-nojen/article883966/Maxat-med-tonarskanslor.html
  24. ↑ http://www.tv4play.se/nyheter_och_debatt/nyheterna_uppsala?title=hamid_elamin_det_kanns_bra&videoid=1009023
  25. ↑ http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2013
  26. ↑
  27. ↑ . zene.slagerlistak.hu összesített listák - Archívum - Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/radios-top-40-jatszasi-lista/2013/45 összesített listák - Archívum - Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 25 December 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. ↑ http://thestashed.com/2014/09/29/premiere-rebstar-ft-lazee-saint-lilleman-c-t-y-safe-safe-video/
  29. ↑ http://www.foot-sur7.fr/179250-psg-pour-le-rappeur-rebstar-zlatan-reprsente-lespoir
  30. ↑ http://www.20minutes.fr/sport/1736507-20151124-malm-psg-zlatan-ibrahimovic-change-mentalite-suedois-quartier
  31. ↑ http://nyheter24.se/noje/778814-se-rapparens-hyllning-till-rosengard-och-zlatan-ibrahimovi
  32. ↑ http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ibra-heros-de-rap/502955
  33. ↑ "Saint blickar över horisonten". Metro. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  34. ↑ http://www.sydsvenskan.se/kultur--nojen/en-plats-i-solen/
  35. ↑ http://www.svt.se/kultur/musik/karleksrap-som-ska-fa-amerikanerna-att-smalta
  36. ↑ http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/musik/vi-har-avicii-och-hm-men-fortfarande-ingen-stor-svensk-rappare-i-usa
  37. ↑ http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article21112311.ab
  38. ↑ http://youheardthatnew.com/2015/10/video-rebstar-reputation/
  39. 1 2 http://www.hhns.se/2015/11/rebstar-you-know-nothing-about-love-ep.html
  40. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/todayisvintage
  41. ↑ http://www.kingsizemagazine.se/News.aspx?ArtNo=20915
  42. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinecusumano/2016/03/08/swedish-rapper-rebstar-talks-mixing-music-entrepreneurship-and-breakfast
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