Abiyah

Rank #39 Cincinnati, OH Alternative / Hip Hop / Electronica

About

Members: Abiyah - Lead Vox, Dana Hamblen - Backing Vox, DJ Apryl Reign OR djdq - Turntables, Marty Spitfly - Beatbox, Beats By A Cast of Characters

Sounds Like: Open Mike Eagle, Saul Williams, Santigold, Mike Patton

Bio: Now packaged in a pixie ‘do and a svelte figure, Abiyah flows and sings with the fury of a free wild muse, her cross-genre vocals and floetic lyrics blurring boundaries of avanthiphopdubrocktronica beats. A three-time CityBeat Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Hip Hop nominee and six-time MidPoint ... See Full Bio

More Info

Status

: cuddlyd and abiyah7 pre-Patti Smith concert on Saturday. Awww. Photo by Melissa Molasses. http://t.co/OZqUPSNr76

Press

“After responding to a Tweet requesting "lady vocals" for a Joy Division remake in December 2009, Abiyah began collaborating with LA Art Rapper Open Mike Eagle (Project Blowed/Swim Team/Thirsty Fish/Mush Records). Appearing on Eagle's June 2011 full-length release "Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes", Abiyah lent her vocals to the outro of closing track "Old Member Reclamation" in a redux of the chorus of Blondie's "The Tide is High." Look for an Open Mike Eagle appearance on an Abiyah tune in late Summer/early Fall.”

— abiyah.com

“There were more locals on the tented [Vans Warped Tour] Code of tha Cutz side stage, which hosted hip-hop acts. As Cincinnati's Abiyah began her set a crowd formed, initially looking to dodge a soft drizzle. Abiyah's brainy lyrics, which she rapped, sang and delivered in spoken word, kept the crowd hanging around after the skies dried up. ”

— Chris Varias , Cincinnati Enquirer

“As a white woman with atypical music that crosses genres of spoken word, Rock, experimental music and Hip Hop — all music of resistance that transcends class and color in Cincinnati — Abiyah’s experiences crossing lines are somewhat unique to the group. Abiyah, who, until recently, had worn her hair in dreadlocks since the ’90s, admits she “put some people off.” Despite that, she created networks in venues looking for eclectic entertainment. “I networked my ass off,” Abiyah said. “That’s why I might get a call from the Contemporary Arts Center, Art Damage or Fountain Square.” When asked if white privilege opened doors of access that women of color might be denied, she said, “Yes, white privilege did play a role because white folks here, that’s the stepping stone — like, ‘She’s safe.’ And then I would hook up everybody down the line like, ‘I got Mildred, I got Apryl, I got Jai … what’s up?’ ””

— Mildred Fallen, Cincinnati CityBeat

“Criss-crossing genres right and left - hip-hop, rock, electronica, industrial - Abiyah is one of Cincinnati's busiest and most popular performers. Famous for her poetry, she often mixes in a healthy dose of spoken word in her high energy performances.”

— Jim Knippenberg, Cincinnati Enquirer

“What we're saying: Remember that corny phrase in the 90s about girls kicking butt? It may be corny, but in this case, it’s totally true and apropos. Abiyah exudes a confident womanly energy in everything she touches, and this track is proof. First of all, it’s entirely a cappella. Secondly, she got the help of another awesome kick ass chick from the area to sing along with her, Dana Hamblen, from Fairmount Girls, Culture Queer and Darlene, featuring Marty Spitfly with the beats. Download a free version on her Soundcloud page (link below), and in the same vein of my favorite potato chip brand’s saying, I bet you can’t listen just once.”

— Daniele Cusentino, Metromix Cincinnati

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Songs

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Ring Around the Ros…

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Masked (Snippet - W…

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Cry Like (Snippet -…

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Sold Secrets (Snipp…

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Free Wild Muse

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All Songs

Shows

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Fri
Mar 29

Northside Tavern
Cincinnati, OH, US | 10:00pm
Northside Tavern
Cincinnati, OH, US
Fri Mar 29 10:00pm
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- Tickets
2012
Jun 30

Northside Tavern
Cincinnati, OH, US | 8:00pm
Northside Tavern
Cincinnati, OH, US
Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
2012
Jun 16

The Comet Bar
Cincinnati, OH, US | 10:00pm
The Comet Bar
Cincinnati, OH, US
Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:00pm
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- Tickets
Details

DJ Abiyah, DJ Grover & DJ Mowgli throwin' down the reggae jams in the basement of The Comet all night long, with MC host Diedrich Jones of The Cliftones! Dancehall, rocksteady, roots, lovers, and more! All reggae, all the time. Nuff niceness! Jamaican/Caribbean specialty cocktails will be offered, as well as Guinness/Red Stripe specials.
2012
Mar 7

MOTR Pub
Cincinnati, OH, US | 10:00pm
MOTR Pub
Cincinnati, OH, US
Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:00pm
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- Tickets
Details

With the untimely departure of Scribble Jam, as well as the closing of Top Cat’s, a mainstay of Cincinnati underground Hip Hop, Cincinnati has experienced a recent deficit in performances by national Hip Hop acts. That all changes when Brooklyn-based indie rapper Louis Logic, while en route to SXSW 2012, comes to town on March 7, 2012, to perform at MOTR Pub (1345 Main Street | Cincinnati, OH) with Cincinnati-based acts Abiyah and DJ Apryl Reign opening.
2012
Feb 17

Northside Tavern
Cincinnati, OH, US | 8:00pm
Northside Tavern
Cincinnati, OH, US
Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:00pm
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- Tickets
Details

An evening of female-fronted electronic/synth/beat-based deliciousness. Diet Audio Jenny Jeuvine and Champagne Leelanau began playing and writing together in 2003. Released "Ecrasez L'Infame" in 2006. Won a Cincinnati Entertainment Award. Toured the northeastern & midwestern US. Played more festivals than you can shake a spotted pigeon at. Wrote more music for a very long time. Will release a new CD in spring 2012. http://www.facebook.com/DietAudio Playfully Yours Brock, Maxx and Katie began their three-piece collaboration in late 2010. Experimenting with psychedelic rhythms, Playfully Yours create a hypnotic blend of spine-throbbing beats, shoegaze synths, ambient vocals and otherworldly textures. In May 2011, PY began playing out live and in August 2011, they released their self-entitled debut EP. With many shows in tow (both local and national), Playfully Yours will release a sophomore EP in the coming months. http://www.facebook.com/yours.playfully