Emay (rapper)

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Emay
Shad @ The Mod Club (27799593802) (cropped).jpg
Emay performing in 2016
Background information
Birth nameMubarik Gyenne-Adams
Also known as
  • Mubarik Gyenne-Bayere
  • Emay
Born (1991-12-18) December 18, 1991 (age 33) [1]
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Origin Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Genres Hip hop
OccupationRapper
Instruments
Years active2008–present
Labels
Website emay.bandcamp.com

Mubarik Gyenne-Adams (born December 18, 1991) known professionally as Emay, is a Canadian rapper from Hamilton, Ontario.

Contents

Early life

Mubarik Gyenne-Adams (preferred name Mubarik Gyenne-Bayere) was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 18, 1991, the son of a couple who had immigrated to Canada from Ghana. He and his four sisters were raised in the tradition of Islam by his single mother. The family regularly moved between shelters throughout Ontario, living in Brampton briefly before settling in Hamilton. [2] [3] [4]

Career

The stage name Emay comes from Mubarik Adams's initials written as a phonogram. [5] Emay began his musical career in 2008 releasing mixtapes and collaborations. [3] In 2012, Emay released his debut album entitled Adam. [6] [7] His first extended play, entitled Into It, was released later that year. [8] [9] In 2014 he released his second extended play, which was entitled Sinner, Song-writer. [10] [11] In 2017, Emay released his first music video for the track "Bakkah: The History of Humankind". [12] [13] The song includes samples of Bizzy Bone and Leonard Cohen’s "Famous Blue Raincoat". [14] Emay released his sophomore album entitled Ilah in 2017. [15] [16] "Israfil 'Angels Trumpet'" was the first track from the album to be released as a single. [17]

Discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

Extended plays

Singles

Guest appearances

Compilation appearances

References

  1. 1 2 "Emay Announces New Release, "Sinner, Song-Writer"". Hi-Scores Recording Library. September 11, 2014. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  2. Baulcomb, Andrew (February 19, 2015). "Emay is Hamilton's Hip-Hop Bright Spot". Vice . Vice Media. ISSN   1077-6788. OCLC   30856250. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Elaine, Zoë (April 18, 2017). "Are Our Gods Best? Ruminating on Emay's New LP, Ilah". Grimy Goods. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  4. Burns, Louise (March 16, 2017). "Radio 3's featured artist: Emay". CBC Radio 3 . CBC Music . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  5. Moore, Jacob, ed. (March 28, 2011). "P&P Interview: Emay". Pigeons and Planes . Complex Magazine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. Wilson, Elliott, ed. (April 10, 2012). "Free Album: Emay – "Adam"". Respect Magazine . Musinart LLC. ISSN   2150-8674. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  7. Hiam, Kamir (April 11, 2012). "Free Download: Emay – Adam (2012)". The Find Magazine. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  8. Hiam, Kamir (October 31, 2012). "Free Download: Emay – Into It". The Find Magazine. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  9. Moore, Jacob, ed. (October 30, 2012). "Emay – "Into It" EP". Pigeons and Planes . Complex Magazine. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  10. Levine, Matthew (December 8, 2014). "Emay Rails Against Romance on New Track 'MAIR'". Spin . Next Management Partners. ISSN   0886-3032. OCLC   12872607. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  11. Jorgensen, Chris (December 26, 2014). "Off the Charts: Emay, Willie Nile, Davis-Coltrane". Billings Gazette . Lee Enterprises. ISSN   2372-8698. OCLC   10317615. Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  12. Darville, Jordan (October 26, 2016). "Emay Dances with a Riot Gear Devil in the Video For "Bakkah: The History of Humankind"". The Fader . ISSN   1533-5194. OCLC   607570214. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  13. Njegovan, Biljana (October 28, 2016). "Emay – Bakkah: The History of Humankind". Cut From Steel. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  14. Scherzinger, Emily (February 19, 2017). "Emay: The Wavelength Interview". Wavelength Music . Wavelength Music Arts Projects . Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  15. Njegovan, Biljana (May 16, 2017). "Emay's 'Ilah' is Your New Favourite Rap Album". The Inlet. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  16. Smith, Joey (March 18, 2017). "Emay – Ilah". SoundChips. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  17. Low, Jeff. "Bands Spotted: May Edition". Novella Magazine. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  18. Schiller, Rebecca (October 10, 2010). "Phoenix, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, Deerhoof, Sage Francis - 10 Best Free MP3 Downloads This Week". NME . NME Networks. ISSN   0028-6362 . Retrieved April 26, 2025.