Freek
Background information
Birth nameMustafa Mohamed Ismail
Born (1990-07-23) 23 July 1990
Abu Dhabi, UAE
OriginSomalia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • Singer
  • Music director
  • Record producer
Years active2014–present
Websitefreektv.net/FTV/

Mustafa Mohamed Ismail, professionally known by his stage name, Freek, is a UAE-based Somali rapper, singer, music director and record producer.[1][2] He is noted as one of the contributors to the Arabic drill rap music genre[3][4][5] and in particular, to the GCC's underground music scene.[6]

Personal life

Freek was born and raised in Abu Dhabi to Somali parents who migrated to the UAE in the 1970s.[7][8]

Career

Freek's career as a musician began with Alonzo's track titled Batali released in 2014[9] and his first single Aslan 3adi was released in 2015. His 2019 single, Wala Kilma, was used in a 2019 Adidas marketing campaign featuring popular football player, Mohamed Salah.[10][5][6] Wala Kilma, which was listed on Link Up TV,[11] was later remixed with British rappers Eyez and Young Tribez.[9] The record landed Freek his debut performance in London and Leicester in December 2019.[4][12][13] This later paved the way to a series of performances in the UAE, including being the opening act for Sole DXB, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Expo 2020.[7][14][8] Other musicians headlining the aforementioned events included Future, Gucci Mane and the Wu-Tang Clan.[4][13]

In 2020, Freek was written about and praised extensively by Kuwaiti writer Mona Kareem. In her article, she claims "Freek comes as one of the first Gulf rappers to have taken it to the hit-making level, expanding Arabic hip hop beyond conscious rap and YouTube niche",[9] though no data was provided to contextualize or substantiate her claims. In 2021 Freek was featured on the Charlie Sloth’s Fire in The Booth (Dubai Series)[15][16] and on the Virgin Radio Dubai's Regional Artist Spotlight in 2022, both of which are programs covering budding underground artists in the UAE's hip hop scene.[17][18][19] That same year, Freek's first studio-recorded album titled "150" was released.[20][21]

Discography

Singles

  • 2015 Aslan 3Adi
  • 2019 Wala Kilma
  • 2019 Wala Kilma Remix (ft. Young Tribez & Eyez)
  • 2019 Wadha
  • 2019 La Titfalsaf
  • 2020 Shwaya (Freek & Don Fuego)
  • 2020 Mush Fathi
  • 2020 Khali Wali
  • 2020 Team (ft. Ab)
  • 2021 Khfi

Albums

"150" (2022)

  • Floos (ft. The Synaptic)
  • La Tithawar (ft. Lil Eazy)
  • Doos
  • Sah Wala La (ft. TooDope)
  • Mia Mia
  • Samehni
  • Kathab
  • Min That (ft. Alyoungofficial & Randarofficial)

Collaborations

  • 2014 Batali (Alonzo ft. Freek)
  • 2022 Lali (The Synaptic, Freek & EQuBE)
  • 2021 Nas Ghareeba (Oman Dafencii, Khayyat ft. Freek)

References

  1. ↑ "Freek: The UAE Based Somali Rapper that Bathes in Laban". Scene Noise. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Barretto, Jennifer (21 June 2022). "World Music Day: 10 UAE-based musicians who are making waves". Gulf News. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. ↑ ""بعد أيام من طرحها.. مشاهدات ضعيفة لأغنية فريك "مية مية (in Arabic)". Al Mashhad Al Arabi. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 طه, أحمد (15 June 2021). "فنان الراب الاماراتي "فريك" يطلق أغنية "مية مية" (in Arabic)". Elaph. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Freek and Khawater Al Dhalam". Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 "UAE-based Somali artist Freek charts the highs and lows of his career on his latest single". The Egyptian Gazette. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Emirati-Born Rapper Freek Levels Up". GQ Middle East. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Alternative artists Freek, Karrouhat drop surprise new singles". Arab News. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Kareem, Mona (2020). "From Rap to Trap: The Khaliji Migrant Finds his Aesthetic". Arabian Humanities. Revue internationale d'archéologie et de sciences sociales sur la péninsule Arabique/International Journal of Archaeology and Social Sciences in the Arabian Peninsula. 14 (14). doi:10.4000/cy.6285. S2CID 234447537. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Keraudren, Nicolas (15 April 2020). "A Dubai rischi il carcere se parli male delle autorità—e allora come puoi fare rap? (In Iatalian)". Vice. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  11. ↑ Bedirian, Razmig (21 April 2021). "13 music videos filmed in the UAE: from Now United to Mohamed Ramadan". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  12. ↑ Bedirian, Razmig (25 June 2020). "'It's my first million': How UAE rapper Freek shot his hit 'Wala Kilma' music video on an abandoned plane". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  13. 1 2 Light, David (21 April 2021). "I believe most UAE artists are not yet ready to talk about serious issues: Freek". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "ثاني نسخ سلسلة "إيقاعات اليوبيل" تنطلق في إكسبو 2020 (in Arabic)". Al Ain. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  15. ↑ Hamad, Marwa (5 January 2021). "British DJ Charlie Sloth brings 'Fire in the Booth' to Dubai". Gulf News. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "Freek Joins Charlie Sloth For Latest Dubai Special Of 'Fire In The Booth'". GRM Daily. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Freek – Regional Artist Spotlight". Virgin Radio Dubai. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "UAE-based Somali rapper FREEK knows the drill". Musivv. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "Dubai Media City launches MUSIC_ON series to amplify UAE's growing music scene". Broadcastpro. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  20. ↑ Hariss, Yassine (25 February 2022). "Dubai-Based Rapper Freek on What It's Like to Make a First Album". Milleworld. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  21. ↑ Sandran, Aravin (25 February 2022). "Rapper Freek Breaks Down the Making of His Debut Album". GQ Middle East. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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