Quadeca

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Quadeca
glitch pop
  • emo rap
  • trap
    • Occupation(s)
    • singer-songwriter
    • record producer
    • YouTuber
    • rapper
    • video game commentator (former)
    Years active2014–present
    Labels
    YouTube information
    Channel
    Years active2012–present
    Genres
    • Music
    • video games (former)
    Subscribers1.93 million[2]
    Total views233.516 million[2]
    100,000 subscribers2016
    1,000,000 subscribers2018
    Last updated: April 2, 2024
    Parents

    Benjamin Fernando Barajas Lasky (born October 2, 2000), better known by his stage name Quadeca (formerly QuadecaX8), is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, YouTuber, and former video game commentator. Lasky began on the Internet by uploading rap songs, music videos, comedy sketches, and video game gameplay to his YouTube channel.

    Quadeca deviated away from his YouTube career to focus on his music career, releasing four mixtapes prior to the albums Voice Memos in 2019, From Me to You in 2021, and I Didn't Mean to Haunt You in 2022. The mixtape SCRAPYARD, released on February 16, 2024, contains features from Brakence and Kevin Abstract.

    Early life

    Benjamin Lasky was born on October 2, 2000, in Los Angeles, California. His father, Mitch Lasky, is a Benchmark general partner and former entrepreneur and video game executive.[3] Lasky became an avid soccer player as a child and was enthusiastic about hip hop and other forms of music. He also has a younger sister named Anna who was featured in some of his earliest videos, along with an older sister, Natasha. Lasky opened his YouTube channel on June 11, 2012, under the name QuadecaX8; his early videos were based around video game commentating and the FIFA franchise. He was admitted to Menlo School in 2015, where he joined the soccer team.[4] Lasky continued to play with his soccer team through his student years and became a tri-captain of the team.[5][6]

    Career

    In 2014, Lasky began to create rap-related content and freestyles for his channel. In February, he performed at a middle school talent show that went viral on YouTube.[7] On September 16, 2015, at the age of 14, he released his debut mixtape Work in Progress. The mixtape acquired 10 million streams on Spotify with the stand-out song "Wii Music Fire" attracting over 7 million streams on Spotify. He released his second mixtape Nostalgia for the Now on May 11, 2016.

    On January 31, 2017, Lasky released his third mixtape Bad Internet Rapper and followed it up with his fourth mixtape, Out of Order in November of that year. In early 2018, Lasky released two singles "Clouted Up" and "Heart Attack." In October 2018, he teamed up with Saint G to drop a joint project, 1Day, produced in one day.

    In late 2018,

    KSI called out Quadeca and other YouTube rappers claiming they were frauds. Lasky responded with a diss track "Insecure" within a week.[8] The music video acquired over 8 million views within 10 days. In November, KSI gave a review of the track and praised it, saying that it warranted a diss track from himself.[9] He responded to with his own diss "Ares," to which Lasky gave a lukewarm response in a tweet.[10][11] Logan Paul revealed that he had wanted to collaborate with Lasky to diss KSI as well, but was denied.[12]

    On March 8, 2019, he released his debut studio album Voice Memos,

    Heatseekers Albums.[14][15] He was invited to explain the lyrics of the song "Uh Huh!" on a Genius interview.[16]

    He was featured as a guest on the song "Roll the Dice" from KSI and Randolph's collaborative album New Age on April 12, 2019.[17] On April 21, 2019, Lasky released the single "Not a Diss Track". On May 12, Twista reacted to him and other new rappers on Genius's The Cosign, where he criticized Lasky for being "corny."[18][19] On May 26, he released a music video to "The Man on my Left Shoulder." On August 1, 2019, Lasky released the single "Tomfoolery" with Egovert, Kil, and Moxas. On September 6, he released the single "I Don't Care", and on September 27, Quadeca and Moxas released "Schoenberg."[20] At the end of the Schoenberg music video, he announced his next album From Me To You, which was set to release in early 2020. Quadeca went on to release two more singles that year, "Fish Outta Bacardi" with EGOVERT and "Beamin’", produced by Mathias Tyner.

    In March 2020, he announced the lead single for From Me To You, "Where'd You Go", which he then released in April. He was able to explain the lyrics in a second interview with Genius. In April he also announced the second single, "Alone Together", which was subsequently released later that month. Starting in August, Quadeca took a five-month hiatus from all social platforms, to finalize From Me To You.

    On January 29, 2021, Lasky reannounced his second studio album titled From Me to You on YouTube,[21] which released on March 30, 2021, under AWAL.[22][23][24][25] He released the self-produced single "Sisyphus" on March 20, 2021, which garnered widespread critical praise.[26][27][28]

    On September 19, 2022, Lasky released the lead single to his third album I Didn't Mean to Haunt You, titled "Born Yesterday".[29] He then released the album's second single, titled "Tell Me a Joke", on October 25, 2022.[30] On the same day, he announced his album, revealing the cover art, tracklist, and release date. I Didn't Mean to Haunt You was scheduled to release on November 11, 2022,[31][32] however was ultimately released a day earlier on November 10.

    On October 3, 2023, Lasky announced via his Twitter and Instagram pages an upcoming project, "The Scrapyard Series". Lasky detailed that the project would consist of five separate 2-3 song EPs, each one being released every 2-3 weeks.[33] The first EP was released on October 11, 2023, titled SCRAPYARD I.[34] The second EP, SCRAPYARD II, was released October 30, 2023, and the third EP, SCRAPYARD III, was released on November 22, 2023.[35] On December 24, 2023, Lasky announced that the remainder of the SCRAPYARD EPs would not be released, but promised that the series would "go out with a bang."[36] On February 6, 2024, Lasky announced the release of SCRAPYARD, a mixtape containing all of the previously released EP tracks, with seven new ones, including a feature from Kevin Abstract. The single "Way Too Many Friends" came out on February 15, and the mixtape was released on February 16, 2024, via DeadAir.[37]

    Artistry

    Style and influences

    Lasky's early releases were categorized as YouTube rap but he has since diversified, combining elements of

    Lingua Ignota, Björk, Jane Remover and Caroline Polachek as influences for his third studio album I Didn't Mean To Haunt You.[38]

    Discography

    Studio albums

    Title Album details Peak chart positions
    Independent Albums
    [14]
    Top Heatseekers
    [15]
    Voice Memos
    • Released: March 8, 2019
    • Label: Self-released
    		 42 15
    From Me to You
    • Released: March 30, 2021
    • Label: AWAL
    		 — —
    I Didn't Mean to Haunt You
    • Released: November 10, 2022
    • Label: DeadAir, AWAL Recordings
    		 — —
    Vanisher
    • Scheduled: 2024
    • Label: DeadAir
    		 TBA TBA

    Mixtapes

    Title Album details
    Work in Progress
    • Released: September 16, 2015
    • Label: Self-released
    Nostalgia for the Now
    • Released: May 10, 2016
    • Label: Self-released
    Bad Internet Rapper
    • Released: January 31, 2017
    • Label: Self-released
    Out of Order
    • Released: November 10, 2017
    • Label: Self-released
    Scrapyard
    • Released: February 16, 2024
    • Label: DeadAir
    Collaborative albums
    Title Album details
    1Day
    (with Saint G)
    • Released: October 7, 2018[39]
    • Label: Self-released

    EPs

    Title EP details
    Scrapyard I
    • Released: October 11, 2023
    • Label: DeadAir
    Scrapyard II
    • Released: October 30, 2023
    • Label: DeadAir
    Scrapyard III
    • Released: November 22, 2023
    • Label: DeadAir

    Singles

    Title Year Album/Mixtape
    "Wii Music Fire" 2015 Work in Progress
    "Mind's Eye" 2016 Nostalgia for the Now
    "You Can't Rap"
    "Dreamlife"
    (featuring Gracie Zander)     		Non-album single
    "2020" Bad Internet Rapper
    "Unscripted"
    "Lemon Tree" 2017
    "Cause He Has One" Non-album single
    "Who Would've Thought" Out of Order
    "Idontwannaspeakagain"
    "Hold Up"
    (featuring
    Quentin Miller
    )
    "Clouted Up" 2018 Non-album single
    "Heart Attack"
    "No Deal"
    (featuring Moxas)
    "Unusual"
    (featuring B. Lou)     		Voice Memos
    "Insecure" Non-album single
    "Four Horsemen"
    (with Crypt, Dax & Scru Face Jean)     		2019
    "War!"
    (featuring Dax)     		Voice Memos
    "Uh-Huh"
    "Not a Diss Track" Non-album single
    "Volt"
    (with Sad Frosty)
    "Gordon Ramsay"
    (featuring Sad Frosty)
    "The Man on my Left Shoulder" Voice Memos
    "Tomfoolery"
    (with Egovert, Kil & Moxas)     		Non-album single
    "I Don't Care"
    "Schoenberg"
    (featuring Moxas)
    "Fish Outta Bacardi"
    (featuring Egovert)
    "Beamin'"
    "Class in Session!"
    (with A1TH)     		2020 Ignorant as Hell
    "Where'd You Go?" From Me to You
    "Alone Together"
    "Live Like This" Non-album single
    "Sisyphus" 2021 From Me to You
    "Rip Bozo"
    (featuring Lou from Paradise)     		Non-album single
    "Born Yesterday" 2022 I Didn't Mean to Haunt You
    "Tell Me a Joke"

    Guest appearances

    Title Year Album/Mixtape
    "Batter Up"
    (Didac featuring Quadeca)     		2018 Non-album singles
    "Lost in the Clouds"
    (CamDaye featuring FiveAm & Quadeca)
    "Supreme"
    (Reactitup featuring Quadeca)
    "Illy Mode"
    (Scru Face Jean featuring Quadeca)     		2019
    "Roll the Dice"
    (Randolph featuring Quadeca)     		New Age
    'Tonight's the Night"
    (Walia featuring Quadeca)     		Non-album single
    "Emergency"
    (B. Lou featuring Dax & Quadeca)     		BOW
    "Duh Nuh"
    (Crypt featuring Quadeca)     		Tales From The Crypt
    "Outbreak"
    (Josh A featuring Quadeca)     		Disgrace
    "Bigger"
    (Joey Nato featuring Quadeca)     		Who Made This Album?
    "SOLID"
    (JAG featuring Quadeca)     		2020 Non-album single
    "Darken The Shadow"
    (Pellek featuring Quadeca)     		2021 Darken The Shadow OST
    "Tunnel of Glass"
    (Asian Glow featuring Quadeca)     		2024 Unwired Detour

    References

    1. ^ "BURNIN BRIDGES LONG DAY FEAT IDK". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
    2. ^ a b "About Quadeca". YouTube.
    3. ^ McClain, James (December 1, 2020). "Venture Capitalist Mitch Lasky Drops $40 Million on Malibu's Broad Beach". Yahoo! Finance.
    4. ^ "2015–16 BOYS SOCCER ALL-LEAGUE TEAM". West Bay Athletic League.
    5. ^ "Page 48 – Menlo Magazine Summer 2019". Menlo School. p. 48.
    6. ^ Eymer, Rick (February 6, 2019). "WBAL BOYS SOCCER: THREE TEAMS STAKE A CLAIM TO THE TITLE". Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton.
    7. ^ Eymer, Rick (January 20, 2017). "Lasky's first soccer goal is music to Menlo's ears". Palo Alto Weekly.
    8. ^ Glaze, Virginia (November 24, 2018). "KSI gets roasted by YouTube rapper in savage diss track". Dexerto.
    9. ^ Donigan, Wyatt (November 27, 2018). "KSI gives surprising review of Quadeca diss track". Dexerto.
    10. ^ Griffin, Louise (December 15, 2018). "KSI viewers affirm Deji's claim he has a 'god complex' as he collabs with Randolph". Metro.
    11. ^ Donigan, Wyatt (December 4, 2018). "KSI releases long-awaited diss track, Quadeca gives lukewarm response". Dexerto.
    12. ^ Glaze, Virginia (December 8, 2019). "Logan Paul wants to team up with this YouTube rapper to roast KSI". Dexerto.
    13. ^ New To Hip Hop (July 16, 2019). "Quadeca: Voice Memos Review".
    14. ^ a b "INDEPENDENT ALBUMS". Billboard. March 23, 2019.
    15. ^ a b "HEATSEEKERS ALBUMS". Billboard. March 23, 2019.
    16. Genius
      .
    17. ^ Smith, Theo (April 15, 2019). "Review: KSI & Randolph – New Age". The Edge.
    18. Genius
      .
    19. ^ Marie, Erika (May 14, 2019). "Twista Reacts To Quick-Rhyming Rappers Like J.I.D, Denzel Curry, & Ski Mask". HotNewHipHop.
    20. ^ "Rappers Quadeca and Moxas, sample a famous, expressionistic Arnold Schoenberg piece for the short, but sweet banger, "Schoenberg."". The Musical Hype. October 1, 2019.[permanent dead link]
    21. ^ Lasky, Benjamin (January 29, 2021). "From Me To You (Trailer)". YouTube.
    22. Genius
      .
    23. ^ "Revealed: Billboard's 2020 Indie Power Players". Billboard. June 15, 2020.
    24. ^ "Quadeca- "From Me To You" (Album Review)". Fantastic Hip Hop. April 8, 2021.
    25. ^ Jefferson, Devon (April 1, 2021). "NEW MUSIC FRIDAY – NEW ALBUMS FROM LIL TJAY, 24HRS, BANKROLL FREDDIE + MORE". HipHopDX.
    26. ^ Buxton, Chris (April 12, 2021). "Quadeca – From Me To You (Album Review)". Banger of the Day.
    27. ^ "Quadeca – Sisyphus (Official Music Video)". News Vision Viral. March 21, 2021.
    28. ^ Fantano, Anthony (March 22, 2021). "Quadeca Blows My Mind". YouTube.
    29. ^ Degrazia, Leah (September 20, 2022). "Quadeca Tells A Supernatural Tale On New Song "Born Yesterday"". Genius. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
    30. ^ Partridge, Ken (October 25, 2022). "Quadeca Continues His Ghost Saga With New Song "Tell Me a Joke"". Genius. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
    31. ^ Benjamin Lasky [@Quadeca] (October 25, 2022). "I Didn't Mean To Haunt You" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
    32. ^ Gomez, Jade (October 25, 2022). "Quadeca Announces New Album 'I Didn't Mean to Haunt You'". Paper. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
    33. ^ Lasky, Benjamin. "WELCOME TO "THE SCRAPYARD SERIES"". Twitter. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
    34. ^ "Quadeca - Scrapyard I" out now everywhere". Twitter. deadAir. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
    35. ^ "https://twitter.com/Quadeca/status/1718841028432785520". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved November 1, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
    36. ^ Lasky, Benjamin (December 25, 2023). "Twitter".
    37. ^ Lasky, Benjamin (February 6, 2024). "Twitter".
    38. ^ Quadeca's I Didn't Mean to Haunt You Influences Playlist, retrieved December 18, 2022
    39. ^ "1DAY (QUADECA X SAINT G)". SoundCloud. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quadeca&oldid=1220078872"