Belly أحمد بلشي | |
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.jpg) Belly in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ahmad Balshe (1984-04-07)7 April 1984 (age 41) Jenin, Palestine |
| Origin | Ottawa,Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | |
Spouse | |
Ahmad Balshe (Arabic:أحمد بلشي; born 7 April 1984), known professionally asBelly, is aPalestinian-Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.[1][2] Born inJenin, Balshe was raised inOttawa.[3] His debut mixtape,Death Before Dishonor: Vol. 1 (2005) was followed by eight additional projects until the release of his debut studio album,The Revolution (2007). After an eight-year hiatus in favor of songwriting for fellow Canadian singerthe Weeknd, Balshe signed with his record label,XO, as a recording artist in 2015.
Released in a joint venture withRoc Nation, his eighth mixtape,Up for Days (2015), marked his first release on a major label and was led by the single "Might Not" (featuring the Weeknd) — his first entry on bothCanadian Hot 100 andBillboard Hot 100 which receiveddouble platinum andplatinum certifications byMusic Canada (MC) and theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively. His second studio album,Immigrant (2018), narrowly entered theBillboard 200 along with his third,See You Next Wednesday (2021).[4] His fourth album,96 Miles from Bethlehem (2024) was released bySALXCO and explored political subject matter, namely the ongoingIsraeli–Palestinian conflict.
In songwriting, Balshe has been credited on each of the Weeknd's studio albums. His first credit was on the mixtapeEchoes of Silence (2011). He has also provided backing vocals and songwriting for American singerBeyoncé's 2016 song "6 Inch". He co-wrote tracks on the Weeknd's fourth studio albumAfter Hours (2020), including its single "Blinding Lights", which becameBillboard's Greatest Hot 100 Hit ofAll Time in 2021.
Balshe was honoured as Songwriter of the Year at the 2016 SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) Awards for his "significant and outstanding contributions to popular music over the past year".[5] Alongside his SOCAN award, Balshe has won aJuno Award, threeMuchMusic Video Awards, and has twice attained a top chart position in the nationalMuch Music Countdown. Balshe has collaborated frequently with fellow PalestinianDJ Khaled.
Ahmad Balshe was born on 7 April 1984 inJenin, Palestine.[6] When he was seven years old, he moved toOttawa,Ontario, Canada with his family, throughSaudi Arabia,Lebanon, andJordan, to escape violence and poverty.[7]
Balshe's first single, "Pressure" featuringGinuwine, peaked at number 10 on the Canadian CHR radio charts, and number one on MuchMusic's Video chart. In April 2007, he released the video for his second single "Don't Be Shy", featuringNina Sky, as well as the video for "History of Violence" directed by Martin Verigin and Jeffrey Hagerman. The latter remains his most controversial record to date, as he explains his views on theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict and theWar in Iraq.[8]
During the2007 NHL Playoffs, as theOttawa Senators were competing, Belly released the single "Bandwagon", produced by Hussain Hamdan. When the Senators made the Stanley Cup Finals, he released a second version of the song which featured goaltenderRay Emery.[9]
His debut album,The Revolution, was released on 5 June 2007. This double disc album was divided into two sections:The People andThe System.The People contained more in depth songs, such as "History of Violence", "Follow Me", and "Revolutionary", where he challenges his listeners to discover the facts regarding the Middle East situation. Other songs on this disc include "People Change" and "Leave Me Alone", where he talks about his longtime friends and the memories that he kept from them.The System contained his hit singles "Ridin'", and "Pleasure".
The Revolution achieved Gold sales in Canada and won the2008Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.[10] The singles fromThe Revolution won twoMuchMusic Video Awards for Best Rap Video: "Pressure" in2007 and "Ridin'" in2008.
In 2011, Balshe released his fifth mixtapeSleepless Nights, hosted by DJ ill Will.[11] He also released his sixth mixtape in collaboration with rapperKurupt entitledBelly & Kurupt The Lost Tapes 2008.[12] The mixtape, also hosted by DJ ill Will, contained a compilation of songs the two had worked on some time after Belly's debut studio album was released. Some of the songs featured on the mixtape were previously unreleased. Belly then released his seventh mixtapeThe Greatest Dream I Never Had, hosted byDJ Drama.[13]
Balshe's next projectSleepless Nights 1.5 was released in April 2012. The first single, "Hot Girl" featuringSnoop Dogg, was released on 8 September 2009.[14] Its second single, "To The Top" featuring Ava, was released in 2010. Belly's first single of 2011 was "Back Against the Wall", featuring singerKobe Honeycutt.[15]
In May 2015, after a five-year hiatus, Balshe released his eighth mixtapeUp for Days.[16] It was his first project to be released under the record labelsXO andRoc Nation and featured guest appearances byTravis Scott,Juelz Santana,French Montana andthe Weeknd. Belly was also prominently featured on the Weeknd's sophomore albumBeauty Behind the Madness in August 2015, earning writing credits on six of the fourteen songs: "Often", "The Hills", "Shameless", "Earned It", "In the Night" and "As You Are". On 24 November 2015, Belly formally signed to Roc Nation.[17]
In February 2016, Balshe released the single "Zanzibar", featuringJuicy J.[18] On 27 May, he released his ninth mixtapeAnother Day in Paradise, which featured guest appearances by Travis Scott,Lil Wayne,Kehlani,Starrah,Waka Flocka, Juicy J andB-Real.[19] On 11 November, he released his tenth mixtapeInzombia. It featured guest appearances fromYoung Thug,Zack,Nav,Future,Ty Dolla $ign,Jadakiss andAshanti. The mixtape was supported by two singles; "Consuela" and "The Day I Met You".[20] Later that month, the Weeknd released his third studio albumStarboy, with Belly earning writing credits on nine of the eighteen songs: "Party Monster", "False Alarm", "Rockin'", "Six Feet Under", "Love to Lay", "A Lonely Night", "Ordinary Life", "Nothing Without You" and "All I Know".
On 23 June 2017, Balshe was featured onDJ Khaled's tenth studio albumGrateful on the song "Interlude". On 6 October, he released his eleventh mixtapeMumble Rap, which was executive produced byBoi-1da.[21] On 8 December, he was featured onJuicy J's fourth studio albumRubba Band Business on the song "On & On", which also featuredTory Lanez.[citation needed]
Balshe featured in Toronto'sCanada Day celebrations atNathan Phillips Square, where he received criticism for his profanity-laden performance. Belly was unapologetic, and sent out tweets denouncing censorship around his music, saying organizers were aware his performance would contain profanities.[22]
On 23 March 2018, Balshe released the single "4 Days", featuring rapperYG and producerDJ Mustard.[23] The song's music video was released three days later.[24] He then released the single "Maintain" featuringNav on 6 April, followed by the single "What You Want" featuring the Weeknd, which was released on 24 May. Both singles appeared on his second studio album,Immigrant, which was released on 12 October. The album also features guest appearances fromZack,French Montana,Meek Mill,Yo Gotti, andM.I.A.[citation needed]
On 7 April 2021, Balshe released the dual lead singles from his third studio album,See You Next Wednesday, "Money on the Table" featuringBenny the Butcher and "IYKYK".[25] He then released the second single, "Zero Love" featuringMoneybagg Yo, on 3 June.[26][27] On 22 July, he released the third single "Better Believe", a collaboration with the Weeknd andYoung Thug. The song debuted on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart at number 88.[28] On 18 August, Belly revealed the album artwork and tracklist, and announced the release date of 27 August.[29] The album also features guest appearances from Nav,Nas,Gunna,Big Sean,Lil Uzi Vert, andPnB Rock.[30] On 17 December 2021, a new posthumous single fromAaliyah was released, titled "Poison" featuring the Weeknd, in which Belly co-wrote the song, which contains vocals recorded by Aaliyah shortly before herdeath in 2001.[31][32][33][34]
On 21 April 2023, Balshe released the first single from his twelfth mixtape,Mumble Rap 2, "American Nightmare", his first release after taking a hiatus all of 2022.[35] He then released the second single, "Ambiance" on 5 May.[36] The mixtape was released on 19 May and features guest appearances from Nav,Rick Ross,Gucci Mane, and the lateGil Scott-Heron, while it was primarily produced byHit-Boy.[37]
On 30 July 2019, Balshe filed a lawsuit against Coachella Music LLC, Goldenvoice LLC, and IPS Security Incorporated alleging assault and battery, negligence, and emotional distress in response to an incident which occurred during the 2018Coachella Music Festival.[38] A video obtained by TMZ shows festival security staff pushing Balshe up against a security barrier and repeatedly punching him.[39]
On 31 May 2021, Balshe announced his engagement to resident doctor and businesswoman Dina Rabadi.[40] They married on 9 September 2023 in an intimateCatholic ceremony atMission Santa Barbara, followed by a larger ceremony held inMontecito, California.[41]
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Earned It" | Best Original Song | Nominated | [42] |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Earned It" | Outstanding Original Song | Nominated | [43] |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Earned It" | Best R&B Song | Nominated | [44] |
| Best Song Written for Visual Media | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Earned It" | Best Song from a Movie | Nominated | [45] |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Himself | New Artist of the Year | Nominated | [46] |
| "The Revolution" | Rap Recording of the Year | Won | ||
| 2016 | Himself | Songwriter of the Year | Won | [47] |
| 2017 | Himself | Fan Choice Award | Nominated | [46] |
| "Another Day in Paradise" | Rap Recording of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | Mumble Rap | Rap Recording of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Immigrant | Rap Recording of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2021 | "After Hours", "Blinding Lights", "Save Your Tears" (withAbel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye andJason "DaHeala" Quenneville) | Songwriter of the Year | Won | [48] |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Wanderlust" | Urban/Independent Music | Won | [49] |
| 2016 | Himself | Songwriter of the Year | Won | |
| "The Hills" | International Song | Won | ||
| Pop/Rock Music | Won | |||
| "Earned It" | Won | |||
| 2017 | "Might Not" | Urban Music | Won |
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
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