New York-born artist Fareed Abdallah has spent several decades moving between hip-hop, freestyle, electronic dance music and Latin music, building a catalogue shaped by influences from different musical traditions.
Raised in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, Abdallah developed an interest in music at the age of 15. His early influences included Bob Marley, The Cure, Sting, Marc Anthony, Romeo Santos, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Nirvana, Luis Segura and Shakira.
His career began with a performance at the Roxy Nightclub in 1983, where he opened for hip-hop group The Cold Crush Brothers. He later worked with producers Full Force and Cultjam as part of the hip-hop group Future Force.
In the mid-1980s, Abdallah formed Death City Boyz with Andrew Welsh and John Lindsey. The group secured a record deal with Snowflake/Prism Records and released “Bopsey Twins”, an electro and hip-hop track that received airplay on WBLS’ “Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack”.
Abdallah and Welsh subsequently formed the freestyle group Spirit Matter. Their collaboration with DJ Frankie Bones led to “Crimes of Passion”, which gained club attention in New York and Miami. Another release, “Betrayal”, combined live Latin percussion with guitar-driven production, reflecting his interest in bringing Latin musical elements into electronic dance music.
In 2012, Abdallah established Sosua Sound Recordings and released his debut Spanish-language album, “Love n Tears”. The project included “Bailando en La Playa”, which gained attention on YouTube. Other releases from his catalogue include a bachata version of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”, “Esa Mujer” and the reggaeton track “Vamos Pa La Calle”.
Known by the names El Boricua Arabe and El Boricua De La Bachata, Abdallah draws on his Puerto Rican and Arab identity in his musical work. His releases combine Latin rhythms with elements of reggae, R&B, hip-hop and rock.
His more recent projects include “Urban Tek Volume 2: El Boricua Arabe”. The biography supplied for the release also reports that his YouTube video “Una Noche Con Un Arabe” surpassed three million views within two months of its release.
Outside his recording career, Abdallah has worked as a promoter, rapper, songwriter and poet. He is also a programming director and partner at LHMPR Radio, where he is involved in Latin urban music programming. His performance history includes shows in the United States, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and the Philippines.
With a career spanning several decades and multiple styles, Abdallah’s work reflects the movement of Latin music through hip-hop, freestyle and electronic dance music, as well as his continued interest in combining those influences.