With three successful mixtapes under his belt and after almost a decade as a hip hop producer and songwriter, Ottawa rapper Belly’s double-disc debut THE REVOLUTION premiered at number one on the rap charts in Canada in June of 2007. In the same month, Belly took home a MuchMusic Video Award (MMVA) for Best Rap Video for “Pressure” featuring Ginuwine, delivered a powerful performance of "Pressure" at the MMVAs, that the Toronto Sun reported was, “the standout live performance" and was interviewed by CNN and Al Jazeera during a visit to New York City.
In the weeks and months leading up to the release of THE REVOLUTION, the Canadian rapper of Palestinian decent showed and proved to all that crossed his path that the name Belly is synonymous with controversy and hype. In early 2007, he wowed audiences across Canada with his live show when he toured with and earned the respect of legendary rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. A few months later, his video for “History of Violence” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Nh1uEfrks) was banned by MVN in the U.S. due to its anti-war messages and graphic images. It has since received over 50,000 spins on Youtube. During NHL Playoff season, he teamed up with Ottawa Senators goalie and friend Ray Emery and set the city ablaze with ‘Sens Fever’ when he released the Senators anthem “Go Sens Go”. He performed the anthem in his hometown for over 15,000 people, including the Mayor, and it was used in a musical montage on Hockey Night In Canada. And In May Belly became the first Canadian rapper to be interviewed by Geraldo at Large for Fox News (http://youtube.com/watch?v=hwDvLF0F2kY).
Belly Mania - a term coined by Hulk Hogan himself, while Belly was in the studio recording with his daughter, Brooke Hogan - is hitting Canada harder than ever. The rest of the world is up next.
Belly recruited many of hip-hop and R&B's finest to work alongside him on THE REVOLUTION, including Fabolous, the legendary Scarface, Kurupt, Nina Sky, Ginuwine (on first single, “Pressure”, which went to #1 on MuchMusic), Mario Winans, and Monique. Production was deftly handled by Beat Merchant. Da Heala, Goggs, Whosane? and Bacardy also contributed their talents to this soon-to-be-a-classic album.
The System CD takes a break and throws tracks about feeling good and having a good time. The entire double package carries Belly’s signature hard-hitting lyrics that spit the truth from a brother who’s been there. “The problems don’t stop once you get into this industry, but people should never regret anything that happens to them,” Belly emphasizes. “I don’t know where I’d be and what I’d be rapping about if I didn't live the life I lived. The pain is part of the game.”
And he should know. Belly (a.k.a Rebellyus) was born to Palestinian parents in the city of Jenin, surrounded by war and atrocities no child should have to see. His parents left when Belly was a baby and, for the next seven years, lived in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan. While Belly cares a great deal about Palestine, he’s most concerned with bringing people of all races and religions together. In “Follow Me” he tells, “I was known for the grimiest rappin’, but I’ve been prayin’ a lot more since tsunami done happened. Flash back, seein’ planes fly in Manhattan, I’ve been hurt since the time that it happened - Osama bin Laden, Saddam and Iraq and, the bombs, the war, so peace is hard to imagine.”
When Belly and his family moved to Ottawa, he saw the wealth that was only a dream in his birthplace. Although his parents made sure there was food on the table and a roof over Belly and his siblings’ heads, the luxuries he saw at school, which his family couldn’t afford, were addictive – the flyest shoes, the new cap. Like many kids, that hunger led him to the streets. By the age of 13, Belly was on the block hustling drugs to get his hands on a piece of the wealth that was available for the taking. Life on the streets made him strong and resilient, but he needed an outlet to release his anger and aggression. That outlet was rap music.
"I always had a love for rap music, and I eventually found out that rap and my passion for it was the only way I could really express myself and talk about the things going on in my life." Belly began recording street singles on a home computer. A year later, after hearing his name throughout the ‘hood, budding business-savvy entrepreneur Tony Sal, also an Ottawa resident, drove through the South Side’s Hunt Club neighbourhood, looking for Belly. Sal wanted to start an independent record label, CP Records (Capital Prophet Records), and Belly and Canadian singer, Massari were his first signings. Belly was 15.
In 2003, he and Massari recorded and released the single “Spitfire.” Local radio station Hot 89.9 jumped on, and the track became a local anthem. Their second single wasn't as well received, and a frustrated Belly returned to the streets. “This period was a turning point for me. I finally got that I was addicted to hip-hop and the studio,” Belly described. “I actually got withdrawal symptoms; found myself irritated all the time. It’s where the track “Obsession” ultimately came from.”
Belly returned to the studio with a new found intensity. He emerged with three classic mixtapes and went on to write three Top Ten singles for Massari – “Be Easy”, “Rush The Floor” and “Smile for Me.” Belly has a vested interest in the label he helped Tony Sal start. He is now the Vice President and Head of A&R of CP Records. All this and Belly is just 23...
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