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WebsterX
WebsterX in 2024
WebsterX in 2024
Background information
Birth nameSam Ahmed
Born (1992-09-24) September 24, 1992 (age 32)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2013–present
Websitewww.webster-x.com

Sam Ahmed, professionally known as WebsterX, is an American alt-rap singer and songwriter. The Fader speaks to his work as a "personal dive into the rapper's psyche", as he wrestles with his "doubts and fears but ultimately provides glimmers of hope throughout."[1] In 2016, WebsterX was awarded 'Solo Artist of the Year' by the Radio Milwaukee Music Awards, sponsored by Koss. In 2016, WebsterX signed to Chicago-based label Closed Sessions until September 2019, whose alumni include Jamila Woods, Noname (rapper), Freddie Gibbs, Raekwon, Action Bronson and many more. His song "Intuition" was featured in a Super Bowl ad for the Microsoft Surface, starring Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.[2] WebsterX was set to perform alongside Bon Iver for his Wisconsin Get Out the Vote tour in October 2020 but has since been cancelled due to COVID-19.[3] His music has been featured in The Fader,[1] NPR,[4] Complex,[5] PBS,[6] Paper Magazine,[7] Vice,[8] Bonafide Magazine,[9] Hypebeast,[10] Koss,[11] TimeOut,[12] and Pitchfork.[13]

Career

[edit]

Inspired by a family legacy in music, WebsterX was born to Ethiopian immigrant parents – his father is musician Abdi Guitar of musical group Roha Band. In 2014, Ahmed dropped out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and decided to pursue music and art full-time.[14]

He released his debut mixtape Desperate Youth in 2013, and then his 2015 single “Doomsday” along with its subsequent video. In late 2015, he released a collaborative EP with NAN producer Q the Sun, called KidX. The same year he opened for Earl Sweatshirt, and Bassnectar at Somerset Music Festival marking his first big festival. In March 2017 he released his 15-track debut album Daymares, which was awarded No. 1 on the Journal Sentinel's Best Milwaukee Albums of 2017 List.[15] WebsterX performed at SXSW in both 2016[16] and 2018.[17] Notable 2019 performances include opening for Lil Yachty at Freakfest.[18] In fall of 2019 WebsterX was selected by director Enrique "Mag" Rodriguez, for an offer to join the Backline Music generator, a 12-week grant accelerator program developed by venture capital firm Gener8tor, which provides coaching, mentoring, industry networking, and grants to cohorts of up to three musicians annually.[19]

Aside from music, WebsterX supports youth-oriented community engagement and is a co-founder of organization Freespace, founded in 2015 as a free, monthly, all-ages music showcase that invites Milwaukee's young creatives to come together and collaborate.[4] Hosts bring together guest youth artists mainly from Milwaukee's North and West sides and build skills as experienced headliners perform alongside emerging artists. Interviews are also conducted with the artist in front of an audience.[20] Freespace evolved into The New State, an upcoming permanent all-ages music venue, engineering studio, consignment store and performance space in the heart of Milwaukee.[21] WebsterX was additionally part of the Milwaukee music collective, New Age Narcissism. The group – whose members include Lex Allen, Siren, Lorde Fred33, Bo Triplex, Jay Anderson, and Christopher Gilbert – each having their own solo careers, sporadically performed and created together. The group toured and collaborated with Milwaukee Public Schools, performing at elementary and middle schools while educating students on music entrepreneurship.[22]

In 2020, WebsterX hosted the 3,000 rider strong Black Is Beautiful benefit bike ride in honor of POC Mental health, proceeds going to local charities Walnut Way & Wisconsin Bike Fed.[23]

Musical style

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WebsterX has been described as being rooted in hip-hop with genre bending in indie, psychedelic and punk rock. WebsterX likes to define his style as "genreless" pulling from all of his influences growing up and in present time.

Discography

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Studio albums

  • 1 of 1 (2021)
  • Daymares (2017)

Extended plays

  • KidX (2015)

Singles

  • "8:08pm" (2021)
  • "HUFFY" (2021)
  • "Ain't My Fault" (2018)
  • "No End" (2018)
  • "Feels" (2018)
  • "Everfeel" (2017)
  • "Intuition" (2017)
  • "Lost Ones Freestyle" (2016)
  • "Blue Streak" (2016)
  • "Kinfolk" (2015)
  • "Lately" (2015)
  • "Doomsday" (2015)

Tours

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Headlining

  • The Lost Ones Tour (2016)

Supporting

  • Get Out the Vote Tour – Bon Iver (2020; cancelled)

References

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  1. ^ a b "WebsterX Finds Some Light In The Darkness On His Debut Album Daymares". The FADER. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Levy, Piet. "Watch the Super Bowl ad featuring a song by Milwaukee rapper WebsterX". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "WebsterX, Field Report and Zola Jesus will open for Bon Iver's Wisconsin get out the vote tour". 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. February 25, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "WebsterX's New Trio Of Songs Denotes His Restless Summer". NPR.org. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Premiere: oddCouple Links Up With Mick Jenkins and WebsterX for "Blinded"". Complex. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  6. ^ 30-Minute Music Hour | Webster X | Season 7 | Episode 4, retrieved August 22, 2020
  7. ^ "PREMIERE: Watch WebsterX Risk Life and Limb in New Video for "Blue Streak"". PAPER. April 10, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  8. ^ "Listen to Webster X and Q The Sun's Radiohead-Inspired EP". www.vice.com. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  9. ^ "Introducing: WebsterX". Bonafide. December 30, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "WebsterX featuring Allan Kingdom – Kinfolk". HYPEBEAST. October 8, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  11. ^ "Interview: WebsterX". Koss Blog. November 16, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  12. ^ "Ric Wilson + WebsterX + DJ Sunburnt Reynolds | Music in Chicago". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  13. ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 10, 2020). "Bon Iver Cancel Wisconsin Concerts Due to COVID-19". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  14. ^ McCollum, Maureen (May 15, 2017). "Milwaukee's WebsterX Powers Through Pain On New Album". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  16. ^ Wild, Matt (March 14, 2016). "Tracklist: 7 Milwaukee artists playing SXSW 2016". Milwaukee Record. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  17. ^ "WebsterX". SXSW 2020 Schedule. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  18. ^ "lil yachty songs he wrote – Lil Yachty, WebsterX And Gin Blossoms Will Headline Madison's 2019 Halloween Freakfest". North Sea Jazz Club. November 5, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  19. ^ "WebsterX". BACKLINE. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  20. ^ Mahadevan, Tara. "Meet WebsterX, a Milwaukee Rapper Having 'Daymares' About His Growing Pains". DJBooth. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  21. ^ "The New State". The New State. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  22. ^ McCollum, Maureen (May 15, 2017). "Milwaukee's WebsterX Powers Through Pain On New Album". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "Black Is Beautiful II". Eventbrite. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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