Biography

Born and raised in Merkato, the largest open market in Africa, where the primary merchandise passing through is locally-grown agricultural products such as Coffee and chat. Merkato also happened to be home to the biggest hustlers in Addis Ababa, the shottest slang and new fashion. Reggae and Hip Hop arrives in Merkato first, then it hits the other parts of the city. When the entire Addis Ababa city goes to sleep, Merkato is always up. Abdu Kiar grew up listening to music, he fell in love with Roots Reggae, Hip Hop, Tilahun Gessesse and Mahmoud Ahmed. He was always listening and imitating his favorite Reggae's singers and Hip Hop artist such as Biggie Smalls, Mase, and others. He was doing the imitations while adding his own Amharic lyrics to them. He began performing in night clubs around Addis Ababa, audiences loved his style of mixing these different genres of music. He was approached by many producers to record and release an album. However, the Ethiopian and Eritrean war broke out in 1998. Many Eritreans were deported from Addis Ababa including some of Abdu Kiar's family members. He escaped and went to Saudia Arabia where he became a salesman. It was hard for him, being away from the people he loved and his neighborhood. He was feeling like a motherless child, because Merkato was his home and Ethiopia was the only mother he knew...