Fil-Am hip-hop artist Guapdad 4000 announces new album with PARADISE RISING, 88rising’s sub-label with Globe

(February 12, 2020, Manila, Philippines) – As the first-ever artist signed by PARADISE RISING, celebrated Filipino-American hip-hop sensation Guapdad 4000 has announced the upcoming launch of his new album, 1176 for the emerging new label. 

The follow up to his 2019 debut full-length Dior Deposits which no less than the New York Times hailed as one of the best albums of the year, 1176 chronicles the life and career to date of the Oakland-based rapper, from his Filipino upbringing, humble beginnings and eventual stardom. Executive produced by fellow Fil-Am !LLMIND, the album hones in on Guap telling his own story, with the help of some of his close friends Buddy, P-Lo and Tish Hyman.

1176 features the recently released carrier single and music video, “How Many,” which samples the legendary Alice DJ track “Better off Alone.” Directed by Chris Simmons, the video is the perfect introduction to this new era of Guap’s artistry, exploring pieces of his mind as he finds himself trapped inside a liquor bottle, trying his luck with falconry, and bringing his tattoos to life.

!LLMIND who has worked with A-list artists like Kanye West, Ariana Grande, Drake and Ludacris, among many others consider Guapdad as “literally one of the most talented artists” he has ever come across. 

“I know that sounds generic but there really is no better way to describe [Guapdad]. I also wish I was as good looking as him but at least I’m taller than him. Seriously though, I had such a blast working with him on this project and even though we’re from opposite coasts, we are similar in so many ways. He brought the best out of me on this project and made my job easy. The music is crazy!” the acclaimed record producer further enthused.

Named “the secret weapon of the [Revenge of the Dreamers III] sessions” by Complex, Guapdad 4000 has been one to watch since the start. With a Grammy nomination, a slew of viral singles, and tours with P Lo, Earthgang (Dreamville) and Denzel Curry already under his belt, the Oakland rapper’s talent, creativity and versatility are set to take him straight to becoming one of this year’s brightest stars. 

The album comes out March 19th via 88rising’s sister label PARADISE RISING, making Guap and !LLMIND the first artists to release a full-length project through the young label which is dedicated to uplifting artists of Filipino descent. 

In a statement, PARADISE RISING says the release “marks the first full-length artist project released under PARADISE RISING, 88rising’s sister label that’s focused on highlighting Filipino talent globally.” 

“Guapdad 4000’s upcoming album provides another bridge in commonalities between Asian & American culture, diving even deeper into those stories through his music,” the record label’s statement concluded. 

PARADISE RISING is the result of a joint collaboration between the Philippines’ telecommunications leader Globe,  and 88rising, a pioneering music and media collective synonymous with elevating Asian talent from East to West. 

The label will serve as a platform to establish a presence for Philippine artists in the West and globally through music distribution, music rights management, and artists development.

“We’re thrilled to have Guapdad 4000 as the first signee of PARADISE RISING, and what makes this even more exciting is how he takes pride in his Filipino roots as told through his music. He is a testament of the promising Filipino talent that we’re always on the lookout for and we can’t wait to highlight more of these artists through our platform,” says Denise Seva, Head of Globe Live of Globe Telecom.

Listen to “How Many” at http://bit.ly/streamhowmany, and watch the music video here http://bit.ly/howmanymv. For more updates on Guapdad 4000 and 1176, stay tuned to Paradise Rising on Facebook at bit.ly/paradiserisingfacebook, Instagram at bit.ly/paradiserisinginstagram, and Twitter at bit.ly/paradiserisingtwitter.  

About Guapdad 4000:

Growing up in West Oakland provided the Grammy Nominated, Platinum recording artist Guapdad 4000 (born Akeem Hayes) with a vast treasure chest of invaluable inspiration, encouraging him early on in life to explore his innate talents as a multi-hyphenate creative and eager student of the game. Guapdad’s profound sense of humor, paired with his aptitude for commanding attention, translated organically into his lighthearted freestyles and ignited his interest in developing his well-rounded capacities as a vocalist.

While navigating an upbringing challenged by both parents being in and out of jail at often overlapping time frames, Guapdad 4000 began operating out of a necessity to both survive and take care of his siblings and grandmother. Driven by his greater desire to rise above such calamitous circumstances, he turned to illicit means to make money, such as credit card fraud and petty theft, a path accented by ups and downs that later provided ample material for his original content.

After releasing a slew of successful hits since, in the summer of 2019, Guapdad 4000 released his highly anticipated debut album, Dior Deposits in October of 2019. In addition to his singles setting the charts on fire and his solo album going viral, Guapdad also continues to build a buzz after his features on Dreamville’s Grammy Nominated RIAA Platinum Revenge of the Dreamers 3 album by performing at prominent festivals nationwide and touring with P Lo, Earthgang (Dreamville) and Denzel Curry.

Guapdad 4000 hasn’t just been releasing hit after hit, the music videos that accompany the internet savvy rapper’s singles go viral as well thanks to his eye for entertaining visuals, his latest, “Lil Scammer that Could” capturing the rappers fun but serious personality gives fans a look inside the rappers creative mind. Furthermore, Guapdad’s innovative visuals and vlogs ultimately earned him a selection for the YouTube Music Foundry.

Currently, Guapdad’s RonaRaps campaign featuring guest cyphers from artists such as Chris Brown, Curren$y, Joey Bada$$, Boogie, Wiz Khalifa and many more highlights his aptitude for lyricism and his versatility. With his latest release “Platinum Falcon Returns” garnering features from artists like Denzel Curry, Boogie, Deante Hitchcock and more, Guapdad 4000 released one of the most exciting and refreshing EP’s in Hip Hop of the last year. Guapdad’s talent, creativity and versatility marks him as one of the most promising budding stars of the music industry.

About PARADISE RISING:

In July 2020, 88rising launched its first sister label PARADISE RISING, dedicated to establishing and promoting Filipino artists globally and in partnership with Globe, a leading full-service telecommunication company in the Philippines. PARADISE RISING’s debut release, semilucent EP, is a curated compilation album featuring the most promising Philippine acts, garnering recognition from Forbes, BusinessMirror and Billboard as the platform to highlight such talent. In 2021, PARADISE RISING is set to release new music and sign up-and-coming Filipino artists.

About 88rising:

Heralded by Forbes as the bridge between East and West, the face of a new generation of Asian youth by CNN, and an authority on how to create Asian and American pop-culture crossovers by The New Yorker, 88rising is at the forefront of catapulting Asian culture and stories into new dimensions. Refusing to be confined within a single vessel, 88rising has exceptionally executed any and all ideas, while breaking new ground along the way. Best known as the team behind Internet-breaking sensations, including Joji, Rich Brian, Higher Brothers and Keith Ape, 88rising have quickly escalated to selling out world tours, hosting festivals and working with today’s biggest stars. To say that 88rising has their finger on the pulse is an understatement. With over 5.1 million subscribers and 2.2 billion views on their YouTube channel, 88rising’s influence is undeniable.