Stoic bliss

Infobox musical artist
Name = Stoic Bliss
Background = group_or_band
Origin = New York City
Genre = Hip hop
Years_active = 2006 – present
Label = G Series
Associated_acts = Fuad Almuqtadir, B1shop
URL = [http://stoicbliss.com/sb/home.html stoicbliss.com]
Current_members =Kazi Double R Ac1d

Stoic Bliss is a Bangladeshi American hip hop group that was formed in Queens, New York. Almost all of the tracks for Stoic Bliss are produced by Rajib Rahman, better known by his stage name "Double R". Though this band is not a big hit, they became popular in Bangladesh due to their hit track "Abar Jigay" from their debut album Light Years Ahead. Double R produces the tracks in his small second floor studio in Jackson Heights, Queens. [http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/11608 Stoic Bliss] . PRI's The World. Accessed February 28 2008]

Biography

Early days

Kazi, who is a student at New York's Tauro College and Ac1d (Sean Khan), who works at a payroll service were the initial founders of the group. [Collins, Jennifer; Merina, Dorian (April 2007). [http://www.columbianewmedia.com/video_projects/4/SeanConversionFinalX.mov Sean: Lunch break in Manhattan] . Stoic Bliss: Bengali Hip Hop: From New York to Dhaka. Accessed February 28 2008] In their early days, the group were only experimenting with the fusion of Bangla and hip hop music. They created a few experimental tracks and released them online. But they were barely promoted, so, most of the potential listeners remained unaware about the existence of the group. Till this day, all members of Stoic Bliss are Bangladeshi Americans.

Albums

Light Years Ahead

Light Years Ahead was the first album released by Stoic Bliss in 2006 under the record label G-Series, which is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=7158 Eid audio market: New releases galore] . The Daily Star. Accessed February 28 2008] This album featured early Stoic Bliss members: Ac1d, Kazi, Double R, Xtro, B1shop, Tizzy Montana, Rul, Fly and Mana, the only female member of the group. The song, "Abar Jigay" was an instant hit in Bangladesh, especially among the teenagers. Hip hop was relatively unpopular in Bangladesh and Bangla hip hop was unheard of. Stoic Bliss caused a new interest for hip hop and rap music in Bangladesh. [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/02/04/cover.htm The Next Big Thing] . Star Weekend Magazine. Accessed February 28 2008] The album sold about 250,000 copies in 10 months.

Kolponar Baire

The second album, Kolponar Baire (translates to "Beyond Imagination" in English), was released in late 2007 under the same record label,G-Series. This album was, unlike their first one, was not a big hit. This album features an intro track produced by renowned Bangladeshi composer Fuad Al-Muqtadir. Ac1d displays his tongue-twister abilities in the tracks "Fire Like A Dragon", "Pura Ura Dhura" and "Ac1d Ke?". Only Ac1d and Kazi from the first album remained in the group. The rest of the members left the group because they were ashamed to be the part of this unsuccessful band. None of them were heard of again in the mainstream Bangla music scene, except for B1shop, who was featured in two tracks "Da Dushto Number" and "Sylothi" in Fuad Almuqtadir's album, Bonno. [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=581 Live music at Kozmo Lounge] . The Daily Star. Accessed February 28 2008]

tyle

Traditional Instruments

Double R, while relying on the American hip hop style of beats, also mixed traditional Bangladeshi instruments such as the Harmonium in the tracks. Kazi, who sings most of the choruses, usually sings in Bangla while the other members in the group rap in both English and Bangla. Ac1d is the most prominenet Bangla rapper in the group, even though he usually raps in English. There were tracks in both albums which didn't have any rap in it and could be classified as classical Bangla music. They were mostly sung by Kazi and featured relatively unknown female artists.

Discography

*2006: "Light Years Ahead"
*2007: "Kolponar Baire"

References

External links

* [http://stoicbliss.com/sb/home.html Official Site for Stoic Bliss]
* [http://www.columbianewmedia.com/video_projects/4/RajibConversionFinalX.mov Rajib Rahman aka Double R Interview]
* [http://www.columbianewmedia.com/video_projects/4/SeanConversionFinalX.mov Sean Khan aka Ac1d Interview]
* [http://www.columbianewmedia.com/video_projects/4/KaziConversionFinalX.mov Kazi Interview]
* [http://www.columbianewmedia.com/video_projects/4/songfinalconversion.mov Kazi and Double R Performing]