Quadeca Explained

Quadeca
Birth Name:Benjamin Fernando Barajas Lasky[1]
Birth Date:2 October 2000
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years Active:2014–present
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Channel Name:quadecaX8
Channel Display Name:Quadeca
Years Active:2012–present
Subscribers:1.93 million
Views:233.516 million
Silver Button:y
Silver Year:2016
Gold Button:y
Gold Year:2018
Stats Update:April 2, 2024
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Father:Mitch Lasky
Mother:Cecilia Barajas

Benjamin Fernando Barajas Lasky (born October 2, 2000), better known by his stage name Quadeca (formerly QuadecaX8), is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, YouTuber, and former video game commentator. Lasky began on the Internet by uploading rap songs, music videos, comedy sketches, and video game gameplay to his YouTube channel.

Quadeca deviated away from his YouTube career to focus on his music career, releasing four mixtapes prior to the albums Voice Memos in 2019, From Me to You in 2021, and I Didn't Mean to Haunt You in 2022. The mixtape SCRAPYARD, released on February 16, 2024, contains features from Brakence and Kevin Abstract.

Early life

Benjamin Lasky was born on October 2, 2000, in Los Angeles, California. His father, Mitch Lasky, is a Benchmark general partner and former entrepreneur and video game executive.[2] Lasky became an avid soccer player as a child and was enthusiastic about hip hop and other forms of music. He also has a younger sister named Anna who was featured in some of his earliest videos, along with an older sister, Natasha. Lasky opened his YouTube channel on June 11, 2012, under the name QuadecaX8; his early videos were based around video game commentating and the FIFA franchise. He was admitted to Menlo School in 2015, where he joined the soccer team.[3] Lasky continued to play with his soccer team through his student years and became a tri-captain of the team.[4] [5]

Career

In 2014, Lasky began to create rap-related content and freestyles for his YouTube channel. In February, he performed at a middle school talent show that went viral on YouTube.[6] On September 16, 2015, at the age of 14, he released his debut mixtape Work in Progress. The mixtape acquired 10 million streams on Spotify with the stand-out song "Wii Music Fire" attracting over 7 million streams on Spotify. He released his second mixtape Nostalgia for the Now on May 11, 2016.

On January 31, 2017, Lasky released his third mixtape Bad Internet Rapper and followed it up with his fourth mixtape, Out of Order in November of that year. In early 2018, Lasky released two singles "Clouted Up" and "Heart Attack." In October 2018, he teamed up with Saint G to drop a joint project, 1Day, produced in one day.

In late 2018, popular YouTuber, KSI, called out Quadeca and other YouTube rappers claiming they were frauds. Lasky responded with a diss track "Insecure" within a week.[7] The music video acquired over 8 million views within 10 days. In November, KSI gave a review of the track and praised it, saying that it warranted a diss track from himself.[8] He responded to with his own diss "Ares," to which Lasky gave a lukewarm response in a tweet.[9] [10] Logan Paul revealed that he had wanted to collaborate with Lasky to diss KSI as well, but was denied.[11]

On March 8, 2019, he released his debut studio album Voice Memos,[12] and on March 22, Voice Memos peaked at No. 42 on Billboard's Independent Albums and Heatseekers Albums. He was invited to explain the lyrics of the song "Uh Huh!" on a Genius interview.[13]

He was featured as a guest on the song "Roll the Dice" from KSI and Randolph's collaborative album New Age on April 12, 2019.[14] On April 21, 2019, Lasky released the single "Not a Diss Track". On May 12, Famous American rapper Twista reacted to him and other new rappers on Genius's The Cosign, where he criticized Lasky for being "corny."[15] [16] On May 26, he released a music video to "The Man on my Left Shoulder." On August 1, 2019, Lasky released the single "Tomfoolery" with Egovert, Kil, and Moxas. On September 6, he released the single "I Don't Care", and on September 27, Quadeca and Moxas released "Schoenberg."[17] At the end of the Schoenberg music video, he announced his next album From Me To You, which was set to release in early 2020. Quadeca went on to release two more singles that year, "Fish Outta Bacardi" with EGOVERT and "Beamin’", produced by Mathias Tyner.

In March 2020, he announced the lead single for From Me To You, "Where'd You Go", which he then released in April. He was able to explain the lyrics in a second interview with Genius. In April he also announced the second single, "Alone Together", which was subsequently released later that month. Starting in August, Quadeca took a five-month hiatus from all social platforms, to finalize From Me To You.

On January 29, 2021, Lasky reannounced his second studio album titled From Me to You on YouTube,[18] which released on March 30, 2021, under AWAL.[19] [20] [21] [22] He released the self-produced single "Sisyphus" on March 20, 2021, which garnered widespread critical praise.[23] [24] [25]

On September 19, 2022, Lasky released the lead single to his third album I Didn't Mean to Haunt You, titled "Born Yesterday".[26] He then released the album's second single, titled "Tell Me a Joke", on October 25, 2022.[27] On the same day, he announced his album, revealing the cover art, tracklist, and release date. I Didn't Mean to Haunt You was scheduled to release on November 11, 2022,[28] [29] however was ultimately released a day earlier on November 10.

On October 3, 2023, Lasky announced via his Twitter and Instagram pages an upcoming project, "The Scrapyard Series". Lasky detailed that the project would consist of five separate 2-3 song EPs, each one being released every 2-3 weeks.[30] The first EP was released on October 11, 2023, titled SCRAPYARD I.[31] The second EP, SCRAPYARD II, was released October 30, 2023, and the third EP, SCRAPYARD III, was released on November 22, 2023.[32] On December 24, 2023, Lasky announced that the remainder of the SCRAPYARD EPs would not be released, but promised that the series would "go out with a bang."[33] On February 6, 2024, Lasky announced the release of SCRAPYARD, a mixtape containing all of the previously released EP tracks, with seven new ones, including a feature from Kevin Abstract.

On February 15, 2024, Lasky published a music video for his song 'WAY TOO MANY FRIENDS' off his recent mixtape SCRAPYARD, on YouTube, while also teasing his upcoming album "Vanisher" at the end of the video, which is currently in the works.[34]

Artistry

Style and influences

Lasky's early releases were categorized as YouTube rap but he has since diversified, combining elements of Experimental hip hop, Art pop, Neo-Psychedelia and Folktronica. His earlier projects were influenced by rappers like Logic and J Cole. In his second album From Me To You, Quadeca draws from influences such as Tyler, The Creator, Joji, Childish Gambino and Frank Ocean. Quadeca has cited artists such as The Microphones, Duster, Lingua Ignota, Björk, Jane Remover and Caroline Polachek as influences for his third studio album I Didn't Mean To Haunt You.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
Ind.

[35]
US
Heat

[36]
Voice Memos
  • Released: March 8, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
4215
From Me to You
  • Released: March 30, 2021
  • Label: AWAL
I Didn't Mean to Haunt You
  • Released: November 10, 2022
  • Label: DeadAir, AWAL Recordings
Vanisher
  • Scheduled: 2024
  • Label: DeadAir

Mixtapes

TitleAlbum details
Work in Progress
  • Released: September 16, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
Nostalgia for the Now
  • Released: May 10, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
Bad Internet Rapper
  • Released: January 31, 2017
  • Label: Self-released
Out of Order
  • Released: November 10, 2017
  • Label: Self-released
Scrapyard
  • Released: February 16, 2024
  • Label: DeadAir
Title! rowspan="1.5" scope="col" style="width:18em;"
Album details
1Day
  • Released: October 7, 2018[37]
  • Label: Self-released

EPs

!Title!EP details
scope=row Scrapyard I
  • Released: October 11, 2023
  • Label: DeadAir
scope=row Scrapyard II
  • Released: October 30, 2023
  • Label: DeadAir
scope=row Scrapyard III
  • Released: November 22, 2023
  • Label: DeadAir

Singles

Title! rowspan="1.5" scope="col"
YearAlbum/Mixtape
"Wii Music Fire"2015Work in Progress
"Mind's Eye"2016Nostalgia for the Now
"You Can't Rap"
"Dreamlife"
rowspan="1"
"2020"Bad Internet Rapper
"Unscripted"
"Lemon Tree"2017
"Cause He Has One"rowspan="1"
"Who Would've Thought"Out of Order
"Idontwannaspeakagain"
"Hold Up"
"Clouted Up"2018rowspan="3"
"Heart Attack"
"No Deal"
"Unusual"
Voice Memos
"Insecure"rowspan="2"
"Four Horsemen"
2019
"War"
Voice Memos
"Uh-Huh"
"Not a Diss Track"rowspan="3"
"Volt"
"Gordon Ramsay"
"The Man on my Left Shoulder"Voice Memos
"Tomfoolery"
rowspan="5"
"I Don't Care"
"Schoenberg"
"Fish Outta Bacardi"
"Beamin'"
"Class in Session"
2020Ignorant as Hell
"Where'd You Go?"From Me to You
"Alone Together"
"Live Like This"
scope=row "Sisyphus"2021From Me to You
"Rip Bozo"
scope=row "Born Yesterday"2022I Didn't Mean to Haunt You
scope=row "Tell Me a Joke"

Guest appearances

TitleYearAlbum/Mixtape
"Batter Up"
2018rowspan="4"
"Lost in the Clouds"
"Supreme"
"Illy Mode"
2019
"Roll the Dice"
New Age
'Tonight's the Night"
"Emergency"
BOW
"Duh Nuh"
Tales From The Crypt
"Outbreak"
Disgrace
"Bigger"
Who Made This Album?
"SOLID"
2020
"Darken The Shadow"
2021Darken The Shadow OST
"Tunnel of Glass"
2024Unwired Detour

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BURNIN BRIDGES LONG DAY FEAT IDK . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . May 1, 2023.
  2. Web site: Venture Capitalist Mitch Lasky Drops $40 Million on Malibu's Broad Beach. McClain, James. December 1, 2020. Yahoo! Finance.
  3. Web site: 2015–16 BOYS SOCCER ALL-LEAGUE TEAM. West Bay Athletic League.
  4. Web site: Page 48 – Menlo Magazine Summer 2019. 48. Menlo School.
  5. Web site: WBAL BOYS SOCCER: THREE TEAMS STAKE A CLAIM TO THE TITLE. February 6, 2019. Eymer, Rick. Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton.
  6. Web site: Lasky's first soccer goal is music to Menlo's ears. Eymer, Rick. January 20, 2017. Palo Alto Weekly.
  7. Web site: KSI gets roasted by YouTube rapper in savage diss track. November 24, 2018. Glaze, Virginia. Dexerto.
  8. Web site: KSI gives surprising review of Quadeca diss track. Donigan, Wyatt. Dexerto. November 27, 2018.
  9. Web site: KSI viewers affirm Deji's claim he has a 'god complex' as he collabs with Randolph. Griffin, Louise. December 15, 2018. Metro.
  10. Web site: KSI releases long-awaited diss track, Quadeca gives lukewarm response. Donigan, Wyatt. Dexerto. December 4, 2018.
  11. Web site: Logan Paul wants to team up with this YouTube rapper to roast KSI. December 8, 2019. Dexerto. Glaze, Virginia.
  12. Web site: Quadeca: Voice Memos Review. New To Hip Hop. July 16, 2019.
  13. Web site: Quadeca Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Uh Huh!". March 20, 2019. Reneau, Steven. Genius.
  14. Web site: Review: KSI & Randolph – New Age. April 15, 2019. Smith, Theo. The Edge.
  15. Web site: Twista Reacts To New Fast Rappers On 'The Cosign'. May 10, 2019. Genius. Gebreyes, Rahel.
  16. Web site: Twista Reacts To Quick-Rhyming Rappers Like J.I.D, Denzel Curry, & Ski Mask. HotNewHipHop. Marie, Erika. May 14, 2019.
  17. Web site: Rappers Quadeca and Moxas, sample a famous, expressionistic Arnold Schoenberg piece for the short, but sweet banger, "Schoenberg.". October 1, 2019. The Musical Hype.
  18. Web site: From Me To You (Trailer). Lasky, Benjamin. January 29, 2021. YouTube.
  19. Web site: What's Up Next: Here's Every Album Dropping In March. Genius.
  20. Revealed: Billboard's 2020 Indie Power Players. June 15, 2020. Billboard.
  21. Web site: Quadeca- "From Me To You" (Album Review). April 8, 2021. Fantastic Hip Hop.
  22. Web site: NEW MUSIC FRIDAY – NEW ALBUMS FROM LIL TJAY, 24HRS, BANKROLL FREDDIE + MORE. HipHopDX. April 1, 2021. Jefferson, Devon.
  23. Web site: Quadeca – From Me To You (Album Review). Banger of the Day. April 12, 2021. Buxton, Chris.
  24. Web site: Quadeca – Sisyphus (Official Music Video). March 21, 2021. News Vision Viral.
  25. Web site: Quadeca Blows My Mind. Fantano, Anthony. March 22, 2021. YouTube.
  26. Web site: Degrazia . Leah . 2022-09-20 . Quadeca Tells A Supernatural Tale On New Song "Born Yesterday" . 2022-09-20 . Genius . en.
  27. Web site: Partridge . Ken . 2022-10-25 . Quadeca Continues His Ghost Saga With New Song "Tell Me a Joke" . 2022-10-25 . Genius.
  28. 1584898824526790656. Quadeca. I Didn't Mean To Haunt You. Lasky. Benjamin. October 25, 2022. October 25, 2022.
  29. News: Gomez . Jade . 2022-10-25 . Quadeca Announces New Album 'I Didn't Mean to Haunt You' . . 2022-10-25.
  30. Lasky . Benjamin . Quadeca . 1709274861657616698 . WELCOME TO "THE SCRAPYARD SERIES" . July 15, 2024.
  31. deadAir . deadAirrecords . 1712170516566438031 . Quadeca - Scrapyard I" out now everywhere, via deadAir. . July 15, 2024.
  32. Lasky . Benjamin . Quadeca . 1718841028432785520 . SCRAPYARD II OUT EVERYWHERE . July 15, 2024.
  33. Lasky . Benjamin . Quadeca . 1739381833274675567 . Due to some new developments, I've decided to cancel the release of SCRAPYARD 4. . July 15, 2024.
  34. QUADECA - WAY TOO MANY FRIENDS . 2024-02-15 . Quadeca . 2024-08-07 . YouTube.
  35. INDEPENDENT ALBUMS. March 23, 2019. Billboard.
  36. HEATSEEKERS ALBUMS. March 23, 2019. Billboard.
  37. Web site: 1DAY (QUADECA X SAINT G). 2021-08-15. SoundCloud. en.