Quick Facts
Biography
Born in 1996, better known by his stage name Ish DARR is an American Hip Hop artist and performer from Milwaukee. In 2016, he released his debut album Broken Hearts and Bankrolls'.
Early life
Ali said his earliest memories of music were in fourth grade, going to his father's house hearing him blast music. IshDARR grew up listening to jazz and hip hop with his father. He began freestyling over internet beats in seventh grade and later he began writing lyrics. He attended Messmer High School where his music teacher encouraged him to pursue a music career while even getting him into a studio.
Career
Ali met his close friend and manager Enrique "Mag" Rodriguez through his older brother Isaiah "BoodahDarr" Ali. Boodah, Ish and Rodriguez created a group called iLL Collective. The group released three songs and ended after Boodah went to college. In 2014, as the trio reunited during Ali's senior year for the release of The Better Life EP they were contacted by Amanda Berkowitz who was with Epic Records at the time. She would later become IshDARR's mentor and co-manager.
"The Better Life" jumped Ali's career leading him to open for SchoolBoy Q, Ab-Soul and others as well as recording his first mixtape. Old Soul, Young Spirit was released through Complex in March 2015. This mixtape Included his lead single "Too Bad" which reached #1 on the Hype Machine Charts. As of November 2015 Ish DARR has generated millions of plays on Soundcloud, has landed major placements with Apple Music and Spotify, and embarked on his first world tour.
IshDARR and Mag were flown to Los Angeles by Mike Caren, who was Vice President of A&R at Atlantic Records at the time, but decided to pass on a deal offered to them.
IshDARR has opened for West Coast rapper Schoolboy Q at The Rave. In November 2016, he opened for Jeremih and PartyNextDoor in Madison.
IshDaRR gained national attention after Carrie actress Chloe Grace Moretz tweeted "Ooh, I feel" bringing Ali's hit single 255,000-plus streams on SoundCloud. Since then, IshDARR has received press from national news music magazines including the Source, Vibe, and Complex Magazine. In 2016, IshDARR released a single and recorded a music video with singer Jacob Latimore called "The Real."
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Broken Hearts & Bankrolls |
|
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Four the Better - EP |
|
Mixtapes
- Old Soul, Young Spirit (2015)