Ash Riser
Birth nameAshleigh Winston Riser
Also known asAshtrobot, Ash Riser
Born(1989-08-28)August 28, 1989
Redondo Beach, California, United States
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
DiedJune 12, 2021(2021-06-12) (aged 31)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
Years active2004–2021
Labels
  • Archwood
  • D.R.E.A.M. Brigade
  • Buygore
  • Bennu
Websitewww.ashriser.tv//

Ash Winston Riser (August 29, 1989 – June 12, 2021),[1] also known by his former stage name Ashtrobot, was an American recording artist and music producer. Born and raised in California, he embarked on his music career when he was 15 years old, forming a rock band called Pistol Pistol (stylized P!stol P!stol). Due to differences between members, the band broke up in 2009 and Riser subsequently began to put his focus on music production, fusing electronic and hip hop music, among other genres. Riser later began working with longtime friend, Derek Ali of Top Dawg Entertainment, who introduced him to West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar, with whom he began heavily collaborating. Riser would go on to sign a record deal with Israeli music producer Borgore's record label, Buygore and also had a production deal with Chest Rockwell Entertainment. During his life, Riser had played multiple sold-out shows with fellow label-mates and musicians such as ETC! ETC!, Kennedy Jones, Ookay, Protohype and Dirtyphonics. In 2016, Riser received a Grammy Award for his contributions on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly.[2]

Life and career

Ash Winston Riser was born on August 29, 1989, in Redondo Beach, California.[3] It was here he first encountered music and founded his rock band, Pistol Pistol (stylized P!stol P!stol), at the young age of 15. The band, which he formed with high-school classmates, initially started out as a cover band, covering songs by Weezer and The Strokes, among other bands.[4] His first serious music project [P!stol P!stol], was a great success with appearances on The Drop on Sí TV and music featured on ESPN. During their time together, P!stol P!stol released an album titled The Cause.[4] However, due to differences between members, the band broke up in 2009.[4] Since the break-up of his band, he decided to spend countless hours in the studio perfecting his style and sound, producing bass music.[4]

While focusing on music production after P!stol P!stol's disbandment, Riser got a phone call from his longtime high-school friend, Derek Ali, better known as MixedByAli, the in-house mixing engineer of West Coast indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Ali asked Riser to come by the studio and record vocals with an artist he was producing for named Kendrick Lamar, a Compton-based rapper. Lamar and Riser had an instant musical synergy, with Lamar finding Riser's voice to be very original and complementary to his own. Lamar appreciated that Riser used his voice as a musical instrument to add more soul to tracks.[5] In 2009, Riser was featured on Lamar's debut extended play (EP), Kendrick Lamar, on a bonus track titled "Determined". Lamar and Riser collaborated again in 2010, for Lamar's Overly Dedicated project, appearing on the song "Barbed Wire". In 2011, Riser was featured on Lamar's Section.80 project, lending his vocals on the tracks, "Keisha's Song" and "Ronald Reagan Era".

In July 2011, Riser released an EP under his label, D.R.E.A.M. Brigade Recordings. The EP, titled 21st Century Electric Church Music, is a collection of songs compiled by different artists and includes Riser's song, "Ghetto Blastuh".[6] Riser then began collaborating with Lamar's Black Hippy cohort and TDE label-mate, Ab-Soul. Riser was featured on "Beautiful Death", from Ab-Soul's 2012 project, Control System. In 2013, Riser signed a recording contract with Israeli music producer Borgore's record label Buygore, as well as his management company, Buygore Management. Around that time, Riser also signed a production deal with Chest Rockwell Entertainment, founded by Greg Ogan and Spencer Neezy. On April 22, 2015, Riser released an EP titled Modern Medicine, which he mixed, mastered, produced and recorded by himself.[7][8][9] In June 2015, when asked if he was still with Buygore, Riser responded with: "not since 2014".[10]

On June 22, 2016, Riser released his third EP that year, titled R.I.S.E., which includes productions from 808 Mafia, Metro Boomin, Sonny Digital, TM88 and Zaytoven.[11]

Death

Riser was one month away from releasing his second studio album, H.O.P.E., when he unexpectedly died in the early hours of June 12, 2021. His death was a shock across the Los Angeles music scene, and several of his fellow musicians paid tribute to him.[1]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Ghosts
  • Released: July 7, 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
H.O.P.E.
  • To be released
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Album details
Doc Brown and the Kid[12]
  • Released: August 29, 2012
  • Label: Archwood Music, D.R.E.A.M
  • Formats: Digital download
Vs. The World EP Pt. 1[13]
  • Released: September 9, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Vs. The World EP Pt. 2[14]
  • Released: September 16, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Modern Medicine[15]
  • Released: April 22, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Home[16]
  • Released: January 7, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Late Praise[17]
  • Released: June 20, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
R.I.S.E.[11]
  • Released: June 22, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
On Everything[18]
(with Don Alfonso)
  • Released: April 18, 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Ssssh[19]
  • Released: April 21, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Ghetto Blastuh" 2011 21st Century Electric Church Music
"160 Levels"[20]
(with Mychael K)
2012 non-album single
"Moon Cry"[21]
(featuring Papo and Mike G)
2017 Ghosts
"Impressed"[22] 2018 non-album singles
"Howl"[23]
"20 Something"[24]
"Hallelujah"[25]
As featured artist
List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Rock Me"[26]
(Chris Moody featuring Ashtrobot)
2012 The Beginning
"Get Sore"[27]
(Atom Pushers & Choppa Dunks featuring Ash Riser)
2014 non-album single

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"Follow Me"[28] 2009 Jupiter Rising The Quiet Hype
"Determined"[29] Kendrick Lamar The Kendrick Lamar EP
"Barbed Wire"[30] 2010 Overly Dedicated
"Ronald Reagan Era"[31] 2011 Section.80
"Keisha's Song (Her Pain)"[31]
"Beautiful Death"[32] 2012 Ab-Soul, Punch Control System
"Erykah's Lament"[33] Tae Beast, Ben Freedlander The Tae Beast Tape 2
"Honeymoon"[34] 2014 Champagne Drip Bikini Radio
"Never Wanna Leave"[35] Sikdope
"Wesley's Theory"[36] 2015 Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly
"London to LA"[37] Swindle Peace, Love & Music
"God Said Trap (King Trappy III)"[38] Jay IDK SubTrap
"Leave It Behind"[39] 2016 Virtual riot, 12th Planet Chemistry EP
"Long Way Down"[40] 2018 Sahtyre The Gorgeous Darkness

Remixes

2010
2011
2014
2015
  • "Run Ricky Run (Ashtrobot remix)" by Manolo Rose[48]

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
2016 To Pimp a Butterfly (as background vocalist) Best Rap Album Won

References

  1. 1 2 "RIP Ash Riser: Death of producer rocks LA music scene". June 13, 2021.
  2. "Ash Riser on SoundBetter".
  3. "ASH RISER". Facebook.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "TrapStyle's Q&A with Buygore & DREAM Brigade's Ash Riser TrapStyle | More Than Music". Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  5. "Kendrick Lamar "co-signs" Ash Riser". YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  6. "21st Century Electric Church Music – EP by Various Artists". Music.apple.com. July 4, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  7. "Ash Riser – Modern Medicine (EP) – BLUNTIQ". Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  8. "[Mixtape] Ash Riser- "Modern Medicine" (Prod. Ash Riser) – the Come up Show". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  9. "NEW MIXTAPE: Ash Riser – MODERN MEDICINE EP | Mitchell DeGuzman". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  10. https://twitter.com/ASHRISER/status/605462403837362176
  11. 1 2 "DXclusive: Ash Riser Unveils "R.I.S.E." EP". HipHopDX. June 22, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  12. "Doc Brown and the Kid – EP by Ash Riser". Music.apple.com. August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  13. "Ash Riser – VS The World EP Pt.1". SoundCloud.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  14. "Ash Riser – VS The World EP Pt.2". SoundCloud.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  15. "Ash Riser: Modern Medicine EP". Str8outdaden.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  16. "Ash Riser – HOME (EP) | Lunchroomraps". Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  17. "Ash Riser Releases "Late Praise" EP". HipHopDX.com. June 20, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  18. "On Everything". Amazon.
  19. "SSSSH – EP by Ash Riser". April 21, 2021.
  20. "Get millions of songs. All ad-free". Music.apple.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  21. "Moon Cry (Feat. Papo & Mike G) – Single by Ash Riser". June 9, 2017.
  22. "Impressed – Single by Ash Riser". July 27, 2018.
  23. "Howl – Single by Ash Riser". August 17, 2018.
  24. "20 Something – Single by Ash Riser". August 29, 2018.
  25. "Hallelujah – Single by Ash Riser". September 17, 2018.
  26. "Chris Moody feat. Ashtrobot – Rock Me". Discogs.com. January 24, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  27. "Get Sore (feat. Ash Riser) – Single by Atom Pushers & Choppa Dunks". Music.apple.com. March 11, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  28. "The Quiet Hype – Jupiter Rising | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  29. "Kendrick Lamar EP Mixtape Hosted by Unknown". LiveMixtapes.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  30. "Kendrick Lamar – Overly Dedicated – Unknown". Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  31. 1 2 "Section.80 – Kendrick Lamar | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  32. "Control System – Ab-Soul | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  33. http://taebeastproducer.bandcamp.com/track/-feat-ash-riser-ben-freedlander
  34. http://www.malaysiansafari.com/2014/music/bikini-radio-ep-out-now-free-download/
  35. "PREMIERE: Sikdope ft. Ash Riser – "Never Wanna Leave (VIP)"". Complex.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  36. Digital Booklet – To Pimp a Butterfly (Media notes). Kendrick Lamar. Top Dawg Entertainment. 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. "Peace, Love & Music by Swindle". Music.apple.com. September 25, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  38. "Jay IDK – Subtrap Mixtape". LiveMixtapes.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  39. "Get millions of songs. All ad-free". Music.apple.com. May 2, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  40. "The Gorgeous Darkness, by Sahtyre".
  41. "Glaciers Hmatw Ashtrobot Remix". Wn.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  42. "EMALKAY When I look at you ASHTROBOT REMIX". YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  43. "Lil Wayne ft. Drake- She Will [Ashtrobot Remix]". YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  44. "Get millions of songs. All ad-free". Music.apple.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  45. http://www.askmeaboutmymusic.com/post/8899008514/purple-swag-ashtrobot-remix-purple-swag-asap
  46. "Vell – OAKLAND Feat. DJ Mustard (Ash Riser Remix)". Runthetrap.com. August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  47. "[Trap] Rae Sremmurd – No Type (Ash Riser Remix)". YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  48. "run ricky run ashtrob remix". MediaFire.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.

Further reading

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