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iRAWniQ facts for kids
| IRAWniQ | |
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| Birth name | Carissa Chavval Anderson |
| Born | March 2, 1986 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2009-Present |
| Labels | Unsigned |
| Associated acts | Tunde Olaniran, Tyler The Creator, Sango |
Carissa Chavval Anderson (born March 2, 1986), known as iRAWniQ (pronounced "ironic"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer. She is also known by the name RAW. iRAWniQ started her music journey in 2009. She first gained attention as part of a music duo. Later, she began a successful solo career. Her music often blends hip hop with other styles.
After starting her solo career in 2012, iRAWniQ released her mixtape called Lisa Turtle. This mixtape featured production from 2BandGeeks. It also included a guest appearance by rapper Jon Connor. In 2014, iRAWniQ released her EP, No One Said It Would Be Easy. This EP came with three remixes and a music video. The video was directed by JB Ghuman Jr. Her most recent EP, Black Girls On Skateboards, came out in 2016. It sold over 10,000 copies independently. This project helped her gain recognition. The main music video for the EP, "Alien Pu$", was also directed by JB Ghuman Jr. It featured actress Tatum O'Neal. An animator who used to work for Disney, Dave Woodman, created the animation. The video took over eight months to complete. It received praise from many publications.
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Early life
iRAWniQ was born and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her mother is Mexican and her father is African American. In 1989, she was adopted by two pastors in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Music career
2009-2012: Starting out
RAW began her music career as part of a duo called Flying Without Wingz. The other member was rapper and songwriter Vernon 'VC' Carter. The duo was named "NEXT TO BLOW". They released five EPs during their time together. Their first mixtape, The X-Files, was released on their Myspace page in 2009. Their second mixtape, HipTRONica, came out in 2010. Their song "All Stars" was played on local radio in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In 2011, they worked with producer Slade Templeton. They released their EP, Welcome To The Playground. Its single 'Playdate' reached the top ten in the dubstep genre on Beatport. The duo continued to create three more EPs. They worked with local producers like Sango, The SevenTH, Eclectic, Cool Beanz, and No Soul Robot. In 2012, the duo moved to Los Angeles. They then decided to go their separate ways. This allowed them to explore their own creative paths.
2012-2016: Solo success
Even after her duo ended, RAW kept making music. She released her solo mixtape, iRAWniQ as Lisa Turtle, in early 2012. The producers of HBO's Girls praised iRAWniQ. They said she has a unique sound. They also mentioned her great beats and inspiring lyrics.
In 2014, she released her EP, No One Said It Would Be Easy. This record was about overcoming challenges. These challenges included being an independent artist and a single mother in the music industry. In 2016, iRAWniQ released her EP, Black Girls On Skateboards. This project earned over $10,000 in sales on her Bandcamp page. She worked with Michigan producer and friend, No Soul Robot, for over a year on this project.
She collaborated again with JB Ghuman Jr. They released an amazing music video for "Alien Pu$". This video featured Tatum O'Neal. It was first shown with a three-day event by VICE. The video was also liked on Pharrell's IAMOTHER YouTube channel. LA Weekly also praised it.
In late 2016, RAW was part of JB Ghuman Jr's art project. It was called Singularity of the Soul. This project included sounds and clips from movies and cartoons. It also featured a cameo from Lady Tigra. She was half of the 90s duo L'Trimm. The art project focuses on finding one's own truth. It suggests doing this by following instructions from the world around you.
Personal life
Raw identifies as non-binary. She uses she/they pronouns.
Music releases
EPs
| Title | Year | Details | Track Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| No One Said It Would Be Easy [Remixes] | 2019 |
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| In the Mean Time | 2018 |
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Singles
| Title | Year | Details |
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| "Forever" ft. Nosoulrobot | 2020 |
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| Lolabae | 2019 |
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