Abra (rapper)

Early life and education

Raymond Mikael Camino Abracosa was born on December 1, 1988, in Pasig, Philippines. He is the middle child in a family of three siblings, with his father working as a professor and his mother did not have a background in music. His parents supported his early interest in the arts, enrolling him in painting classes and exposing him to various forms of literature and cinema. One of his significant early influences was the film 8 Mile, which introduced him to rap music.

He completed his high school education at Colegio San Agustin – Makati and later pursued a degree in Management Accounting at the University of Asia and the Pacific in Ortigas Center. By the age of 23, he had founded his own recording label, Artifice Records.

Career

Music

Abra began his career in 2010 as a member of the Pinoy hip hop group Lyrically Deranged Poets (LDP) and joined the FlipTop Battle League. LDP's debut album, The Project, was released in 2009, and the group won Best Urban Group at the 2010 and 2011 Urban Music Awards. During this time, Abra also gained prominence in the FlipTop League, becoming a key figure in Filipino rap battling.

Abra gained prominence as a battle rapper, but it was his solo work, notably the 2012 hit song "Gayuma," that cemented his status in the Philippine music scene. The song went viral, reaching 20 million views on YouTube and becoming one of the most-watched music videos by a Filipino artist at the time.

In 2013, Abra signed with Ivory Music & Video and released his debut solo album in 2014. His YouTube channel, Abra TV, won the Best Music on YouTube Award at the 2013 Globe Tatt Awards. He also collaborated with Maja Salvador on the song "Halika Na" in 2014 and released the hit single "Diwata" featuring Chito Miranda the same year. In 2016, the music video for "Cerberus", featuring Loonie and Ron Henley and directed by Willan Rivera, won Best Music Video at the Myx Music Awards 2016.

After a hiatus, Abra made his comeback in 2025 with a new song "Kontrol". This marked Abra’s first release since his 2018 EP Hendrix.

Acting

Abra has also acted, earning the Best Actor award at the 41st Gawad Urian Awards for his role in Respeto, a film about an aspiring rapper. He has also appeared in Boy Pick-Up: The Movie and Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles.

Discography

Albums

• Abra – self-titled album (released nationwide February 21, 2014)

Group albums

• The Project (with Lyrically Deranged Poets) (2009)

Extended plays

• Hendrix EP (2018)

Compilation albums

• Various Artists: Homegrown Hiphop (Universal Music Group, 2013)
• Various Artists: Juan dela Cruz: The Official Soundtrack (Star Records, 2013)

Singles

• "Abrakadabra"
• "Gayuma" (feat. Thyro Alfaro and Jeriko Aguilar) (2012)
• "Alab ng Puso" (Juan dela Cruz OST)
• "Ilusyon" (feat. Arci Muñoz) (2013)
• "Midas" (feat. Jaq Dionisio of Kiss Jane) (2013)
• "Bolang Kristal" (feat. KZ Tandingan)
• "Cerberus" (feat. Loonie and Ron Henley) (2014)
• "Diwata" (feat. Chito Miranda) (2014)
• "Sanib Pwersa" (feat. Raimund Marasigan) (2014)
• "Dedma" (feat. Julie Anne San Jose) (2014)
• "'King Inang Bayan" (feat. Reese Lansangan) (2016)
• "'Taya" (2018)
• "'Apoy" (feat. Shanti Dope) (2018)
• "'Stargazer" (with Gracenote) (2018)
• "'Liga ng mga bida" (feat. DJ Buddah) (2020)
• "'Pangwakas" (feat. Apekz, Mike Swift, J-Hon) (2020)
• "'Hipnotismo" (2020)
• "'Pantasya" (feat. Nicole Asensio) (2020)
• "'Kontrol" (44 Bars) (2025)
• "'Mais" (2025)
• "'Tarshey" (2025)
• "'Kry Bb" (feat. Haring Manggi) (2025)
• "'Olatz/Olanap" (2025)

As featured artist

• "ARÁL" - Loonie (with Apekz, Ron Henley)
• "Halika Na" – Maja Salvador
• "Halik sa Hangin" – Ebe Dancel
• "Isang Jeep" - Loonie (with Hiphop22)
• "KBTHN" - Ron Henley
• "Label" - Myrtle Sarrosa
• "Mine" – Pow Chavez
• "Peque" - Apekz (with Mikerapphone)
• "Tanyag" – Loonie

Television and media appearances

Television

• Aquino & Abunda Tonight (guest)
• ASAP (guest)
• Bandila: Ikaw Na! (guest)
• Banana Split: Ihaw Na! (guest)
• Buzz ng Bayan (guest)
• Celebrity Bluff (guest player)
• Flashbook (GMA News TV, guest)
• Family Feud (guest)
• Front Row (guest)
• Gandang Gabi, Vice! (guest)
• H.O.T. TV: Hindi Ordinaryong Tsismis (guest)
• iConnect (PTV 4, 2012–2013)
• It's Showtime (guest judge / performer)
• It's Showtime Hide and Sing segment (TagoKanta Celebrity Singer)
• Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal (guest player)
• Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (guest)
• Kris TV (guest)
• Minute to Win It (guest player)
• Party Pilipinas (guest)
• Pilipinas Got Talent (guest)
• Rated K (guest)
• Sarah G. Live (guest)
• Sharon: Kasama Mo, Kapatid (guest)
• Showbiz Inside Report (guest)
• The Ryzza Mae Show (guest)
• The Voice of the Philippines (season 2) (guest performer)
• Tunay Na Buhay (guest)
• Wowowillie (2013)

Film

• Boy Pick-Up: The Movie, as fictional version of himself (cameo)
• Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles, as Benjie
• Respeto, as Hendrix

Music videos

• "Abrakadabra"
• "Alab ng Puso" (Juan dela Cruz OST)
• "Bolang Kristal" (feat. KZ Tandingan)
• "Cerberus" (feat. Ron Henley & Loonie)
• "Dedma" (feat. Julie Anne San Jose)
• "Diwata" (feat. Chito Miranda)
• "Gayuma" (feat. Thyro Alfaro & Jeriko Aguilar)
• "Ilusyon" (feat. Arci Muñoz)
• "Midas" (feat. Jaq Dionisio of Kiss Jane – Boy Golden OST)
• "Piña Colada Freestyle" - Prod. by Yung Bawal (Apekz, AGENT2K, DZ SVG, PRETTYMF9INE)
• "Pusong Dragon"
• "Rejoice Haba ng Hair" (for Rejoice commercial)
• "Rejoice Ikaw na ang Malupit" (for Rejoice commercial)
• "Sanib Puwersa" (feat. Raimund Marasigan, for Colt 45 commercial)
• "Wonderful Christmas Time" (feat. Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, and Parokya Ni Edgar, for Globe Telecom)

Awards and nominations

Music

Film

References

References

1. "Abra - Artist Page".
2. ABS-CBN Star Cinema. (October 11, 2014). "Part 1 ABRA answers questions from the Wrecking Bowl". YouTube.
3. Manolo Gamboa. (November 7, 2013). "RYZZA MAE SHOW with ABRA # 1". YouTube.
4. "Abra – YouTube Music Channel".
5. "Abra - Artist Page".
6. Idyll Peroramas. (December 1, 2020). "Post by Idyll Peroramas". Facebook.
7. (March 12, 2012). "Fliptop rapper taps Vice Ganda for new single". [[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.
8. (March 26, 2013). "20M Hits on YOUTUBE: ABRA sets a high bar". PhilippineShowbizNews.com.
9. "Gayuma – Abra (feat. Thyro & Jeriko Aguilar)".
10. (2014-04-10). "Six things you didn't know about rapper Abra".
11. Jr, Bayani San Diego. (2013-04-06). "Abra's crib no hip-hop".
12. Allan Policarpio. (March 29, 2013). "20M hits on YouTube: Abra sets a high bar". Inquirer Entertainment.
13. (June 10, 2013). "Abra, Artifice Records sign up with Ivory Music & Video". The Philippine Star.
14. "Abra releases debut album". The Philippine Star.
15. "Abra TV".
16. [http://philnews.ph/2013/07/06/globe-tatt-awards-2013-winners-list-revealed/ Globe Tatt Awards 2013 Winners List Revealed] {{Webarchive. link. (October 26, 2014 . Philnews.ph (2013-07-06). Retrieved on 2015-09-01)
17. "Maja Salvador: 'Believe and it will happen'". Manila Times.
18. (2016-11-25). "MYXclusive: ABRA Talks About His Hit Music Video "Diwata"! - MYX {{!}} YOUR CHOICE. YOUR MUSIC.".
19. Gabriel Saulog. (January 23, 2025). "Abra to make his long-awaited comeback with "Kontrol"". Billboard Philippines.
20. (2018-06-14). "Gawad Urian Awards 2018: Complete list of winners".
21. (December 13, 2014). "Gloc 9 nabs top honors at 2014 Awit Awards". abs-cbn.com.
22. (December 10, 2015). "Sarah G, Yeng, Darren lead winners in 28th Awit Awards". abs-cbn.com.
23. (November 26, 2017). "List of Winners for the 30th AWIT Awards". starchannelph.blogspot.com.
24. (October 9, 2013). "Mitoy on a roll, wins at 26th Aliw Awards". news.abs-cbn.com.
25. (November 21, 2014). "Aliw Awards 2014 Finalists Revealed". pep.ph.
26. (March 20, 2013). "WINNERS: Myx Music Awards 2013". rappler.com.
27. (March 27, 2014). "Full list, Winners and nominees, MYX Music Awards 2014". rappler.com.
28. (February 22, 2015). "MYX Music Awards 2015 Nominees Announced". philippineconcerts.com.
29. (March 15, 2016). "FULL LIST: Winners, Myx Music Awards 2016". rappler.com.
30. (February 2, 2017). "LIST: MYX Music Awards 2017 nominees revealed".
31. (December 12, 2018). "The 4th Wish 107.5 Music Awards: Nominees, New Categories, and More". [[DWNU.
32. (2018-06-14). "Gawad Urian Awards 2018: Complete list of winners".