Quadeca: From FIFA Youtuber to successful rap musician
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Benjamin Fernando Barajas Lasky, also known as Quadeca, has one of the most underrated evolutions of any artist. While Quadeca may not be as well known as Tyler, the Creator, or the late Mac Miller, in a short time, Quadeca has gone from a small FIFA (a popular series of soccer video games) YouTuber to a successful rap musician.
When influencers dip their toes into the waters of the music industry, their road to success typically looks different than those of “traditional” artists, and Quadeca is no exception. His first song, “Insecure,” is a diss track against a KSI, a popular rapper, boxer, and FIFA Youtuber. One could say that Quadeca’s music career began with feuds and verbal attacks. When two people fight through music, it is typical for there to be a “winner” and a “loser”; thankfully for Quadeca, people supported him as KSI’s track was believed to be a rather lackluster response. The diss track, “Insecure,” was the jumpstart of Quadeca’s music career and continues to be the most viewed video on his channel.
With this success, Quadeca continued to pursue music by dedicating many of his YouTube videos to rap content. It is evident that music became a passion for the Youtuber— and soon enough— Quadeca released his debut album, Voice Memos (2019). This album may not be as critically acclaimed as his newer work, but it is a good start. For me I specifically think the song, “Uh Huh,” offers a glimpse into the greatness of his music: a catchy hook, solid rhymes, and a nice instrumental.
While Voice Memos (2019) is a solid album and a good introduction for a new artist, his album, From Me To You (2021), is the one that changed many perceptions of Quadeca forever. While I do not think this album is his best, it is the first to show that the Youtuber can do more than rap— he can create more melodic and artistic music. Songs like “Sisyphus” and from the album I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You (2022) focus less on a rap style and offer— dare I say— more musically inclined songs.
Quadeca remains on top with his newest project and most critically acclaimed album, Scrapyard (2024). During its release, a few songs from the album would drop every two weeks to build slow anticipation and hype for the full release, which happened six weeks after the initial sneak peek. This album is great; his newer style— which focuses on vocals— and his old rap-centric ways are included to give the listener a “best of both worlds” experience. I think many can agree when I say this album is fantastic.
Who would have thought that a video game YouTuber would transition into a musician with worthwhile songs in their discography? It is always a cool experience to see the journey of an unexpected artist rise to fame, and I can ensure that Quadeca will continue to grow in the coming years. Watch his evolution with your very eyes and listen to Quadeca on all your normal streaming services.