TOBY, whose real name is Owen Martinez FAVA, is a young Haitian artist evolving in rap music; Born in Port-au-Prince, November 3, 1990, at the French Asylum hospital. Three years later, because his father Mr. Jean -Sylvestre FAVA, member of the Haitian Armed Forces at the time, was transferred to the Haitian Cape, as part of his military services; Owen had to leave the capital to go and live in the second city of the country, a city native to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth LOUIS.
From there was born his passion for rhythm. Her penchant for music was particularly instilled in her by her aunt, who was a chorister in an evangelical church. And very early in his youth, his talents as an artist, hitherto in their infancy, would reveal themselves within the Children’s Choir of the Adventist Church of BÉTHANIE du Cap Haitien. Surely he inherited his genes as a musician from his grandfather, (Toby), troubadour guitarist. His incredible resemblance to the latter earned him the nickname “TOBY” which he wears today as an artist’s name. By pure coincidence, His journey in the RAP very closely reflects the musical journey of his grandfather … We can say that TOBY is, what we could call, a RAPEUR (TROUBADOUR).
From an early age, at Le Phare College primary school, his poetry was going to manifest. He started writing little poems to charm the girls in his class. (Fieffé gallant that he is…) And very quickly he confirmed himself as a lyrical Street-poet, who juggles with worms that he sings night and day on all the cobblestones of the city CHAUVEL.
A career as an artist looming on the horizon At the age of fourteen, when he was in the ninth fundamental year at the Practical College of the North; he made himself known to the general public in an outstanding performance, during a cultural show: HOT SATURDAY, organized by the central committee of the College. And that day, he became the STAR of the school. His popularity rose to the heights of the stars. And therefore began his career as an artist, followed by a plethora of services from neighborhood to neighborhood, from city to city. It was the first step in a great adventure that is renewed with each new “SON”, with each new “HIT” from the nugget of Cape Town. The great North, always reputed to be a melting pot of talents in various fields, has seen the new star of the Haitian rap game flourish. Swamped between childhood dreams and his love for street art, TOBY has braved the prohibitions to live his passion. Notwithstanding the constraints erected on his journey, both by his family, too religious to accept this style; both by society, far too conservative to open up to such a culture. But, he knew how to pursue his dreams and carry very high the standard of a youth thirsting for a freedom to think, to make that he expresses through this lyric song punctuated with poetry, which is the RAP. The road was long and difficult, but his passion for his art yielded to nothing… His determination paid off. Refusing to remain caulked in a childish “starity”, he polishes his talent night and day to continue to please his audience and tries, in his own way and thanks to his “geni-rap-istic”, to raise the Haitian RAP to an international standard. When passion becomes a profession… From a hobby, a real profession is born.
TOBY, who once remembered that for pleasure, will find in rap a good way to express themselves, to externalize their ideal and to speak, through their MUSIC, for all those we don’t listen to. If before he raps only to kill time, from now on he raps to awaken people’s dead consciousness. With his unique style, his vibrant and penetrating voice, his literary aesthetic, his “FLOW” and his “PUNCHLINES” TOBY imposes a RAP that sits enthroned, and that dethrones… What makes all lovers of rap (or simple music lovers qu ‘they can be); are unanimous in recognizing that his talent sums up all the beauty of the real RAP. “We may not like the art he practices, but no one can deny his indisputable talent as an artist. >> Since his first steps in street music, Mr. VIBE SOU VIBE, as the public calls him today;
At only 17 years old, he was already known as the most talented rapper of the CTMC collective: Collabo True MCs, with whom he entered the studio for the first time and recorded a “HOT SOUND” titled: “SA PI CHO”. His adventure with this collective lasted only 2 years (between 2008 and 2010). And he decided to continue his journey solo. And there, he signed his very first personal “HIT”: entitled: “ANBAKÈ” whose overwhelming success embarked all rap fans in a kind of endless adulation for the TOBY phenomenon. This is where his AKA: TOBY ANBAKÈ came from. The success was going to be growing for him, and his popularity with it.
The rapper / radio host at the time, at “PARADIS FM” continued to generate popular frenzy with each new SON. At the end of 2010, he joined “NORTH SIDE”, a collective bringing together the best MCs from the Nord department. And it was there that he would show everyone the full extent of his artistic talent. Rapper / Composer / Arranger / and his hours, Drummer; the enthusiast of: “VIP… PIP…” won the admiration of more than one thanks to his artist bow a thousand and one strings.
From RAP to RNB via DANCE HALL, ELECTRO, TRAP MUSIC, TECHNO; TOBY explores the whole range of dance music from urban music, merges RYTHMS and STYLES, to produce a sound likely to please all tastes. Solo or featuring, the rising star of the RAP never hesitates to impress everyone; Sometimes even to shock some. With “TI DOSYE”, a very controversial music for its daring character; TOBY hit the headlines, ignited the media sphere. But he also made some enemies in the process. (Tout Sa w Tande a, Anvi Parèt Wiiiii…, he would say, about his detractors).
Despite the increased gossip and all the bickering that it is the subject of, TOBY has remained firm to its convictions and above all, always faithful to its art and its ideal: << Singing “STREET-REALITY”, even if it displeases some. >> The BUZZ it causes on the internet, social networks, and all the popular attention that focuses on his person; have marked a turning point in his career. From now on, he no longer raps to RAPPER, but to give a real meaning to his life and bring his passion to life. We can say that he professes an ART which he makes his primary concern today. His job! Since then he has been doing RAP-BUINESS, and giving a more serious tone to his art. With much deeper texts, and a more pronounced and remarkable literary quality, TOBY is familiar with the field of conscious and active RAP, and always on percussive rhythms, a dancing and diversified FLOW. In 2013, convinced of this promising future that he smiled on the horizon, the artist decided to bet his life on the RAP by playing quits or double his dreams. What a fool, it seems! This decision was not easy to say the least…! He had to abandon his personal aspirations and those of his family to devote himself to his passion and devote himself to urban art which, for some, is trivial and has no future. As a second year computer science student at INIQUA, he saw his engineering aspiration give in to his passion for HIP-HOP. It is therefore totally permeated by all that is STRREE-ART: Free-style / Graffiti / DJ ring and others. convinced of this promising future that he smiled at him on the horizon, the artist decided to bet his life on the RAP by playing quits or doubles his dreams. What a fool, it seems! This decision was not easy to say the least…! He had to abandon his personal aspirations and those of his family to devote himself to his passion and devote himself to urban art which, for some, is trivial and has no future. As a second year computer science student at INIQUA, he saw his engineering aspiration give in to his passion for HIP-HOP. It is therefore totally permeated by all that is STRREE-ART: Free-style / Graffiti / DJ ring and others. convinced of this promising future that he smiled at him on the horizon, the artist decided to bet his life on the RAP by playing quits or doubles his dreams. What a fool, it seems! This decision was not easy to say the least…! He had to abandon his personal aspirations and those of his family to devote himself to his passion and devote himself to urban art which, for some, is trivial and has no future. As a second year computer science student at INIQUA, he saw his engineering aspiration give in to his passion for HIP-HOP. It is therefore totally permeated by all that is STRREE-ART: Free-style / Graffiti / DJ ring and others. This decision was not easy to say the least…! He had to abandon his personal aspirations and those of his family to devote himself to his passion and devote himself to urban art which, for some, is trivial and has no future. As a second year computer science student at INIQUA, he saw his engineering aspiration give in to his passion for HIP-HOP. It is therefore totally permeated by all that is STRREE-ART: Free-style / Graffiti / DJ ring and others. This decision was not easy to say the least…! He had to abandon his personal aspirations and those of his family to devote himself to his passion and devote himself to urban art which, for some, is trivial and has no future. As a second year computer science student at INIQUA, he saw his engineering aspiration give in to his passion for HIP-HOP. It is therefore totally permeated by all that is STRREE-ART: Free-style / Graffiti / DJ ring and others.
In his race to realize his dreams of STAR, Owen rubbed shoulders with a number of labels: Some in good faith and others a little less; before he signed up with BLACK FAC MUSIC (BFM), label with which he signed a MAXI-SIGLE titled: “Mic Check”, disc on which are inscribed titles like: PA KA ZANMI FI / TÈT SOUKE / MIC CHECK / HBD / RED AND BLUE. The contract, which would normally last one year, was terminated because the artist was not completely satisfied with the management offered to him; and thought it was better for him to promote his career as an artist himself.
Alone, TOBY begins a small media tour and made vibrate the FM waves with its catchy VIBE. Then comes a whole series of featuring here and there sometimes with BAKY; SQUADY; WENDY to name a few.
The saga continued on its way. And TOBY, thanks to his genius knew how to attract all the eyes of the HIP-HOP community to him. Several local labels make him rather attractive offers. While he was in talks with TRAKA MUSIC GROUP (TMG), following the release of his track “MANIPULATION” with WENDY; TOBY was contacted by RKM, a big name in the Haitian RAP-BUINESS. After the necessary steps and discussions, Owen Martinez FAVA finally signed with RKM Recordz in APRIL 2015 to start a thrilling musical adventure. TOBY, An exciting story that begins and promises many surprises…!
