645AR
{{Short description|American rapper (born 1997)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = 645AR
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt = Purple-tinged photograph of 645AR and Eprod with their names and multiple instances of the word "BUTTONS" in all caps behind them.
| caption = Cover art for the Eprod single "Buttons" featuring 645AR.
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Austin Alan Rochez
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|09|02}}
| birth_place = South Bronx, New York City
| origin = Atlanta, Georgia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = {{hlist|Squeak rap|hyperpop}}
| occupation = Rapper
| instrument =
| years_active = 2016–present
| label = Columbia (former)
| current_member_of =
| past_member_of =
| spouse =
| partner =
| website =
}}
Austin Alan Rochez (born September 2, 1997), known professionally as 645AR, is an American rapper based in Atlanta, Georgia. Best known for his use of a high-pitched voice, a hallmark of the hip hop style dubbed "squeak rap", he has released singles with artists such as Danny Brown, Tyga, FKA Twigs, Tony Shhnow, BabyTron, Tommy Cash, Valee, and Dorian Electra. 645AR first gained recognition after his 2018 single "Crack" went viral, and he further solidified his success with the release of "4 da Trap" the following year. He subsequently signed with Columbia Records.
Life and career
Rochez was born in the South Bronx region of New York City on September 2, 1997.{{Cite news |title=About 645AR |work=HotNewHipHop |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/profile/645ar |access-date=January 5, 2023}} At age 11, he moved with his family to the Southern United States, living in Florida for about a year before settling in Smyrna, Georgia, a city just outside of Atlanta. While there, he made connections with local rappers such as Lil Yachty through his friendships with JWitDaBeam and Slimesito.{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Dylan |date=January 21, 2020 |title=No, Squeaking Rapper 645AR Isn't Joking |work=Pigeons & Planes |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2020/01/645ar-interview-rapper |access-date=January 5, 2023}} He returned to New York in 2016 to attend Hostos Community College, playing basketball for the school's team, but his interest in music led him to return to Atlanta that same year where the hip hop scene had been heating up with the advent of trap's rise in popularity.{{Cite news |last=Seabrook |first=Robby III |date=April 1, 2020 |title=The Break Presents: 645AR |work=XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/the-break-presents-645ar/ |access-date=January 5, 2023}} The numbers in his name came from his building number in the Bronx, while the letters are his first and last initials.{{Cite news |last=Moon |first=Jacorey |date=August 4, 2020 |title=645AR: The Squeak Heard Around the World |work=Office |url=http://officemagazine.net/645ar-squeak-heard-around-world |access-date=January 18, 2023}}
After producing several songs, Rochez recognized the importance of distinguishing himself. He first employed his signature squeaky voice in the 2018 single "Crack". The song garnered attention when its video was reposted by fellow New Yorker Lil Tecca, including from the music industry. This led to the release of his self-titled debut album in 2019, and the single "4 da Trap" later in the year. "4 da Trap" spread rapidly across the internet, to the extent that Twitter suspended 645AR's account, mistaking it for spam.{{Cite news |last=Hightman |first=Hannah |date=February 20, 2020 |title=Gather 'round, children, for it's time to learn about "squeak rap" |work=AV Club |url=https://www.avclub.com/gather-round-children-for-its-time-to-learn-about-sq-1841796203 |access-date=January 5, 2023}} The momentum led the rapper to sign a record deal with Columbia Records.
Style and reception
645AR is best known for popularizing the hip hop subgenre known as "squeak rap". Building off of the experimental vocal styles of rappers such as Future, Playboi Carti, and Young Thug, (645AR himself has stated that he's heard comparisons of his work to Carti, Thug, and hyperpop duo 100 gecs.) squeaking revolves around high-pitched vocalizations delivered through an "otherworldly curvature of the voice". Said vocal distortions are said to replace lyrics in delivering the meaning of songs, with said lyrics becoming "virtually indecipherable". Other names for the style include "baby voice rap", "chipmunk rap", and "fetus vocal rap". 645AR has said he intends for his music to make listeners have out-of-body experiences, "like they're in another world."{{Cite news |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |date=May 26, 2021 |title=How Hyperspeed Squeals & Alien Whispers Became Rap's Final Frontier |work=Highsnobiety |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/hyperspeed-rap/ |access-date=January 5, 2023}} Though often suspected of being achieved artificially with tools such as pitch correction, 645AR has stated that his squeak is entirely natural and even demonstrated it live in a video for Genius.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuOMzbB4CVc |title=645AR "4 Da Trap" Official Lyrics & Meaning {{!}} Verified |date=February 14, 2020 |publisher=Genius |place=YouTube |access-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222113854/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuOMzbB4CVc |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |url-status=dead}} His natural voice is a baritone.{{Cite news |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=May 4, 2020 |title=645AR's "Yoga" Video Is a Surreal Coronavirus-Themed NYC Alien Invasion Hallucination With Insane Music to Match |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2083194/645ar-yoga-video/music/ |access-date=January 5, 2023}} Dr. Calbert Graham of the University of Cambridge Language Sciences Centre said 645AR's voice sounded like a human synthesizer, and that it sounded like he was tensing his thyrohyoid muscle to achieve his falsetto. Graham said he "wouldn't imagine a musician would say that's the proper way of producing a falsetto", calling it innovative and saying 645AR is "testing the boundaries of what constitutes rap".
Squeak rap is often described as a musical internet meme, something which 645AR is noted as embracing, up to and including a video the artist made in which he jokingly claims that his voice originated from having been possessed by Mickey Mouse. He is also frequently compared to fictional characters with high-pitched voices such as Mickey Mouse, Alvin and the Chipmunks,{{Cite news |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=August 4, 2020 |title=645AR: "Sum Bout U" [ft. FKA twigs] Track Review |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/645ar-sum-bout-u-ft-fka-twigs/ |access-date=January 5, 2023}} Elmo, Pikachu,{{Cite news |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |date=January 19, 2024 |title=The Musical Age of Shitpost Modernism |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/the-age-of-shitpost-modernism/ |access-date=May 1, 2024 |work=Pitchfork}} and Isabelle from the video game series Animal Crossing,{{Cite news |last=Alter |first=Rebecca |date=October 12, 2020 |title=FKA Twigs "Just Decided One Day" to Make a Whole Album in Quarantine |work=Vulture |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/new-music-fka-twigs-recorded-a-new-album-in-quarantine.html |access-date=January 18, 2023}} as well as animals such as mosquitos, mice, and bedbugs.{{Cite news |last=Muggs |first=Joe |date=June 8, 2021 |title="This sounds like a human synthesiser": the evolution of rap, one verse at a time |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/08/evolution-rap-dizzee-busta-nicki-minaj-kanye-beasties-snoop |access-date=January 18, 2023}} Despite this, 645AR is also considered to be sincere about his work, saying he finds his lyrics to be important and that he takes more time writing them than other artists. He is said to speak "to the streets with harrowing tales".
645AR's style has been compared to hyperpop{{Cite news |last=Zhang |first=Cat |date=December 14, 2021 |title=The Year in Music on TikTok 2021 |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/tiktok-songs-2021/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} with the rapper even being outright called a hyperpop artist.{{Cite news |last=Ackermann |first=Julie |date=December 9, 2020 |title=2020 a une musique à son image, l'hyperpop |language=French |trans-title=2020 has music in its image, hyperpop |work=Slate |url=https://www.slate.fr/story/197933/hyperpop-glitchcore-musique-2020-numerique-chaos-jeunes-jeux-video-tiktok-crises-epoque |access-date=January 18, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=March 28, 2022 |title=Plug, DMV, Hyperpop... Le rap de demain qui vient d'hier |language=French |trans-title=Plug, DMV, Hyperpop... The rap of tomorrow that comes from yesterday |work=Booska-P |url=https://www.booska-p.com/musique/dossiers-musique/plug-dmv-hyperpop-le-rap-de-demain-qui-vient-dhier/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} He has made songs with hyperpop artists such as Dorian Electra, Isomonstrosity,{{Cite news |last=Jocelyn |first=Hannah |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Isomonstrosity: Isomonstrosity Album Review |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/isomonstrosity-isomonstrosity/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} and Umru. The latter song was featured on hyperpop pioneer record label PC Music's compilation album PC Music, Vol. 3.{{Cite news |last=Joyce |first=Colin |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Various Artists: PC Music, Vol. 3 Album Review |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-pc-music-vol-3/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}}
Multiple artists have had their own use of falsetto compared to 645AR, such as Adam Levine,{{Cite news |last=Friedman |first=Jason |date=June 16, 2021 |title=Maroon 5's Jordi Is a Convincing Enough Case for Simulation Theory |work=Paste |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/maroon-5/maroon-5-jordi-review/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} Baby Keem,{{Cite news |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=September 15, 2021 |title=Baby Keem Makes His Move |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2160680/baby-keem-the-melodic-blue-review/columns/status-aint-hood/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} FKA Twigs,{{Cite news |last=Zhang |first=Cat |date=January 17, 2022 |title=FKA Twigs: Caprisongs Album Review |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/fka-twigs-caprisongs/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} and Fousheé.{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Parker |date=November 26, 2022 |title=Fousheé Redefines Herself with Softcore |work=WECB |url=http://www.wecb.fm/milkcrate/2022/11/26/foushe-redefines-herself-with-softcore |access-date=January 18, 2023}}
= Influences =
Discography
= Albums =
- 645AR (2019, self-released)
- In Dat Mode (2024)
- Most Hated (2025)
= Mixtapes =
- 96 Problemz (2017)
- Fix da Rap Game (2018)
- SOS 5 (2018)
- Sink or Swim (2022)
= EPs =
- Sink or Swim (2017)
- Stack or Starve (2018)
- S.O.S III (2018)
- S.O.S IV (2018)
- Get Rich or Die Drowning (2018, with 10kDunkin and JWitDaBeam)
- 2 Train 2 Foreigns (2018)
- Rags 2 Expensive Rags (2019)
- 2 Train 2 Foreigns 2 (2019)
- No Label (2020)
- Most Hated (2021){{Cite news |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=April 5, 2021 |title=Stream 645AR's New Avant-Garde Squeak-Rap EP Most Hated |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2143027/stream-645ars-new-avant-garde-squeak-rap-ep-most-hated/music/ |access-date=January 5, 2023}}
- Unorthodox (2022, with SenseiATL)
- New Beginnings (2022, with Lil Crank)
- Unstoppable (2022)
- S.O.S Vol. 1 (2024)
- Space AR Star (2024)
- 645AR&B (2024)
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ 645AR singles ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Other artists ! scope="col" | Release |
| scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2017
| "Hollywood Road" | Larry League, Reddo, 10kDunkin, Tony Shhnow | {{Non-album single}} |
|---|
| "Workin"
| 10kDunkin, FastATL | rowspan="2" | 96 Problemz |
| "NoProblems"
| |
| scope="row" rowspan="12" | 2018
| "Out of Boundz" | | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| "End of the Day"
| Slimesito |
| "True 2 Dat"
| JWitDaBeam | S.O.S III |
| "Copy"
| 10kDunkin | rowspan="8" {{Non-album singles}} |
| "#FreeTony Freestyle"
| 10kDunkin |
| "Monster"
| Reddo, Tony Shhnow, 10kDunkin, Larry League |
| "Day Day Bishop"
| |
| "Itch"
| |
| "Knicks"
| Texako |
| "Money in There"
| Larry Loudpack |
| "Zoo"
| Tony Shhnow |
| "Crack"
| Tony Shhnow, Bag Ty | 645AR |
| scope="row" rowspan="17" | 2019
| "SOS da Gang" | Tony Shhnow | rowspan="8" {{Non-album singles}} |
| "Militant"
| Lil Xelly, 10kDunkin, Bag Ty |
| "Dat Guy"
| |
| "Notta Rapper"
| JWitDaBeam, 10kDunkin |
| "Zion"
| |
| "Salute"
| |
| "Up"
| JWitDaBeam, Tony Shhnow |
| "Aint Tryna Kick It"
| Hate |
| "Bible and a K"
| | 645AR |
| "Plan"
| Reddo | rowspan="7" {{Non-album singles}} |
| "Beef It Up"
| |
| "Check Off a Voice"
| 10kDunkin |
| "Momma Beat Me I Beat Dat Block"
| JWitDaBeam, 10kDunkin, Tony Shhnow |
| "Like Mike"{{Cite news |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=November 4, 2019 |title=The Ones: 645AR's "Like Mike" [ft. NGeeYL] |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/645ar-like-mike-new-song-listen/ |access-date=January 12, 2023}}
| NGeeYL |
| "Yoga"
| |
| "Rundown"
| DoobieRockStar, 3AGPilot, JWitDaBeam |
| "4 da Trap"
| | Most Hated |
| scope="row" rowspan="13" | 2020
| "Ready Set Go" | JWitDaBeam, 10kDunkin | rowspan="12" {{Non-album singles}} |
| "Beat It"
| BabyTron |
| "Flight to LA"
| Bouba Savage |
| "In Love With a Stripper"
| |
| "Juggin Got Me Rich"
| DQTheGawd |
| "Finger Roll"
| |
| "Dash"
| |
| "Made a Way"
| |
| "Itchy Fingers"
| |
| "Sum Bout U"{{Cite news |last=Schatz |first=Lake |date=August 4, 2020 |title=FKA Twigs Links Up With Rapper 645AR for New Song "Sum Bout U" |work=Consequence of Sound |url=https://consequence.net/2020/08/stream-fka-twigs-645ar-sum-bout-u/ |access-date=January 5, 2023}} |
| "4 da Trap (Fine Tuned Version)"
| |
| "Ride 4 You"
| |
| "After L Come M"
| | 2 Train 2 Foreigns 2 |
| scope="row" rowspan="7" | 2021
| "Aint No Rule" | 10kDunkin | rowspan="19" {{Non-album singles}} |
| "Chirpin"
| |
| "Count On"
| |
| "Happy"{{Cite news |date=July 24, 2021 |title=Dorian Electra i 645AR nagrali cover "Happy" Pharrella Williamsa. Mocna wersja |language=Polish |trans-title=Dorian Electra and 645AR recorded a cover of Pharrell Williams "Happy". Strong version |work=Poptown.eu |url=https://poptown.eu/dorian-electra-i-645ar-nagrali-cover-happy-pharrella-williamsa-mocna-wersja/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} |
| "Rental"
| Lil Reek |
| "Check1"{{Cite news |last=Cruz |first=Reanna |date=October 8, 2021 |title=Umru (feat. Tommy Cash & 645AR), "Check1" |work=NPR Music |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2021/10/08/1044353025/umru-feat-tommy-cash-645ar-check1 |access-date=January 18, 2023}}
| Umru, Tommy Cash |
| "On My Back"
| |
| scope="row" rowspan="4" | 2022
| Tyga |
| "Never That"
| MVW, Valee |
| "Check1 (Six Impala remix)"
| Umru, Tommy Cash |
| "Careful What You Wish For"{{Cite news |last=Helfand |first=Raphael |date=September 20, 2022 |title=Song You Need: A "pandemic symphony" pulls Danny Brown and 645AR out of their comfort zones |work=The Fader |url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/09/20/song-you-need-a-pandemic-symphony-pulls-danny-brown-and-645ar-out-of-their-comfort-zones |access-date=January 5, 2023}}
| Isomonstrosity, Danny Brown |
| scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2023
| "MS20" | Lapsung |
| "Got 2 Kno"
| |
| "Shot 4 Shot"
| Yuno Miles |
| scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2024
| "Get Thru" | |
| "S10T"
| Xato |
| "Midnight"
| |