contradash

Contradash, a lighthearted singer-rapper drawn to pop hooks, draws from his graphic-design training to assemble an eclectic sonic collage that blends hip-hop and R&B. Born Chase Blohm in 1998 in Orange County, California, he thrived in athletics during elementary school and earned a spot on the all-star squad in fifth grade, yet frequent family relocations and his father’s intermittent incarcerations repeatedly disrupted his education. Bedroom music-making offered both refuge and discipline, steering him clear of trouble. At seventeen, in 2015, he captured first place in a contest that granted a meeting with Harlem rapper A$AP Ferg; the connection endured, and Blohm soon handled graphic-design duties for the artist. His growing portfolio led to cover-art commissions for Florida acts Dominic Fike and Nate Traveler. After graduation he traveled to collaborate in person, spending studio time with Fike, who refined his songwriting and production abilities.

In August 2019 he issued the single “yo-yo” on his own neverstopdash imprint. Within weeks, managers Sean Lewow of Ourros and Dan Awad of Good Luck Have Fun secured a deal. The stage name Contradash partly nods to Canadian rapper Night Lovell’s track “Contraband.” He continued bedroom sessions through the remainder of the year. January 2020’s release “blocked” triggered sudden label attention after streams surged a thousandfold, hitting 250,000 streams within days. Interscope signed him and put out “white lie,” a track that exposed an unexpected pop-punk streak; during its creation, producer Russ Chell introduced him to guitar. August brought Sage Roberge-produced “petal pickin’,” followed by the singles “cat out the bag” and “favorite color.” December saw the arrival of his debut EP, all-star, a brisk twenty-minute set of ten songs rooted in R&B and hip-hop that briefly veers into indie rock on “Hi Neighbor.”

Over subsequent years Contradash issued standalone singles. Interscope handled the 2021 tracks “triple check” and “Superficial,” yet by 2022 he had returned to independent distribution, unveiling “beep,” “room number,” and “hate your friends.” March 2023 brought the new song “isabel.”