Raymond Mikael Camino Abracosa (born December 1, 1988), known as Abra, is a Filipino rapper, hip hop recording artist, and actor. He rose to fame with his hit song "Gayuma," which gained significant popularity, reaching over 100 million views on YouTube by 2025. Prior to his rise in the music scene, he was already well-known as a battle emcee in the FlipTop Battle League.
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.Globe Tatt Awards 2013 Winners List Revealed . Philnews.ph (2013-07-06). Retrieved on 2015-09-01 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 AwardYearCategoryNominated workResult Awit Awards2014Best Collaboration"Diwata" (with Chito Miranda)Best Performance by a new Male Recording Artist"Cerberus" (with Loonie & Ron Henley)Best Rap RecordingMusic Video of the Year"Ilusyon" (with Arci Muñoz)2015Best Album Package"Abra"Best Rap Recording"Dedma" (with Julie Anne San Jose)2017Favorite Music Video"Label" (with Myrtle Sarrosa)Aliw Awards2013Best New Solo Artist"Abra"2014Best Collaboration in a Concert"Artifice Unplugged" (with Rjay Ty, Alex Omiunu & Stick Figgas)MYX Music Awards2013Favorite New Artist"Abra"Favorite Male ArtistFavorite Music Video"Gayuma" with (Thyro and Jeriko Aguilar)Favorite Urban Video2014Favorite Male Artist"Abra"Favorite MYX Celebrity VJFavorite Music Video"Ilusyon" (with Arci Muñoz)Favorite Urban Video2015Favorite Collaboration"Dedma" (with Julie Anne San Jose)Favorite Male Artist"Abra"Favorite Music Video"Dedma"Favorite Urban Video2016Favorite Collaboration"Diwata" (with Chito Miranda)Favorite Male Artist"Abra"Favorite Urban Video"Cerberus" (with Loonie & Ron Henley directed by Willan Rivera)"Diwata"Best Music Video "Cerberus" (with Loonie & Ron Henley directed by Willan Rivera)2017Best Music Video"Bolang Kristal" (with KZ Tandingan)Favorite CollaborationFavorite Urban VideoWish Music Awards2019Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year"Taya"
Film Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref41st Gawad Urian Awards2018Best Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor)"Respeto"
References
External links
Official page on Twitter Channel on YouTube