Artist Profile: LIL Uzi Vert

     When I think of 2017, I automatically think about all the great summer songs that were released that year: songs such as, Look at me by XXX Tentacion, Humble by Kendrick Lamar, Caroline by Aminé. But one song that stands out is Bad and Boujee by Migos featuring the one and only Lil Uzi Vert. Yeah, that song that goes “Raindrops, drop tops.” I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Symere Bysil Wood, also known as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper born in Francisville, Philadelphia. He was born on July 31st, 1994 which makes him 26 years old. Uzi is recognized for his facial tattoos, anime obsession, and his diverse genre of music that can be categorized under, hip-hop, punk rap, emo rap, and regular pop. 

      Like many other successful rappers, Uzi started to rap and make music his sophomore year of high school. It wasn’t until his senior year, though, that he decided to take music seriously and make it his career. During this time he had been kicked out of his mother’s house. He needed to find a job to support himself, so he dropped out of school and decided to pursue his dream as a rapper. He moved in with his grandma in a small nursing home and lived there for many years. 

     One of Uzi’s biggest influences is Marlyn Manson, everything from attitude to style. Uzi was left inspired and infatuated by him. In an interview with Nardwuar, he is shown a poster with Marlyn Mason’s name and he states, “He’s my father, the pale emperor.” When Uzi first started to rap, he was part of the Stakedown rap group with his friend William Aston. He even went under the name Stakedown Vertical, but later changed it to Lil Uzi Vert. It wasn’t long until the rapper started to get noticed and was signed to Atlantic Records. Uzi released his first studio album, Luv is Rage back in 2015 that contained the hit song 7 am. In 2016, the rapper released the album Lil Uzi Vert vs The World. Track #3, Money Longer, is one of his most successful singles, ranking at #37 on the 2016’s Billboard charts and number two of his most listened to songs (according to Apple Music).  Later that same year, he released his 3rd studio album, The Perfect LUV tape. In addition to 2016, 2017 was also a very successful year for the bad and boujee rapper. Uzi released the album Luv is Rage 2, where the song, XO TOUR Llif3, won a Billboard award for song of the Summer. Eternal Etake was later released in 2020, followed by Pluto X Baby Pluto which was released on November 13 this year. 

      Uzi has collaborated with other famous rappers such as Travis Scott and Kanye West on Watch, Playboi Carti on Wokeuplikethis*, Lil baby on Commercial and so much more. It’s crazy to think how some of these artists were a great inspiration to Uzi and now they can be seen shopping together and having a great bond with each other. Lil Uzi Vert once stated, “I didn’t really want to rap; I was just a regular kid” and now has more than 20k monthly listeners on Spotify and that number has only been going up these past years. He has accomplished so much and deserves his platform since he has worked so hard to achieve the level of success he has.