22Gz
22Gz | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jeffrey Alexander |
| Born | November 29, 1997 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | |
Jeffrey Alexander (born November 29, 1997),[3] known professionally as 22Gz, is an American rapper from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. He is credited as a pioneer of the Brooklyn drill scene.[4][5]
Early life
According to him, he started his entertainment career on the New York City Subway performing showtime dance routines.[6]
Alexander frequented Winthrop Park in Brooklyn, prior to becoming a rapper he had aspirations of becoming an NBA player.
Musical career
After releasing the singles "Blixky" and "Suburban" in 2016 and gaining a following from his YouTube videos, Alexander received the attention from mainstream hip hop, eventually joining Kodak Black's Florida-based label, and Atlantic subsidiary, Sniper Gang in 2018.[7][8]
Alexander released his first EP The Blixky Tape in July 2019 with Atlantic Records.[9] His mixtape Growth & Development was released on April 10, 2020. It includes the single, "No Questions".[1] Torsten Ingvaldsen of Hypebeast praised the mixtape, stating, 22Gz has "riotous energy, bringing forth aggressive lyrics and militant deliveries that continue to sculpt out his fast-paced rise".[1]
Legal controversies
In 2019, Alexander, along with four other New York rappers including Casanova, Pop Smoke, Sheff G, and Don Q, were removed from Rolling Loud New York at the instruction of the New York City Police Department. NYPD cited "a higher risk of violence" if the artists were to perform.[10]
References
- ^ a b c Ingvaldsen, Torsten (April 10, 2020). "22Gz Invigorates His Drill Empire With New Mixtape 'Growth & Development'". Hypebeast. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ "22Gz". atlanticrecords.com.
- ^ "22Gz | Biography & History". allmusic.com.
- ^ "22Gz Proves He's The Brooklyn Drill General In Funk Flex Freestyle". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ "How Brooklyn Drill Became the New Sound of New York". Complex.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ III, Robby Seabrook. "22Gz Wants You to Know He Started It All When It Comes to the Brooklyn Drill Movement". XXL Mag.
- ^ Acevedo, Kai. "The Break Presents: 22Gz". XXL.
- ^ "Rappers to Watch in 2020". Complex.
- ^ Zhang, Charlie (July 20, 2019). "22Gz Releases Highly-Anticipated Mixtape 'The Blixky Tape'". Hypebeast.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (October 12, 2019). "5 Rappers Dropped From New York Music Festival at Police Request". The New York Times.