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Fetty Wap

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Fetty Wap
Birth nameWillie Maxwell
Born (1991-06-07) June 7, 1991 (age 33)
Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2011–present
Labels

Willie Maxwell (born June 7, 1991),[1] better known by his stage name Fetty Wap, is an American hip hop recording artist from Paterson, New Jersey. He is best known for his 2014 hit single "Trap Queen", which peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2015, which were followed by the top ten singles, "679" and "My Way". He signed with 300 Entertainment in November 2014 and released his self-titled debut studio album in September 2015.[2] He was also chosen as part of the XXL magazine 2015 Freshman Class.[3]

Early life

Willie Maxwell was raised in a housing project in Paterson, New Jersey.[4] He began taking interest in music in 2013. Initially starting off as only a rapper, he later decided to start singing as well because he "wanted to do something different". He was nicknamed "Fetty" (slang for money) as he was known for making money. "Wap" was added to the end of the name to perform under in tribute to Gucci Mane's alias, GuWop.[5][6][7] When he was a child, Maxwell developed glaucoma in both eyes. He revealed in a 2015 interview that doctors were unable to save his left eye and instead fitted him with an ocular prosthesis.[8]

Musical career

Wap's first single was released in early 2014 titled "Trap Queen". He made the song in February 2014, but it did not start to gain recognition until mid-November 2014, and since then it has become a platinum record and has over 80 million plays on SoundCloud. His debut mixtape, Fetty Wap: The Mixtape was originally set for release in February 2015 but was delayed because he continued to create new songs.[9] On June 29, 2015, Wap released his second single "679". The song's accompanying music video premiered on YouTube in May.[10] His next single, "My Way", became his second top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.[11]

In June 2015, Fetty Wap was awarded the MC100 Award of 2015 by Music Choice, for the most played music video for his hit single "Trap Queen".[12] During the week of July 26, 2015 to August 1, 2015, the rapper matched Billboard marks by hip-hop superstars Eminem and Lil Wayne. He became the first male rapper with three songs occupying the top 20 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since Eminem did so in 2013. He also became the first male rapper in four years to have concurrent singles reach the top 10 of the same chart since Lil Wayne did so in 2011.[13] With his fourth single "Again", Wap became the first act in the Hot Rap Songs chart's 26-year history to chart his first four entries in the top 10 simultaneously.[14]

Wap's debut studio album Fetty Wap was released on September 25, 2015.[15]

Influences

Wap usually wears the flag of Haiti in honor of his daughter's grandmother who had passed. Throughout the process of wearing it, he did some background research, and developed a love and appreciation for the Haitian culture. In an interview, he quotes the motto on the Haitian national flag and coat of arms of Haiti, "unity brings strength" (l'union fait la force), and talks about how unity has built his career and how it overpowers everything. He explains that he didn't really grow up off of love and mentions the struggles he has had. Still, he says that he feels mutual love for the Haitian people, and stresses that he does not wear the flag for the looks.[16]

Discography

Main article: Fetty Wap discography

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Nominated work Category Result Ref.
2015 MC100 Award "Trap Queen" Most-Played Video of the Year Won [17]
BET Awards — Best New Artist Nominated [18]
MTV Video Music Awards "Trap Queen" Artist to Watch Won [19]
Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated
"My Way" Song of the Summer Nominated [20]
BET Hip Hop Awards — Who Blew Up Award Pending [21]
"Trap Queen" Best Hip Hop Video Pending
Best Club Banger Pending
People's Champ Award Pending
"My Way" (with Monty) Best Collabo, Duo or Group Pending

References

  1. ^ Martinez, Angie. "Fetty Wap Interview, Angie Martinez Power 105.1, June 2015". YouTube. TheBreakfastClub. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  2. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (February 13, 2015). "Who Is Fetty Wap? 8 Things To Know about Kanye West's Latest Co-Sign". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  3. ^ "2015 XXL Freshman Class Revealed". BallerStatus.com. June 3, 2015.
  4. ^ MICHAEL J. FEENEY. "Paterson rapper Fetty Wap rising to the top of the music charts". NorthJersey.com.
  5. ^ Lilah, Rose (ed.). "On The Come Up: Fetty Wap". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "Fetty Wap". South by Southwest. 2015.
  7. ^ "12 Facts You Need To Know About 'Trap Queen' Rapper Fetty Wap". Capital Xtra.
  8. ^ Mojica, Nicholas (February 7, 2015). "Rapper Fetty Wap Reveals How He Lost His Left Eye". Design & Trend.
  9. ^ Kennedy, John (March 5, 2015). "'Trap Queen' Rapper Fetty Wap: 'I'ma Be the Youngest Rapper With One Eye, But a Lot of Money'". Billboard.
  10. ^ "679" feat. Remy Boyz on YouTube
  11. ^ Silvio Pietroluongo (July 27, 2015). "OMI's 'Cheerleader' No. 1 for Third Week on Hot 100". Billboard. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Fetty Wap Receives His First Award Ever from Music Choice!". Music Choice. June 15, 2015.
  13. ^ "Fetty Wap Matches Eminem, Lil Wayne History On Billboard Charts". BallerStatus.com. July 30, 2015.
  14. ^ Mendizabal, Amaya (August 20, 2015). "Fetty Wap Makes History on Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  15. ^ "Fetty Wap Reveals Album Cover". Rap-Up. August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  16. ^ Fetty Wap (2015). Fetty Wap - Welcome To My Neighborhood. USA: #CivilTV. Retrieved July 22, 2015. {{cite AV media}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  17. ^ Julious, Britt (June 14, 2015). "Fetty Wap Gets Emotional After Winning His First Award". MTV news. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  18. ^ "BET Awards 2015 Nominations: Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj Lead". Billboard. May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  19. ^ "2015 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees Revealed: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran & More". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  20. ^ "2015 MTV Video Music Awards Song of the Summer". MTV.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  21. ^ "Drake Leads BET Hip-Hop Awards 2015 Nominations". Rap-Up. September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
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