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Fetty Wap

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Fetty Wap
Fetty Wap performing in August 2015
Fetty Wap performing in August 2015
Background information
Birth nameWillie Maxwell II[1]
Born (1991-06-07) June 7, 1991 (age 33)
Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websitewww.fettywap.com

Willie Maxwell II (born June 7, 1991), better known by his stage name Fetty Wap, is an American hip hop recording artist from Paterson, New Jersey. He rose to prominence with his 2014 breakout single "Trap Queen", which was a sleeper hit that peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2015. The success of "Trap Queen" helped Fetty Wap secure a record deal with 300 Entertainment and a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. He subsequently released the top 40 singles "679", "My Way" and "Again". Fetty Wap's eponymously titled debut album was released in September 2015 and reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Life and career

Early life

Willie Maxwell was born on June 7, 1991 and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.[2][3] 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.[4][5][6] 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.[7]

2014–present: Career beginnings and debut album

Fetty Wap's commercial debut single, titled "Trap Queen", was released in early 2014. He recorded the song in February 2014, however it did not gain major recognition until mid-November 2014, and since then it has become a platinum record and has over 130 million plays on SoundCloud. In November 2014, Fetty Wap secured a recording contract with 300 Entertainment, the imprint was founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Roger Gold and Todd Moscowitz and is distributed by Atlantic Records.[8][9] 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.[10] In June 2015, Wap was included in XXL's 2015 Freshman Class.[11]

On June 29, 2015, Wap released his second single "679". The song's accompanying music video premiered on YouTube in May, before being commercially released.[12] His next single, "My Way", became his second top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100.[13] Afterwards, "679" reached the Hot 100 top 10 peaking at number four.

During the week of July 26, 2015 to August 1, 2015, the rapper matched Billboard marks by hip-hop prominent artists 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.[14] 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.[15]

Wap's debut studio album Fetty Wap was released on September 25, 2015.[16] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 129,000 equivalent album units (75,484 in pure album sales).[17] Wap subsequently released two mixtapes for streaming only: Coke Zoo in collaboration with French Montana[18] and ZOO 16: The Mixtape with Zoo Gang.[19] Wap received two nominations at the 58th Grammy Awards.[20]

On February 5, 2016, Fetty Wap released a new single titled "Jimmy Choo".[21]

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 inspirational appreciation for the Haitian culture.[22] In an interview, he 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.[23]

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 [24]
BET Awards — Best New Artist Nominated [25]
MTV Video Music Awards "Trap Queen" Artist to Watch Won [26]
Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated
"My Way" Song of Summer [27]
BET Hip Hop Awards — Who Blew Up Award Won [28]
"Trap Queen" Best Hip Hop Video Nominated
Best Club Banger
People's Champ Award
"My Way" (with Monty) Best Collabo, Duo or Group
American Music Awards — New Artist of the Year [29]
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
2016 Grammy Awards "Trap Queen" Best Rap Song [20]
Best Rap Performance
iHeartRadio Music Awards — Best New Artist Pending [30]
Hip Hop Artist of the Year Pending
"Trap Queen" Hip Hop Song of the Year Pending

References

  1. ^ "Fetty Wap - Bio". Fetty Wap. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  2. ^ MICHAEL J. FEENEY. "Paterson rapper Fetty Wap rising to the top of the music charts". NorthJersey.com.
  3. ^ Martinez, Angie. "Fetty Wap Interview, Angie Martinez Power 105.1, June 2015". YouTube. TheBreakfastClub. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  4. ^ Lilah, Rose (ed.). "On The Come Up: Fetty Wap". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "Fetty Wap". South by Southwest. 2015.
  6. ^ "12 Facts You Need To Know About 'Trap Queen' Rapper Fetty Wap". Capital Xtra.
  7. ^ Mojica, Nicholas (February 7, 2015). "Rapper Fetty Wap Reveals How He Lost His Left Eye". Design & Trend.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ http://www.donbleek.com/2015/02/22/paterson-new-jerseys-fetty-wap-signs-record-deal-with-300-entertainmentatlantic-records/
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "2015 XXL Freshman Class Revealed". BallerStatus.com. June 3, 2015.
  12. ^ "679" feat. Remy Boyz on YouTube
  13. ^ Silvio Pietroluongo (July 27, 2015). "OMI's 'Cheerleader' No. 1 for Third Week on Hot 100". Billboard. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Fetty Wap Matches Eminem, Lil Wayne History On Billboard Charts". BallerStatus.com. July 30, 2015.
  15. ^ Mendizabal, Amaya (August 20, 2015). "Fetty Wap Makes History on Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  16. ^ "Fetty Wap Reveals Album Cover". Rap-Up. August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  17. ^ "Fetty Wap Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  18. ^ "French Montana & Fetty Wap - Coke Zoo [New Mixtape]". Hot New Hip Hop. October 27, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  19. ^ "Fetty Wap & Zoo Gang - ZOO 16: The Mixtape [New Mixtape]". Hot New Hip Hop. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  21. ^ "Fetty Wap - Jimmy Choo [New Song]". Hot New Hip Hop. November 5, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  22. ^ Bertha, Mike, ed. (November 2, 2015). "In honor of Fetty Wap, Eric Hosmer's ninth-inning run came exactly 17:38 into the World Series". MLB. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  23. ^ Fetty Wap (2015). Fetty Wap - Welcome To My Neighborhood. USA: #CivilTV. Retrieved July 22, 2015. {{cite AV media}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  24. ^ Julious, Britt (June 14, 2015). "Fetty Wap Gets Emotional After Winning His First Award". MTV news. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  25. ^ "BET Awards 2015 Nominations: Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj Lead". Billboard. May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  26. ^ "2015 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees Revealed: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran & More". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  27. ^ "2015 MTV Video Music Awards Song of Summer". MTV.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  28. ^ "Drake Leads BET Hip-Hop Awards 2015 Nominations". Rap-Up. September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  29. ^ "2015 American Music Awards: Taylor Swift Leads Nominations". Prometheus Global Media. Billboard. October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  30. ^ "iHeartRadio Music Awards Announce 2016 Nominees, Performers & New Categories". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. February 9, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
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