Tyga

Tyga
Tyga in October 2010.
Background information
Birth name	Michael Stevenson
Born	(1989-11-19) November 19, 1989 Compton, California, United States
Origin	Gardena, California, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic, Last Kings Entertainment
Associated acts	Young Money, Birdman, Chris Brown, Game, Kevin McCall, Lil Wayne, Travie McCoy, YG
Website	tygasworld.com

Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson (born November 19, 1989), known by his stage name Tyga (an acronym for Thank You God Always),^[1] is an American rapper. He is currently signed to Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records. He first received recognition with his debut single "Coconut Juice", featuring his cousin Travie McCoy. Since then he has signed to Young Money and released his major label debut Careless World: Rise of the Last King. The album included the chart topping singles "Faded", "Far Away" and "Make It Nasty". He released his third studio album on April 9, 2013 entitled Hotel California.

Early life

Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson was born on November 19, 1989, in the Los Angeles area, and is of Vietnamese and Jamaican descent.^[2] He grew up in Compton listening to Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Cam'ron and Eminem among others.^[3] He started rapping when his cousin (Travie McCoy) found him in a trainer store and Tyga offered his mixtape which he had made.^[4]

On December 3, 2012, debate arose concerning Tyga's upbringing. Tyga claimed to have been brought up in a low socioeconomic area of Compton, which contradicts his claims in 2008 on the television show Bustas. On this show he claimed he grew up in a 'well-to-do' house in the Valley (California), where his parents drove a Range Rover and CL600 Mercedes Benz. He also claimed that he attained his nickname from his mother calling him 'Tiger Woods'.^[5][6] There has been speculation that his claims on the show were satirical and not to be taken seriously, and the veracity of his statements has been a subject of heated debate. Tyga responded to the leak of the video by twitter: "When u 14 an ambitious u don't give a fuk about anything. Scripted tv isn't that what we all live for.Hahahaha" [sic]^[7]

Career

2008–10: No Introduction and mixtapes

No Introduction was the first independent album by Tyga. It was released on June 10, 2008, on Decaydance Records.^[8] One of the songs from this album, "Diamond Life", was used in the video game Need for Speed: Undercover, and on Madden NFL 2009, as well as in the 2009 movie Fighting.

Tyga released many mixtapes. His 2007 debut mixtape, Young On Probation, garnered him enough attention to sign a record deal with Young Money Entertainment. He created Fan of a Fan with Chris Brown and producers DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar. It features other artists such as Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, and Kevin McCall featured in several tracks. Four tracks ("Holla at Me", "G Shit", "No Bullshit" and "Deuces") are also accompanied by a music video. The track "Deuces" was released as the debut single of the mixtape and, as of August 26, 2010, has reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track has also been nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 53rd Grammy Awards.^[9][10] The track, among others, was on the tracklist of Chris Brown's fourth studio album, F.A.M.E.. Tyga also told MTV in an interview that the production of the mixtape took just short of a week.^[11]

2011–12: Careless World: Rise of the Last King

Careless World: Rise of the Last King was his second studio album. The album was released on February 21, 2012 on Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Republic Records. Careless World: Rise of the Last King is a move to the rapping style he featured in the collaboration album We Are Young Money rather me than the poppy dance element shown on No Introduction.^[12] Tyga stated that the album shows he has grown up but still relates to the kids. Tyga released a new mixtape #BitchImTheShit in preparation for the album.

The first official single, "Far Away", was released on May 17, 2011 and peaked at 86 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second official single, "Still Got It", was released on October 4, 2011. It peaked at 89 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third official single, "Rack City", was released on December 6, 2011. It was originally listed on Tyga's Well Done 2 mixtape, and was added to the album after it gained commercial success. It debuted at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100, and has peaked at number 8 since then. The fourth official single, "Faded", was released on January 13, 2012. It peaked on the Hot 100 at #33.

Tyga's sixth single, "Do My Dance" which features 2 Chainz was released on October 2, 2012 and peaked at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has released various mixtapes such as well-acclaimed #BitchImTheShit and Well Done 3.

The same year Tyga also produced and co-directed (with Justice Young) a multi-AVN award-nominated crossover adult film, Rack City: The XXX Movie, which starred Skin Diamond, Jada Fire, Ice La Fox, Sophie Dee, Lexington Steele, Havana Ginger, Kristina Rose, London Keyes, Daisy Marie, Stacie Lane and Austin Taylor;^[13][14] he also signed the soundtrack, that include the hits "Rack City" and "Faded" together with several original songs, and he appeared in the film, in a non-sex role.^{[13][15][16][17][18][19][20]}

2012–2013: Hotel California

Tyga's third studio album is titled Hotel California was released on April 9, 2013. The first single was released on December 25, and is titled, "Dope". The song has a notable feature from rapper Rick Ross.^[21] Before the single dropped Tyga released a nine track mixtape under the name 187.^[22] 187 the mixtape was released on November 30, 2012. It features remixes to songs such as; 2 Chainz's "I'm Different", Meek Mill's "Young & Gettin' It" and GOOD Music's "Clique", among others and new material.^[23] Tyga will also release a second Fan of a Fan mixtape with singer Chris Brown.^[21] On episode three of Tyga's tour vlog Tyga confirmed four features on the upcoming album, including Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, and Wiz Khalifa.^[24] Tyga performed at Harvard University's Yardfest in the Spring of 2013, despite opposition from critics who've signed a petition seeking to keep him away over what they call his "violently misogynistic lyrics."^[25]

Hotel California was released on April 9, 2013. The album featured guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Game, Wiz Khalifa, Future and Jadakiss. Along with production by Cool & Dre, David D.A. Doman, DJ Mustard, Detail, Mars of 1500 or Nothin', The Olympicks, and SAP among others. The album was supported by three official singles — "Dope" which features Rick Ross, "For the Road" featuring Chris Brown, and "Show You" featuring Future, along with the promotional single "Molly". The album was met with generally mixed reviews from music critics.^[26] It also was less successful then his debut album commercially, debuting at number seven on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 54,000 copies in the United States.^[27]

2013–present: The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty

On August 27, 2013, Tyga released a new single with DJ Mustard titled "Throw It Up". It was also revealed he was working on two new mixtapes Black Thought 3, Well Done 4, as well as The Gold Album.^[28] On October 21, 2013, Tyga premeired "Wait for a Minute" featuring Justin Bieber, the first single from his fourth studio album The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty. It would then be released to iTunes the following day.^[29] He then confirmed that the album would be released in early 2014. He also explained that the album would, be more "way less commercial." He also said "I felt like Hotel California was more commercial and I made more radio-type records. This album is straight rap."^[30]

Personal life

Tyga met urban model/stripper, Blac Chyna on October 5, 2011, at The F.A.M.E Tour After Party with Chris Brown at King of Diamonds in Miami.^[31][32] Blac Chyna became Tyga's leading lady in his "Rack City" music video.^[33] In March, 2012, The Couple Posed for The Cover of Urban Ink Magazine.^[34] That same month rumors started to swirl that Blac Chyna was pregnant by Tyga.^[35] In July, the rumors were confirmed after Tyga and Blac Chyna were spotted at Six Flags as she tried to cover up a clearly visible baby bump.^[33] On October 16, 2012, their son, King Cairo Stevenson was born.^[36] That same day Tyga purchased a $6.5 million mansion in Calabasas, California for his new family.^[37] Tyga and Blac Chyna have since both tattooed their son's name on them.^[38] In December 2012, Blac Chyna confirmed that she and Tyga were engaged.^[39]

Legal issues

In late 2012, Tyga was sued by two video vixens who appeared in the video for "Make It Nasty" for 10 million dollars each, due to Tyga allegedly showing their nipples without their consent. They were assured that they would be edited out, and the unedited version of the video would not be released, however Tyga released a fully unedited version of the video.^[40] On September 21, 2013, Tyga was sued by another women from the video shoot for sexual battery as well as fraud, invasion of privacy, and infliction of emotional distress. She alleged that she was groped by a man in a rabbit suit and another man grabbed her breasts. She also claims, like the two other women who have filed suit against him, that she was convinced to dance topless and assured her breasts would be edited out.^[41]

On September 4, 2013, it was reported Tyga had been sued by Beverly Hills-based jeweler Jason, for allegedly not paying for roughly $91,000 worth of jewelry. Jason claims that Tyga agreed to pay $28,275 for the jeweler's diamond pantheon watch in August 2012, and that he borrowed a $63,000 diamond Cuban link chain in December 2012 and never returned the item. So he sued Tyga for the cost of both pieces, plus late fees, which totaled up to $185,306.50 in damages, double the original total cost.^[42]

Discography

• No Introduction (2008)
• We Are Young Money (with Young Money) (2009)
• Careless World: Rise of the Last King (2012)
• Hotel California (2013)
• The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty (2014)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards:

• 2011: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration "Deuces" with Chris Brown & Kevin McCall (Nominated)

References

External links

• Official website