Tyga

Tyga

Tyga in October 2010
Background information
Birth name Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson
Also known as T-Raww
Born November 19, 1989
Compton, California, United States
Origin Gardena, California, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active 2007–present
Labels

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 from Gardena, California. In 2011, Tyga signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records (formerly Universal Republic Records). He first received recognition with his debut single "Coconut Juice", featuring Travie McCoy. His major-label debut Careless World: Rise of the Last King, includes the singles "Rack City", "Faded" featuring fellow Young Money artist Lil Wayne, "Far Away" featuring Chris Richardson, "Still Got It" featuring Drake, and "Make It Nasty". He released his third album Hotel California, on April 9, 2013, and includes the singles "Dope" featuring Rick Ross, "For The Road" featuring Chris Brown, and "Show You" featuring Future. He then released a few singles from his upcoming album, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty such as "Wait For A Minute", "40 Mill", "Real Deal", "Hookah", and "Make It Work".

Early life

Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson was born in Compton, California, on November 19, 1989, and he moved to Gardena, California around the age of eleven.[2][3] He is of Vietnamese and Jamaican descent.[4] He grew up listening to Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Cam'ron and Eminem among others.[5]

On December 3, 2012, debate arose concerning Tyga's upbringing. Tyga claimed to have been brought up in the low socioeconomic area of Compton, but on the television show Bustas in 2008 he claimed he grew up in a "well-to-do" home in the Valley, where his parents drove a Range Rover. He also claimed that he attained his nickname from his mother calling him Tiger Woods.[6] There has been speculation that his claims on the show were satirical and not to be taken seriously. Tyga responded to the video's leak on 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, released on Decaydance Records on June 10, 2008, was Tyga's first independent album.[8] One of the songs from this album, "Diamond Life", was used in the video games Need for Speed: Undercover and 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 music videos. The track "Deuces" was released as the debut single of the mixtape and reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs by August 26, 2010. 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 mixtape's production 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 and 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 94 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 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, Kristina Rose, London Keyes and Daisy Marie.[13][14] He also signed the soundtrack, which includes 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]

2012–13: Hotel California

Tyga's third studio album, Hotel California, was released on April 9, 2013. The first single, "Dope", was released on December 25. 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 than 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, "Throw It Up". It was also revealed that he was working on two new mixtapes, Black Thought 3 and Well Done 4, as well as The Gold Album.[28] On October 21, 2013, Tyga premiered "Wait for a Minute" featuring Justin Bieber, the first single from his fourth studio album The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty. It was 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] Then on April 9, 2014 Tyga released a song called "Hookah" which features the rapper Young Thug which will be the second single from his fourth studio album The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty.[31]

On May 1, 2014 Tyga made a tweet referring to Kanye West, Mike Dean, and his own producer Jess Jackson with a hash-tag The Gold Album. Kanye West is serving as the executive producer for the album, which is due for release on November 18, 2014.[32][33] Tyga was also featured on Chris Brown's single "Loyal", he was featured on the video version, the song since then peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.[34] On May 28, 2014, Tyga released a new song entitled "Real Deal" via SoundCloud.[35] "Real Deal" was later released as The Gold Album‍ '​s third single on August 1, 2014.[36] On September 12, 2014 Tyga Announced via his instagram that his new single titled "40 Mill" which will be produced by Kanye West, Mike Dean, Dupri and his own producer Jess Jackson, artwork, The release date was not revealed though.[37] The Album is also set to have features from Justin Bieber, Young Thug, Kanye West, Chris Brown, and Drake. Tyga released the Kanye-West-produced 40 Mill on October 14, 2014; the media gave it positive feedback.

On December 4, 2014 Tyga made a tweet declaring his fourth album, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty would be released independently due to not being on good terms with label Cash Money Records.[38]

Public image

On October 21, 2014, Tyga lashed out on his record label Young Money Entertainment, reporting that his album was completed, but that his music was being "held hostage" by the label, who would not allow him to release it, and stated that he was considering leaking the album.[39]

Tyga criticized Drake and Nicki Minaj in an October 2014 interview, calling Drake "fake", saying:

"I tend to distance myself from them. I'm tryna go independent. I don't really get along with Drake. I don't really get along with Nicki," Tyga told Vibe in a story that published last week. "I don't like Drake as a person. He's just fake to me. I think his music is good, but we're all different people. We were forced together and it was kinda' like we were forcing relationships together."[40]

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.[41][42] Blac Chyna became Tyga's leading lady in his "Rack City" music video.[43] They became an official couple on November 9, 2011 and posed for the cover of Urban Ink magazine in March 2012.[44] That same month rumors started to swirl that Blac Chyna was pregnant by Tyga.[45] 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.[43] On October 16, 2012 their son, King Cairo Stevenson was born;[46] and Tyga purchased a $6.5 million mansion in Calabasas, California for his new family.[47] Both parents sport tattoos of their son's name.[48] In December 2012, Blac Chyna confirmed that she and Tyga were engaged.[49] The couple later split in 2014.[50]

Tyga is currently rumored to be dating 17-year-old Kylie Jenner, daughter of Bruce Jenner and Kris Jenner, but neither have confirmed the relationship.[51] The rapper has actually denied their relationship, calling her a "good person." [52] However, in April 2015, a photo surfaced of Tyga with a freshly inked tattoo on his inner right arm that reads "Kylie." [53]

Legal issues

In late 2012 Tyga was sued by two women who appeared in the "Make It Nasty" video for $10 million each; they claimed he had shown their nipples without their consent. They were assured that this would be edited out and the unedited version would not be released, but Tyga proceeded to release a fully unedited version.[54] On September 21, 2013, another woman from the video sued Tyga for sexual battery, fraud, invasion of privacy, and infliction of emotional distress. She 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.[55]

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.[56]

Discography

Main article: Tyga discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

Tours

Opening act

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Result
2011 Grammy Awards Best Rap/Sung Collaboration "Deuces" (with Chris Brown and Kevin McCall) Nominated
BET Awards Best Collaboration Nominated
2012 BET Awards Best Collaboration "The Motto" (with Drake and Lil Wayne) Nominated
Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards Track Of The Year Nominated
Reese's Perfect Combo Award Nominated
Best Club Banger Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVIBE Hip-Hop Video of the Year Won
MTV Europe Music Awards Best US Act Himself Nominated
American Music Awards Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist Nominated
2014 World Music Awards World's Best Male Artist Nominated
World's Best Live Act Nominated
World's Best Entertainer of the Year Nominated
World's Best Song "Bubble Butt" (with Major Lazer, Bruno Mars and Mystic) Nominated
World's Best Video Nominated
World's Best Song "Wait for a Minute" (with Justin Bieber) Nominated
World's Best Video Nominated
World's Best Album Hotel California Nominated
World's Best Song "Loyal" (with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne) Nominated
World's Best Video Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Collaboration Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Thank You God Always=Tyga". T-Raww (Tyga) on Twitter. February 14, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ Jeffries, David. "Artist Biography [Tyga]". AllMusic.com. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Tyga: Yes, I'm From Compton". YouTube. December 21, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tyga talks about his Vietnamese and Jamaican origin". YouTube. June 18, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Tyga Talks Upcoming Album "Hotel California," G.O.O.D. vs. YMCMB, and Why Blogs Are Corny Now". Complex. October 8, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Tyga's embarrassing reality show past exposed". latimes. December 7, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tweet by Tyga". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  8. ↑ (April 7, 2008). Tyga: No Introduction Album Cover Art ProHipHop. Accessed May 9, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Chris Brown & Tyga - Fan Of A Fan Hosted by DJ Ill Will & Dj Rockstar // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. May 17, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  11. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (May 20, 2010). "Tyga Explains Origin Of Fan Of A Fan Mixtape With Chris Brown". MTV. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  12. ↑ Martin, Andrew. "Tyga: "Careless World"". Prefixmag. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Steve Javors, "Adult Who's Who: Tyga's Tail", AVN Magazine, Vol. 28/No. 9, Issue 357, September 2012, pp.38-40.
  14. ↑ "Tyga Scoops Three Nominations At Adult Video Film Awards". Contact Music. December 6, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Hip-Hop Star Tyga Directs, Stars In 'Rack City XXX'". September 5, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Tyga Directs Adult Film 'Rack City: The XXX Movie'". September 6, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Tyga Making His Directorial Debut with 'Rack City: The XXX Movie'". September 10, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Tyga Lands Three AVN Award Nominations For Porno Flick". December 6, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  19. ↑ "AVN Nods To Tyga with Three Award Nominations". December 10, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Tyga Scores 3 AVN Award Nominations". December 7, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Tyga Announces "Hotel California" Release Date, First Single". Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  22. ↑ Kuperstein, Slava (November 24, 2012). "Tyga Announces "187" Mixtape Dropping Next Week | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  23. ↑ Kuperstein, Slava. "Tyga "187" Mixtape Download & Stream". Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  24. ↑ M, Danny. "Tyga Confirms Four Features On "Hotel California" In Episode 3 Of His Tour Vlog". Article. YoungMoneyHQ.com. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Harvard student committee retains Tyga for Yardfest, despite protests from students, administration". boston.com. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  26. ↑ Tyga at Metacritic
  27. ↑ "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/14/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  28. ↑ "New Music: Tyga – 'Throw It Up'". Rap-Up.com. August 27, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  29. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Wait For a Minute - Single by Tyga & Justin Bieber". Itunes.apple.com. October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  30. ↑ C. Vernon Coleman (October 22, 2013). "Tyga Announces Forthcoming Album, Reveals New Single With Justin Bieber - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  31. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Hookah (feat. Young Thug) - Single by Tyga". Itunes.apple.com. April 9, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Twitter / Tyga: #TheGoldAlbum @therealmikedean". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Kanye West To Executive Produce Tyga's Next Album?". Vibe. February 25, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Chris Brown". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Tyga Gets Raunchy On 'Real Deal': Listen". MTV. May 28, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  36. ↑ Real Deal - Single. iTunes.
  37. ↑ Goddard, Kevin. Tyga Unveils Artwork For Kanye West-Produced Single "40 Mill". Hot New Hip Hop. September 12, 2014.
  38. ↑ Yohance Kyles (December 4, 2014). "AllHipHop >Tyga Declares "The Gold Album" Won't Be Released On Cash Money Records". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  39. ↑ Lyons, Patric. "Tyga Says Young Money Is "Holding Me Hostage," Threatens To Leak Album". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  40. ↑ Adejobi, Alicia. "Tyga Slams Nicki Minaj And Labels Drake 'Fake' In Explosive Rant Against Young Money". Entertainment Wise. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  41. ↑ Langhorne, Cyrus (April 16, 2013). "Tyga Wants Three-Way W/ Nicki Minaj & Blac Chyna: "At The End Of The Day, I'm A Rapper" [Video". Sohh.Com. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  42. ↑ India, Lindsey (March 13, 2012). "Tyga And Blac Chyna Still Together!". Global Grind. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Tyga And 'Rack City' Star Blac Chyna Expecting First Child". Rapfix.mtv.com. July 23, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Tatted Up Love: Tyga And Blac Chyna Featured In Urban Ink Magazine". Necole Bitchie.com. March 12, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  45. ↑ Popular right now:     (March 9, 2012). "Tyga To Become Father After Stripper Girlfriend Falls Pregnant?". TaleTela. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  46. ↑ Bobb, Maurice (October 16, 2012). "Tyga Welcomes His First Baby - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  47. ↑ Brooks, Jason (October 17, 2012). "Tyga's Welcomes His New Family With $6.5 Million Home (PHOTOS)". Global Grind. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  48. ↑ "(Photos) Tyga Shows Off His New Tattoo For Baby King Cairo". In Flex We Trust. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  49. ↑ Popular right now:     (April 11, 2012). "Tyga's Girlfriend Blac Chyna Tattoos His Name On Body". TaleTela. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  50. ↑ Takeda, Allison (August 12, 2014). "Tyga, Blac Chyna Split: They're "Trying to Keep It Amicable"". Us Weekly. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  51. ↑ http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/10/17/bruce-jenner-tyga-kylie-jenner-dating/
  52. ↑ "Tyga Details Relationship With Kylie Jenner, Denies Dating Rumors". BallerStatus.com. February 17, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Tyga Gets “Kylie” Tattoo, Blac Chyna Posts Text Screenshots". BallerStatus.com. April 25, 2015.
  54. ↑ Fleischer, Adam (July 27, 2013). "UPDATE: Two Video Models Seeking $20 Million From Tyga In Lawsuits Over "Make It Nasty" Video - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  55. ↑ C. Vernon Coleman (September 21, 2013). "Tyga Faces Another Lawsuit Behind "Make It Nasty" Video - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  56. ↑ Emmanuel C.M. (September 4, 2013). "Tyga Sued For Stealing Jewelry - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.

External links