Bobby Sessions
Sessions in 2022
Born
Bobby Session, Jr.

Dallas, Texas, U.S.
EducationUniversity of North Texas
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • recording artist
  • producer
Years active2010 – present
Agents
  • High Standardz Management
  • Jeremy Jones ("J Dot" Jones)
AwardsGrammy Award, BMI Award
Musical career
OriginDallas, Texas, U.S.
GenresRap, Hip hop
Labels


Websitebobbysessionstx.com

Bobby Sessions is an American Grammy Award winning rapper, songwriter, recording artist and producer.[1] He wrote and performed the title track for the film, The Hate U Give.[2] Since signing a deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2018 he has gained notoriety by using his platform to advocate for civil and criminal justice reform.[3][1] He has performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards,[4][5] the Fader Fort at SXSW,[6] and the Fortress Festival,[7][8] among others. He has shared the stage with PRhyme,[9]Billie Eilish,[10] and Erykah Badu,[11] among others. His song, Savage, co-written and performed by Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé, won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2021 as well as peaking at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 2020.[12][13]

In 2021, Sessions teamed up with Marvel writers to create his own character-specific special collaboration designed to integrate the voices of young black creative's short stories for Ta-Nehisi Coates final three issues of Black Panther with Sessions contributing to issue 24.[14]

Early life

Bobby Sessions was born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Dallas Texas, a predominantly Black, low-to-lower middle income neighborhood where he spent much of his childhood then he and his family relocated to Rowlett, a suburb northeast of Pleasant Grove. He began writing hip-hop songs as a teenager and would freestyle in class and in the locker room before football practice. His father's love of jazz and soul music greatly influenced his passion for music.

Sessions played basketball, football, and ran track, which he attributed to his competitive edge in his music career. Football played a large role in his youth, teaching him about teamwork.. When asked about his stage name Sessions said that his real name is Bobby Session Jr., "I got it from my father, because I’m a junior. It’s my real name, the only difference is the added ‘s’ at the end. I can tell somebody my name’s Bobby Session a million times, they still say it back with an extra ‘s’. When I decided on my stage name, I did the work for them so they don't have to worry about it."[15]

Music career

Sessions is a recording artist, rapper, songwriter, and producer based out of Dallas, Texas. He was born in Pleasant Grove, Texas, where he spent most of his childhood and later moved with his family to Rowlett, Texas. While attending the University of North Texas, where Sessions was studying philosophy and journalism, he began honing in on his rapping skills at a student led organization called, Poetic Justice.[16] He has cited Jay Z, Eminem, Tupac, Kanye West, and Pharrell as his major influences.[17]

He became active in the rap/hip-hop community performing with the Brain Gang (also known as The Rowdy Bunch) in Deep Ellum in Dallas, known for its music scene. The group sold-out venues and was known for its element of rage (punk rock style), mosh pits, and jumping.[16][18] Sessions worked at Walmart and the U.S. Postal Service while playing in clubs in the Dallas area establishing a name for himself. He quit his job in 2014 with only $50 in his bank account to pursue his music career full-time.[19]

In 2015, Sessions signed a record deal with High Standardz and released his debut album, LOA (Law of Attraction) which was listed as the "Best Album of 2015" by the Dallas Observer. His 2017 sophomore release, Grateful, earned him "Best Rap/Hip-Hop Act" at the Dallas Observer Music Awards as well as single Dollars & Sense winning "Best Rap Song".[20]

In 2018, Session's manager, J Dot (Jeremy Jones), played early versions of Session's RVLTN Chapter 1: The Divided States of AmeriKKKa for the-then new CEO of Def Jam Recordings, Paul Rosenberg. Sessions was the first artist that Rosenburg signed.[21][22] He wrote and performed the title track for the soundtrack, The Hate U Give, which includes songs by Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Logic, and Tupac.[2][23] He was asked by his label to write the song as his cousin, James Harper, was shot and killed by a police officer in 2012 in South Dallas, Texas. 911 had received a call reporting an armed kidnapper which was later determined to be a hoax. The case was highly controversial as Harper was unarmed and shot three times. No charges were brought against the officer.[24][25][7][26]

Sessions' involvement in Deep Ellum's (Dallas) music scene, community, and years of live performances was celebrated by a mural painting of him in Deep Ellum by artist JD Moore, commissioned by the Deep Ellum Foundation in 2019.[21][27]

In 2020, Sessions' co-write Savage, co-written and performed by Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé, peaked at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart which led to a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing.[1] Savage won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2021, was listed on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and was certified 4× Platinum.[28] Savage and Savage remix won awards for the Most Performed Songs of the Year at the 2021 BMI Rap/Hip-Hop Awards.[29] Sessions teamed up with Stallion again on, Girls in the Hood, which peaked at #28 on Billboard's Hot 100 and was certified 2× Platinum.[13][30] I'm a King (co-written and performed by Sessions and Stallion) was featured in the film, Coming 2 America, and released as the lead single on the film's soundtrack.[31][32]

Additional collaborations include Sessions' co-write, Muwop, recorded by Latto (featuring Gucci Mane) which went platinum in 2022[33][34] as well as composing songs and being executive producer on Iggy Azalea's, 2021 album The End of an Era.[35] Sessions released singles that featured artists such as Royce Da 5'9" on Still Alive,[36] Rick Ross on Penthouse Prayers,[37] and Benny the Butcher and Freddie Gibbs on Gold Rolex.[38]

Discography

Year Album Artist Credit
2021 Penthouse Prayers (single) Bobby Sessions (featuring Rick Ross) Composer, primary artist[37]
Gold Rolex (single) Bobby Sessions (featuring Benny the Butcher and Freddie Gibbs) Composer, primary artist[38]
I'm a King (film and soundtrack Coming 2 America) Bobby Sessions and Megan Thee Stallion Composer, featured artist[31]
The End of an Era Iggy Azalea Composer, executive producer[35]
Black History Makers: Then & Now Bobby Sessions Composer, featured artist[39]
2020 Manifest Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[3]
RVLTN, Chapter 3: The Price of Freedom Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[40][41]
Still Alive Bobby Sessions (featuring Royce Da 5'9") Composer, primary artist[36]
Savage (single) Megan Thee Stallion Composer[12]
Savage remix (single) Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé Composer[12]
Girls in the Hood (single) Megan Thee Stallion Composer[1]
Muwop (single) Latto (featuring Gucci Mane) Composer[34]
Immortal Statik Selektah (featuring Bobby Sessions) Composer, featured artist[42]
2018 RVLTN, Chapter 1: The Divided States of AmeriKKKa Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[21]
The Hate U Give (film and soundtrack The Hate U Give) Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[2]
RVLTN, Chapter 2: The Art of Resistance Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[43]
2017 Grateful Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[6]
2015 LOA (Law of Attraction) Bobby Sessions Composer, primary artist[44]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sony/ATV Signs Bobby Sessions to Worldwide Publishing Deal". Sony Music Publishing. July 7, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dallas Rapper Bobby Sessions Headlines Soundtrack for The Hate U Give by Natalie Gempel". D Magazine. October 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Bobby Sessions Wants His New Album 'Manifest' to Be Music's Guide To Self-Help by Carl Lamarre". Billboard Magazine. June 14, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bobby Sessions Shows Off His Skills at BET Hip Hop Awards 2020". BET. October 27, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  5. ↑ "BET Hip Hop Awards 2020: Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, City Girls & More". Right On Digital. October 28, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Def Jam rapper Bobby Sessions triumphed at SXSW by Andrew Sacher". Brooklyn Vegan. March 19, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Circling Fortress Festival". FW Weekly. May 21, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Fortress Festival Artist Bobby Sessions". Fortress Festival. April 29, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  9. ↑ "MEGAN THEE STALLION'S 'SAVAGE' CO-WRITER BOBBY SESSIONS EXPLAINS WHY SHE'S A 'GENIUS' & ROYCE DA 5'9'S A 'MASTERMIND' by Justin Ivey". HipHopDX. October 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  10. ↑ "The FADER FORT 2018 lineup". Fader. March 6, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Erykah Badu Celebrates Her Birthday With an Adoring Dallas". Erykah Badu. February 28, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 "Bobby Sessions - Best Rap Song - Savage". Grammys. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Billboards Hot 100 Chart - Savage - Megan Thee Stallion". Billboard Charts. May 30, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Marvel's New 'Black Panther' Stories Will Amplify Def Jam Artists by Samantha Hissong". Rolling Stone Magazine. February 17, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  15. ↑ "BOBBY SESSIONS / STARTING HIS OWN 'RVLTN' by Shirley Ju". Flaunt. October 15, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Bobby Sessions @8:15". Listen Notes. January 28, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Interview: Lighting The Spark Of Revolution, Rapper Bobby Sessions Tries To Change The World With A Record by Nathan Leigh". Afropunk. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  18. ↑ "The Rowdy Bunch - Meet Brain Gang, Dallas' Most Charismatic Hip-Hop Collective by Drew Blackburn". Central Track 2. July 16, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Rapper Bobby Sessions sets his sights on a second Grammy win with debut album 'Manifest' by Morgan Hines". USA Today. October 9, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. ↑ "The 2017 Dallas Observer Music Awards Winners by Caroline Smith". Dallas Observer Newspaper. December 6, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 "How Bobby Sessions Manifested a Career as a Grammy Winning Artist by Alex Gonzalez". Dallas Observer. June 14, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Artist Bobby Sessions". Def Jam. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Def Jam to Release 'The Hate U Give' Soundtrack (EXCLUSIVE) by John Burlingame". Variety. September 28, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Former Dallas officer found not liable in 2012 shooting death of James Harper in Dixon Circle by Tiffany Liou". WFAA. August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Read More: Bobby Sessions Says There's a Cover-Up in Cousin's Shooting Death by Tony M. Centeno". XXL Magazine. August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Bobby Sessions & Arlissa Discuss How Personal Experiences Inspired 'The Hate U Give' Soundtrack By Stephanie Smith-Strickland". ABC News Radio Online. October 17, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Rapper Bobby Sessions Gets His Own Mural in Deep Ellum by Natalie Gempel". D Mag. October 9, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  28. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  29. ↑ "BMI Rap/Hip-Hop Awards 2021". BMI. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Megan Thee Stallion RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  31. 1 2 "The Young Legend From Dallas Teamed Up With His 'Savage' Collaborator From Houston For The Top-Billed Cut On The 'Coming 2 America' Soundtrack by Forrest Cookmarch". Central Track. March 24, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Bobby Sessions says Megan Thee Stallion helped take "I'm a King"..."to another level" by Rachel George". ABC News Radio Online. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Latto brings 'Big Energy' with new single by Buddy Ihan". Music Universe. September 24, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  34. 1 2 "Muwop". Latto YouTube. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  35. 1 2 "Iggy Azalea Releases New Song "Sex on the Beach" featuring Sophia Scott". PM Studio. August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  36. 1 2 "Bobby Sessions & Royce Da 5'9" Team Up For "Still Alive" by Mitch Findlay". Hot New Whiphop. September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  37. 1 2 "VIDEO: BOBBY SESSIONS FT. RICK ROSS "PENTHOUSE PRAYERS" by Paul 'Big Homie' Duong". Rap Radar. June 11, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  38. 1 2 "Bobby Sessions joins forces with Benny the Butcher and Freddie Gibbs on his new single "Gold Rolex," out today via Def Jam by Glenn Rowley". Yahoo. May 21, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Black History Makers: Then & Now". Deezer. February 1, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  40. ↑ "'RVLTN, Chapter 3: The Price of Freedom". Def Jam Recordings. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Dallas Rapper Bobby Sessions Drops New Project 'RVLTN (Chapter 3): The Price of Freedom by Joe Price". Complex. September 11, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  42. ↑ "STATIK SELEKTAH :: THE BALANCING ACT". Rap Reviews. December 29, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  43. ↑ "RVLTN, Chapter 2: The Art of Resistance". Amazon. November 16, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  44. ↑ "BOBBY SESSIONS - "LOA (LAW OF ATTRACTION)" [ALBUM STREAM]". Hiphop DX Magazine. November 23, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
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