Lil Zay Osama
Birth nameIsaiah Jaylaun Dukes
Born (1997-06-03) June 3, 1997
Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2011–present
LabelsWarner
Websitelilzayosamaofficial.com

Isaiah Jaylaun Dukes (born June 3, 1997), known professionally as Lil Zay Osama, is an American rapper. His music, which he describes as "pain music", reflects his violent upbringing on the South Side of Chicago and explores subjects including grief, trauma and survival.[1][2]

Early life

Osama was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He lived at the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side until he was 10.[3][4] His mother was the primary caretaker for Osama and his five siblings; although his parents did not formally separate until he was nine, his father was in and out of jail and rarely present.[5]

Career

Inspired by his older brother, Osama began rapping when he was 8 and recording at 10. At 12, simultaneous to the release of his first tracks and videos, he joined a gang.[5] "Part of an emerging wave of MCs changing Chicago rap", he was initially associated with Chicago's drill scene.[4] He used the name Lil Zay until 2010, when, as his gang-related activity ramped up, he was christened on the street as Lil Zay Osama.[6][7]

In 2015 Osama was shot in the chest, and while in the hospital, he was arrested on gun charges. At 16, he was sentenced to five years in a juvenile detention center. Committed to keeping away from the streets when he was freed, he focused on music for the duration of his incarceration, writing rap as well as songs influenced by pop and R&B.[5][7]

Osama's sentence was reduced to three years, and he was released in 2017. At 19, he returned to the South Side with a "new style, a new perspective, and a new level of determination."[8] In 2018, he put 8 new songs on SoundCloud, and in 2019, he released Hood Bible, a collection of 14 songs that came out one by one.[9] Hood Bible included his first hit, "Changed Up". The video for "Changed Up" received more than 20 million views on YouTube over the course of several months. Pitchfork attributed Osama's success to "relatable struggles in his lyrics" and "a realness that resonated".[10]

In August 2019, Osama signed with Warner Records.[11] Among other songs, he has since released "Like a Pimp", a collaboration with Stunna 4 Vegas,[12] "Rumors", "Ride 4 Me" featuring Jackboy and "61st to 64th".[13] His mixtape, Trench Baby, was released on February 19, 2021.[14]

His fourth mixtape, Trench Baby 2, was released on November 12, 2021. The mixtape contained songs featuring EST Gee, Mook6340, Benny The Butcher, Luh Kel, and Sean Kingston.

Discography

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details
Turn Up
Hood Bible
  • Released: October 18, 2019
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Trench Baby
  • Released: February 19, 2021
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Trench Baby 2
  • Released: November 12, 2021
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Trench Baby 3
  • Released: August 12, 2022
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
4 The Streets
  • Released: August 13, 2023
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Hood Bible 2
  • Released: December 15, 2023
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Charted and certified singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Bub.
[15]		 US R&B/HH
[16]
"Changed Up" 2019 — —
"Fuck My Cousin, Pt. II"
(with Lil Durk)		 2022 1044 Trench Baby 3

References

  1. ↑ Holmes, Charles (April 19, 2019). "Song You Need to Know: Lil Zay Osama, 'Changed Up'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ Simpson, Paul. "Lil Zay Osama | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Rising Chicago Rappers You Need to Know". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Galil, Leor (March 7, 2019). "Lil Zay Osama is part of an emerging wave of MCs changing Chicago rap". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 DJ Smallz Eyes 2 (June 21, 2020). "Lil Zay Osama Parents Split by Age 9 and How It Affected Him, Father in State Prison 3 Years". www.youtube.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Barshad, Amos (November 23, 2020). "Why Are So Many New Rappers Named After Osama Bin Laden?". GQ. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "EXCLUSIVE: Lil Zay Osama Details Getting Shot in the Chest at 15, Sentenced to Juvenile Life". www.vladtv.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  8. ↑ Seabrook, Robby. "The Break Presents: Lil Zay Osama - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Lil Zay Osama". SoundCloud. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  10. ↑ Pierre, Alphonse (April 15, 2019). "The Ones: Lil Zay Osama's "2 Years"". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Lil Zay Osama Signs With Warner Records, Releases 'Talk to Me Crazy' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  12. ↑ Grant, Shawn (November 17, 2020). "Lil Zay Osama and Stunna 4 Vegas Link for 'Like A Pimp' Video". The Source. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Lil Zay Osama Addresses "Rumors" In New Video". AllHipHop.com. December 12, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Interview with Lil Zay Osama". BRINGIN' IT BACKWARDS. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Lil Durk Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Lil Durk Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Lil Zay Osama". RIAA. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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