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Valee

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This article is about the American rapper. For other uses, see Valee (disambiguation).
Valee
Birth nameValee Taylor
Born (1988-08-27) August 27, 1988 (age 36)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2015–present
Labels

Valee Taylor, known mononymously as Valee, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. His third mixtape, 1988 (2017) was discovered by Pusha T, who led him to sign with fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West's record label GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in February 2018. His debut extended play (EP), GOOD Job, You Found Me was released the following month and executive produced by West. In May of that year, his single "Womp Womp" (featuring Jeremih) narrowly entered both the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100. In the following year, he parted ways with the label.[2][3][4][5]

Early life

[edit]

Valee Taylor grew up on Chicago's South Side, living in the Robert Taylor Homes and moving repeatedly once they were demolished.[6] Valee has said his mother exposed him to musicians such as Erykah Badu, Sade, Jill Scott at an early age.[7] Valee pays homage to the artists frequently in his music.[7] He was trained as an auto mechanic, and earned income by working on automobiles from his mother's garage prior to recording.[8]

Throughout his schooling, he had repeated issues with anger, and his outbursts led to his expulsion from numerous schools.[6] The rapper cites Cash Money and Project Pat as early hip hop influences.[6]

Taylor says he decided to make music on a whim while living in the South Side of Chicago. He says he was on his way to purchase a video game system, but on the way decided to go to Guitar Center instead. He purchased the necessary equipment to start making beats and shortly after he began rapping over them.[9]

Music

[edit]

Valee's early work includes collaborations with producers such as Rio Mac and Chase the Money.[6] His first song, "Cash Don't Bend" (with Ty Money) was released in 2015. From then until 2017, Valee released five independent projects: 12:12 (2015), 1:11 (2016), 2:22 (2016), 12:12 Again (2016) and 1988 (2017).[10]

After he was signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music by the label's then-president Pusha T in February 2018, he released his debut extended play and first retail project, GOOD Job, You Found Me. It was executive produced by West[11] and saw minimal commercial response, although Pitchfork reviewed the project and gave it a score of 7.4/10.[11]

In May 2018, Valee released the single "Womp Womp", featuring Jeremih.[12] The song was later featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 Netflix film Beats[13] leading its debut at number 98 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100[14] and at 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[15]

In 2019, he released a surprise EP, Runnin Rich, which included features from G Herbo, King Louie, and Vic Mensa.[16] The cover art is a picture of the rapper's pet Chihuahua dog named Cliff Notez, whom he was publicly condemned for dying red. Valee responded to the critics explaining he used "edible vegan dye" in order to color the pet's fur.[16] He also released tracks with Big Baby DRAM ("About U"), Matt Ox ("Awesome"), and Lil Yachty ("Wombo") and appeared on YG's album 4Real 4Real.[16]

Valee is currently managed by Andrew Barber, founder of notable Chicago Hip-Hop Blog: Fake Shore Drive.[17]

Discography

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Albums

[edit]
  • 12:12 (2015)
  • 12:12 Again (2016)
  • 1988 (2017)
  • Runnin' Rich (2019)
  • VACABULAREE (2022)

Collaboration Albums

[edit]
  • The TrAppiEst Elevator Music Ever! (with AYOCHILLMANNN) (2021)
  • The TrAppiEst Disco Music Ever! (with AYOCHILLMANNN) (2021)
  • Gimme Five Im High (with CHASETHEMONEY) (2021)
  • Virtuoso (with Harry Fraud) (2023)
  • VALEEDATION (with MVW) (2023)
  • CAR TOONS (with Top$ide & Trap-A-Holics) (2023)

EPs

[edit]
  • 1:11 (2016)
  • 2:22 (2016)
  • GOOD Job, You Found Me (2018)
  • VLANE (with Stan Lane) (2021)
  • VLANE (Instrumentals) (with Stan Lane) (2021)
  • VLANE 2 (with Stan Lane) (2024)
  • Partridge (with Black Noi$e) (2024)

Singles

[edit]
  • VTL (2016)
  • Shell (2017)
  • Acid (2017)
  • I Got Whatever (2017)
  • Miami (2017)
  • Are U Live (with Chance the Rapper & Jeremih) (2017)
  • Miami (Remix) (featuring Pusha T) (2018)
  • Womp Womp (featuring Jeremih) (2018)
  • Spondivits (with Dro Fe) (2018)
  • Awesome (featuring Matt Ox) (2018)
  • About U (featuring DRAM) (2018)
  • You & Me Both (2019)
  • Uninvited (featuring Calboy) (2019)
  • Do My Thing (with Outlaw Mel, The Outfit & TX) (2020)
  • Bling Bling (with CHASETHEMONEY) (2020)
  • Still Do (with MVW) (2021)
  • Us (with MVW) (2021)
  • Aladdin (with Stan Lane) (2021)
  • Fa Good (with Stan Lane) (2021)
  • Picture Me (with the Kii & Kelvyn Colt) (2021)
  • Hard 2 Notice? (with DarkoQuan & Eight O) (2021)
  • Trident (with CHASETHEMONEY) (2022)
  • AREA (with Bandland ZZ) (2022)
  • BUN B (with Bandland ZZ) (2022)
  • Will Pharrell (with DarkoQuan) (2022)
  • Yhet (with AYOCHILLMANNN) (2022)
  • Never That (with MVW & 645AR) (featuring Matt Ox) (2022)
  • Gucci Wallabees (with DarkoQuan) (2022)
  • Oscar (with MVW) (2022)
  • Around + Wolfe's Deep Snippet (with KingTrey & Yvng.Wolfe) (featuring Michael Christmas) (2022)
  • Long Week (2022)
  • HERMES$ (featuring TyMadeit) (2022)
  • Hedi (with Tommy Revenge & SkipOnDaBeat) (2022)
  • Man Man (with My Favorite Color) (2022)
  • Risk (with Z Money) (2023)
  • Sci-Fi (with Meech La'flare) (featuring MOSCO) (2023)
  • Yo Yo (with MVW) (featuring Tony Shhnow) (2023)
  • Could Be (with MVW) (2023)
  • Pistachio (with MVW) & Zelooperz) (2023)
  • Yellow (with DarkoQuan) (2023)
  • Vibrant (with MVW & Action Bronson) (2023)
  • Watermelon Automobile (with Saba & Mavi) (2023)
  • Chanel (with Kanine the Don) (2023)
  • Tailor Swift (with MVW) (2023)
  • Créme De La Créme (with MVW & Pink Siifu) (2023)
  • CoMmandO (with Stan Lane) (2024)
  • Kn0ck Kn0ck (with Sicario & YUNG KRONIK) (2024)

Personal life

[edit]

Valee has two children and three dogs (Furrari, Ravioli and Sophia).[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Suliman, Ali (January 16, 2018). "ChaseTheMoney is the St. Louis producer collaborating with some of rap's most exciting acts". The Fader. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (March 7, 2018). "Here's how Kanye West put his touch on Valee's new EP". The Fader. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Mahadevan, Tara. "7 Things You Need to Know About G.O.O.D. Music's Newest Signee Valee". Complex. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Garvey, Meaghan (January 26, 2018). "Introducing Valee, the G.O.O.D. Music-Approved Rapper With an Elegant Trap Sound". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Kot, Greg (March 9, 2018). "Chicago rapper Valee makes his mark on new EP, but gently". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d "Biography of Valee". Valee Music. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Holmes, Charles. "10 Things To Know About Valee, The Chicago Rap Rookie Backed By Kanye And Chance". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  8. ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (November 1, 2018). "Valee Is a Quiet Rapper Making a Lot of Noise". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  9. ^ Terry, Bryan Allen Lamb,Josh (April 21, 2017). "Welcome to the Warped World of Valee'". Vice. Retrieved February 12, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Valee". Genius. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Valee: GOOD Job, You Found Me EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  12. ^ Breihan, Tom (May 2, 2018). "Valee – "Womp Womp" (Feat. Jeremih)". Stereogum. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  13. ^ Hough, Quinn (June 21, 2019). "Every Song On Netflix's Beats Soundtrack". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100, week of June 1, 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  15. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100, week of June 8, 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c "Valee drops surprise EP Runnin' Rich". The FADER. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  17. ^ two, Eric HendrixWriter at Red RollJust a native south side Chicago kid with an opinion or (January 28, 2020). "Valee: A New Wave of Music". Red Roll. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  18. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (May 7, 2018). "Valee, Kanye West's New Signee, Is a Rapper Who Just Might Build You a Koi Pond". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
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