TYGA

Tyga has built platinum-level success across multiple decades through confident rhymes, effortless charisma, and an easy ability to connect with both underground and mainstream audiences. The rapper advanced rapidly from independent releases to major-label prominence. Early self-released mixtapes combined with a guest spot on Chris Brown’s Grammy-nominated “Deuces” paved the way for his initial Top Ten solo pop single, the brooding 2011 track “Rack City,” which in turn opened the door to three straight Top Ten albums: the platinum-certified Careless World: Rise of the Last King in 2012, Hotel California in 2013, and Fan of a Fan: The Album in 2015, the last recorded alongside Brown. Powered by the 2018 Offset collaboration “Taste,” another Top Ten crossover single, Tyga earned his second platinum album with 2019’s Legendary. The Southern California native added further RIAA certifications via guest appearances alongside Pia Mia, YG, and Blxst, then rejoined YG for the largely upbeat though understated Hit Me When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist, released in 2023. Tracks such as “Sensei” arrived the following year.

Born in Compton and raised in South Central Los Angeles until his family relocated to Gardena just before his teenage years, Tyga—Michael Ray Stevenson—started recording in the early 2000s. Under the acronym Thank You God Always, he issued numerous mixtapes that highlighted his swagger-driven approach. After circulating one such project locally, he encountered his cousin, Gym Class Heroes member Travis McCoy, at the Flight Club L.A. sneaker shop; their discussion shifted from footwear to hip-hop, and as Travis’s band rose from obscurity to MTV visibility, he continued to recall that exchange and his relative’s distinctive style. Travis placed Tyga on his Bad Squad imprint and later brought him aboard when punk-pop outfit Fall Out Boy reached out. The pair appeared on the remix of Fall Out Boy’s “Arms Race,” which also included Kanye West, Paul Wall, Skinhead Rob, Lupe Fiasco, and Lil Wayne. Once the remix succeeded, Tyga performed it at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. He soon entered the studio for guest contributions with his new acquaintance Lil Wayne before concentrating on his own material. His debut single, the catchy “Coconut Juice” produced by S*A*M & Sluggo and referencing Harry Nilsson’s “Coconut,” began climbing charts in spring 2008 while he completed his first album, No Introduction, issued that June.

He resurfaced in 2012 with Careless World, featuring Game, Snoop Dogg, and Drake. Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, and 2 Chainz appeared on the 2013 follow-up Hotel California, his second consecutive Top Ten release. Around that period his guest verses included two notable collaborations with Chris Brown: the Grammy-nominated “Deuces” (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration) and “Loyal.” The duo extended their partnership on Fan of a Fan: The Album in 2015. Later that year Tyga delivered his fourth studio LP, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty, along with the mixtape Fuk What They Talkin Bout. His Pia Mia collaboration “Do It Again” reached the Hot 100 and earned platinum status. Another mixtape, Rawwest Nigga Alive, surfaced in 2016 with contributions from Goapele, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, and 2 Chainz. Before year’s end Tyga joined Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music roster, though no projects emerged from the arrangement.

In 2017 he issued several prominent collaborative singles—“Feel Me” with Kanye West, “Act Ghetto” with Lil Wayne, and “100’s” with Chief Keef and A.E.—before releasing his fifth studio album, BitchImTheShit2, in July; that set contained the West and Keef tracks plus appearances by Vince Staples, Young Thug, Pusha T, and others. He continued his output months later with the Bugatti Raww mixtape and followed in early 2018 with his sixth album, Kyoto. That summer he scored another hit with “Taste” featuring Migos’ Offset, the sleek track reaching the upper reaches of the Hot 100. In 2019 he quickly returned with Legendary, a characteristically explicit collection that featured “Taste” and additional guests Lil Wayne, Blueface, J Balvin, Bazzi, and Chris Brown.

Throughout 2020 Tyga guested on various singles and released the collaborative cut “Freak” with Megan Thee Stallion. In the first half of 2021 he again reached platinum status as co-star of Blxst’s “Chosen,” while also linking with Iggy Azalea on “Sip It” and Moneybagg Yo on “Splash,” alongside solo releases “Mrs. Bubblegum” and “Lift Me Up.” February 2022 brought the Billboard-charting “Freaky Deaky” with Doja Cat and “Nasty” with Chris Brown. In 2023 Tyga joined YG for “Platinum” and the late-summer track “Party Time,” both previewing their joint project Hit Me When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist, issued that September. He also appeared on Cher’s holiday album Christmas and guested on Oscar Maydon’s “Kim Kardashian.” Solo singles “Sensei” and “Hello B*tch” arrived in 2024.