Lil Uzi Vert

Symere Bysil Woods (born July 31, 1994), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American recording artist hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In an interview with Vibe Magazine, the Francisville, North Philadelphia native described how their stage name originated:

Some guy was just like ‘You rap fast, man. Like a little machine gun,’ and from that moment I was Lil Uzi.

Uzi added “Vert” to their stage name, explaining in a Rolling Stone interview that “Vert” means “straight to the top, like a vertical leap.” Lil Uzi Vert also resembles Lucifer phonetically, aligning with their satanic image.

Inspired by classmate William Aston’s freestyles, Uzi began creating music for money in their sophomore year of high school in 2010, initially using the alias Sealab Vertical. They later formed the rap group Steaktown with another Philadelphia rapper, A.Y., and released Uzi's first song, “Steaktown Anthem.”

Before the release of Uzi’s debut project, Purple Thoughtz Vol. 1, they gained the attention of the A$AP Mob and co-owner Don Cannon, leading to Uzi signing with Generation Now and releasing their second project, The Real Uzi.

Uzi collaborated with artists like Metro Boomin, A$AP Ferg, and Lil Durk before dropping the acclaimed Luv Is Rage mixtape, earning the title of “breakout artist of 2015” by HotNewHipHop.

Uzi's January 2016 performance with the A$AP Mob preceded their rising fame, dropping the two-time platinum single “Money Longer” soon after. This track led to their first Billboard charting entry with the mixtape Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World. Uzi also appeared in the renowned XXL cypher and was part of the 2016 Freshman class.

Their feature on Migos' “Bad and Boujee” and the single “XO TOUR Llif3” boosted their prominence, peaking at #1 and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively.

Lil Uzi Vert’s musical style is often compared to Lil Wayne and described as emo rap with rock influences, also known as lo-fi rap. Uzi cites Marilyn Manson as a significant influence.

Uzi's debut studio album, Luv Is Rage 2, was released on August 25, 2017, as a sequel to their earlier mixtape, debuting at #1 and achieving double platinum status.

On January 11, 2019, Uzi announced a potential music hiatus and claimed they intended to delete their catalog, which was later found to be false:

I wanna take the time out to say I think each and every one of my [supporters] but I’m done with music I deleted everything I wanna be normal. I wanna wake up in 2013

On March 25, 2019, Complex reported that Lil Uzi Vert joined Roc Nation’s management amidst conflicts with their label Generation Now, returning with the single “Free Uzi” shortly after.

On March 6, 2020, after over two years of anticipation and a series of singles in 2019, Uzi released their second studio album, Eternal Atake, featuring the chart-topping single “Futsal Shuffle 2020” and “That Way,” which sampled Backstreet Boys' “I Want It That Way.”

A week later, on March 13, 2020, the deluxe version of Eternal Atake titled “Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. The World 2” was released, a sequel to their 2016 mixtape Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World, featuring tracks with artists like 21 Savage and Young Thug.

On July 22, 2022, Uzi released the EP RED & WHITE as a prelude to their upcoming third studio album, Pink Tape. The EP’s songs were initially shared on Uzi’s SoundCloud from July 16 to July 22 before being available on streaming platforms, featuring fan favorites like “I KNOW,” “FOR FUN,” and “BELIEVE ME.”

On June 30, 2023, Uzi dropped their highly anticipated third studio album, Pink Tape, containing twenty-six tracks, including the October 2022 hit “Just Wanna Rock” and fan-loved leaks “Of Course” and “Zoom.” The album features guest appearances from Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj, Bring Me The Horizon, Don Toliver, and BABYMETAL.