Birthday: November 19, 1989
Birthplace: Compton, California
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Michael Stevenson (you know him as Tyga) used to be just a regular kid with a dream, trying to get friends in the biz to listen to his mixtape—now he’s a Grammy-nominated up-and-comer and a part of Lil Wayne’s Young Money crew. Find out more about Tyga!
Online and Onstage
Twenty one year oldTyga grew up in one of California’s most notorious areas, Compton. But even though Tyga had humble beginnings, he always had a dream that someday he might be famous for his rapping. He built a name for himself locally by doing incredible live shows and promoting himself online.
Tyga's debut album No Introduction is out this Spring
Rap and Runners
One day Tyga was talking to Travis McCoy (from Gym Class Heroes) in an aisle of Flight Club L.A. about the best sneakers and they got onto the topic of the best rappers, and then got onto the topic of the best rappers. Tyga says “He was telling me all this stuff he was doing with his band and I thought he was just lying to seem cool. Then one day I saw him on MTV, then I started hitting him up on AIM non-stop! We started talking about music and I got enough courage to give him my little mixtape.”
Talking to Travis Macoy in the sneaker aisle "kick" started Tyga's career!
Becoming a Hero
Travis signed Tyga to his label, Bat Squat Records, and he soon became an unofficial member of Gym Class Heroes, touring with them all over the world! But Travis wasn’t the only one who noticed Tyga’s incredible talent. At the 2007 MTV Awards, Tyga also caught the eye of Fall Out Boy’s Bassist Pete Wentz, and performed “Arms Race” with Fall Out Boy and Lil Wayne, even though he was a newcomer, and he stepped up all right. He and Lil Wayne became fast friends.
Tyga and Pete Wentz in Coconut Juice
(Young) Money Changes Everything
Lil Wayne said about the MTV Award Show: “At rehearsal I thought he was just a stand in, but when the cameras were rolling I realized he wasn’t playing around”. Tyga was soon recording in Lil Wayne’s studio, rapping on Lil Wayne’s album The Carter III! The rest is history!
Young Money Magic:Tyga, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne
Well Done
Tyga is already a grammy-nominated artist for his part in the song “Deuces.” He has a mixtape out called Well Done, and his debut album No Introduction is set for release this Spring. You might have already heard the single “Coconut Juice.” Tyga says “I don’t drink alcohol, so at parties I would just walk around with a cup mixed with whatever else I could find. When people asked what I was sipping on I would say ‘coconut juice’ because it sounded funny. So I made a song about it.” Listen Below!
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