Ty Dolla $ign was born Tyrone Griffin on the 13th of April 1985. Performing and recording since 2007, the Los Angeles, USA native gained a reputation for being alternative R&B’s chief hedonist, alongside being one of the genres most in demand producers and collaborators.
I can’t be the only person in the world to look at the stage name of one of modern R&B’s premier lotharios and find myself only able to think of Glee’s Principle Figgins referring to Ke$ha as “Ke-dollar-sign-ha”, right?
It might stick out like a sore thumb but like the Foo Fighters before him, having an absurd stage name has only made the fact that Tyrone Griffin has risen above it and can be taken seriously for his talent and skill all the more impressive. Needless to say, it’s some serious talent and skill.
Beginning his musical career as a bassist in 2007, Griffin tried his hand at rapping in a number of groups and solo project but first came to true prominence as a producer. Most notably, he co-wrote and produced YG’s debut single “Toot It And Boot It” in 2010, his first taste at Billboard chart success.
After some solo releases he signed a major label contract with Atlantic Records in 2012, followed by another contract with Taylor Gang Records the following year. Since then he has gone from strength to strength, collaborating with everyone from new blood The Weeknd, established stars like label boss Wiz Khalifa, all the way up to bona fide legends like Rihanna.
To cap it off, this level of success has come without even a debut album to his name. His E.P’s, collaborations and mixtapes have made him the kind of name that most artists would kill to be, and even then, he’s got his best days far ahead of him. One to watch for sure.
Renée Elise Goldsberry
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