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.
Ty Dolla Sign is an intimidating force of hip-hop his huge stage presence complete with huge dreadlocks and his huge sunglasses. He has a good R&B voice singing in tune with no effect on his voice. Every other word that he says seems to be a curse word but this audience doesn’t care. The bars are lined, the patron and Grey Goose is flowing, with this horde getting gradually inebriated. One of the things he is fantastic at is engaging this audience in singing along with every single song. One of the only things that I would say is that they should’ve mixed the sound a little better. There are points when I genuinely can’t tell if he is singing or rapping. “Familiar” is quite a highlight of this set, with punters getting involved, dancing and jumping up and down fanning their arms from front to back with the beat.