Quelle Chris | |
|---|---|
 Tennille performing in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gavin Christopher Tennille |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | (1984-10-19)October 19, 1984 (age 40) New York, U.S. |
| Origin | Detroit,Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Labels | Mello Music Group |
| Formerly of |
|
Gavin Christopher Tennille (born October 19, 1984), known asQuelle Chris, is an Americanrecord producer,rapper andsongwriter fromDetroit,Michigan.[1] He has released over 15 albums as a solo act and with his collaborative projects.[2]
Tennille was born inJohnson City, New York to a shoe designer.[citation needed]
Tennille began his music career in theDetroit hip hop scene.[3] His career began expanding as he joined Wasted Youth, where he attracted the attention of other Detroit-based artists such asJ Dilla andProof. Tennille and fellow rapperDenmark Vessey later formed a musical group called Crown Nation, in which Tennille soon adopted the pseudonyms Q-Life and Quelle, the latter of which means "source" in German.[2] With credit as a songwriter on several songs onDanny Brown's early albums, he began working on a solo career.[1]
His debut studio album,Shotgun & Sleek Rifle, was released in 2011, featuring guest appearances from artists such as Brown, Roc Marciano and Big Tone. He signed withMello Music Group after releasing twoextended plays with the music group Racehorses are Resources, which also consisted of poetJohn Sinclair. With two studio albumsNiggas Is Men andGhost at the Finish Line released on the label in 2013, Tennille produced for musicians such asPharoahe Monch, Diamond District andOpen Mike Eagle.[1]
His fourth studio albumInnocent Country was released in 2015, followed by the 2016 instrumental albumLullabies for the Broken Brain. His fifth studio albumBeing You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often was released in 2017.[1][4] He described the album as "about being human. Being great, being flawed, being you".[5] His debut collaborative album titledEverything's Fine with his life partnerJean Grae was released on March 30, 2018, via Mello.[6] On March 29, 2019, Tennille released his acclaimed sixth solo albumGuns.[7] On March 16, 2020, Tennille released his seventh solo albumInnocent Country 2 and released it on April 24. It features guest appearances fromEarl Sweatshirt,Billy Woods, Tune-Yards'Merrill Garbus, Denmark Vessey,Homeboy Sandman, Pink Siifu, andJosh Gondelman.[8] Tennille returned with his seventh album,Deathfame on May 13, 2022. The 14-track album was primarily produced by himself.[3]
In December 2017, he proposed to his longtime partner who is also his frequent collaborator,Jean Grae.[9][10] The two married on August 5, 2018.[11]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Shotgun & Sleek Rifle[1] | |
| Ghost at the Finish Line |
|
| Innocent Country(with Chris Keys) |
|
| Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often |
|
| Guns |
|
| Innocent Country 2(with Chris Keys) |
|
| Deathfame[3] |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Everything's Fine(withJean Grae) |
|
| Death Tape 1: Black Cottonwood(withCavalier) |
|
| Death Tape 2: We 'Gon Need Each Other(withCavalier andDenmark Vessey) |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Lullabies for the Broken Brain |
|
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Niggas Is Men |
|
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Special | Grammy Award for Album of the Year | Nominated | [13] |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
