Cyhi the Prynce | |
|---|---|
 Cyhi the Prynce performing in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cydel Charles Young |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | (1984-09-15)September 15, 1984 (age 40) |
| Origin | Stone Mountain,Georgia, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | www |
Cydel Charles Young[2] (born September 15, 1984),[2][3] known professionally asCyHi the Prynce (also referred to asCyHi Da Prynce[4] or simplyCyHi),[5][6] is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter fromStone Mountain, Georgia. He signed amajor label recording contract withAkon'sKonvict Muzik, in ajoint venture withDef Jam Recordings in 2009. The following year, he gained mainstream attention for his guest appearance alongsideJay-Z,Pusha T,Swizz Beatz, andRZA onKanye West's 2010 song "So Appalled" from his album,My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). He was then credited with extensivesongwriting work on West's further releases, resulting in fiveGrammy Award nominations forBest Rap Song, as well as one additional nomination for his work onTravis Scott's 2018 single "Sicko Mode."[7]
Young has released ninemixtapes, of which containconscious orpolitical themes discussing the history and social affairs ofBlack people in America. He parted ways with Def Jam in 2015 and signed withSony Music to release his long-delayed debut studio album,No Dope on Sundays (2017); executive produced by West, it was met with critical praise and modestly entered theBillboard 200.
Growing up inGeorgia, Young played various sports includingfootball,basketball, and track and field; in addition to having sung in school choirs and participated in school plays and dances. He was raisedBaptist by strict parents, who did not allow him to listen tohip hop music as a youth. However, Young cites his parents' methods as a foundation upon which he could build himself in character, especially growing up in the area that he was.
In 2009, Young signed a recording contract withAkon'sKonvict Muzik label imprint, under the aegis ofDef Jam Recordings.[8] Young first gained major attention in 2010 when he received a co-sign from fellow Americanrapper and hip hop mogulKanye West.[9][10] Young reports that American singerBeyoncé, a friend of West and the wife of his mentor,Jay-Z, convinced Kanye West to sign him to hisGOOD Music imprint.[11] This culminated in Young's inclusion on West's weekly free music giveawayGOOD Fridays, and his fifth studio albumMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).
Young recorded his secondmixtape,Royal Flush II, with producer CPK, and planned to work further with previous collaborators theJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. League,No I.D. and Kanye West, as well asDJ Toomp,The Alchemist andJust Blaze.[12] Young released his third mixtape,Jack of All Trades, later in 2011, which announced the title of his debut studio album to beHardway Musical.
Young appeared on GOOD Music's compilation albumCruel Summer, released September 18, 2012. Young was ultimately featured on two tracks, including: "The Morning", along withRaekwon,Common,Pusha T,2 Chainz,Kid Cudi, andD'banj, as well as "Sin City", alongsideJohn Legend,Teyana Taylor,Malik Yusef, andTravis Scott.[13] On January 29, 2013, he released his fifth mixtape,Ivy League: Kick Back.[14] The tape features guest appearances from2 Chainz,B.o.B,Travis Porter,Yelawolf,Childish Gambino,Trae Tha Truth andBobby Valentino among others.[15] Despite not being featured on Kanye West'sYeezus album, Young has writing credits on all but one of the album's songs.[16] CyHi continued to prepare his debut studio albumHardway Musical for release.[17]
As of August 2015, CyHi's album had yet to receive a release date. Frustrated with his situation and having been dropped fromDef Jam Recordings, he released a diss track called "Elephant in the Room", aimed toward G.O.O.D. Music, its owner Kanye West, Pusha T, and Teyana Taylor. On the track, he addresses his album delays and even threatens Kanye: "While you're in your little Lambo on Sunset, I'm riding with a gun next to me and it sounds like a little boy playing with a drum set / And, it holds a hundred rounds 'cause when you come around, niggas quick to gun you down."[18]
CyHi would later clarify that the track was not in fact a diss. Rather it was similar to the light-hearted 'insults' thatEminem would inflict onDr. Dre.[19] An upcoming album to be titledL.I.O.N. was announced amid this increase in media attention, still containing the G.O.O.D. Music imprint's logo, further indicating that CyHi was still with the label, and on good terms.[20]
His debut album,No Dope on Sundays, was released on November 17, 2017. It was preceded by the singles "Movin' Around" featuringSchoolboy Q and "Dat Side" featuring Kanye West.
He wrote on the tracks "Keys to My Life" and "Vultures" from¥$ (Kanye West andTy Dolla Sign) albumVultures 1, released on 10 February 2024.
On February 14, 2021, CyHi revealed on Instagram that he had survived an assassination attempt. As he was driving on an Atlanta highway, his car was reportedly shot up, causing it to flip over. After his car hit a pole and crashed into a tree, the suspect continued to shoot the car before fleeing the scene.[citation needed]
| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "New Slaves" | Best Rap Song | Nominated | [21] |
| 2015 | "Bound 2" | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | "All Day" | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | "Famous" | Nominated | ||
| "Ultralight Beam" | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | "Sicko Mode" | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
