Symere Bysil Woods (/saɪˈmɪərˈbaɪsəl/sy-MEER; born July 31, 1995), known professionally asLil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born and raised inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, they[a] gained initial recognition following the release of the commercial mixtapeLuv Is Rage (2015), which led to a recording contract withAtlantic Records, to whom they signed underDJ Drama'sGeneration Now imprint.
Lil Uzi Vert attracted mainstream attention following the release of their 2016 debut single "Money Longer". The song served as lead single for their third mixtapeLil Uzi Vert vs. the World (2016), which spawned the rapper's firstBillboard Hot 100-top 40 single, "You Was Right". After releasing an additional mixtape and EP, Lil Uzi Vert guest appeared onMigos' 2016 single "Bad and Boujee", which peaked atop the chart. They later secured their first top ten single as a lead artist with their 2017 single "XO Tour Llif3", which won theMTV Video Music Award for Song of Summer.
"XO Tour Llif3" also served as lead single for Lil Uzi Vert's debut studio albumLuv Is Rage 2 (2017), which debuted atop theBillboard 200 and receiveddouble platinum certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[11] At the2018 Grammy Awards, they were nominated forBest New Artist. Following several delays, their second studio album,Eternal Atake (2020), became their second project to debut atop theBillboard 200.[12] That same year, they releasedPluto × Baby Pluto (2020), a collaborative album withFuture, and spent the next three years teasing their third solo album,Pink Tape (2023). Upon release, it became their third consecutive solo project to debut atop theBillboard 200, and included theBillboard Hot 100 top-ten single "Just Wanna Rock".
Woods dropped out of school and soon started working at aBottom Dollar store, but quit after four days and was kicked out of their home by their mother.[17][18] The situation led to Woods getting their first face tattoo, the word "Faith" under their hairline, which provoked them to take their rap career seriously.[6]
Career
2010–2015: Career beginnings
Woods began to rap in 2010[failed verification] after hearing classmate William Aston freestyle over a remade Chris Brown instrumental. Woods referred to themself at that point in their life as a "regular kid, I didn't really wanna rap."[6] Woods, Aston, and another friend created the musical group Steaktown and in what they say was "just for money"[19] under the name "Sealab Vertical".[20] They later changed this name to Lil Uzi Vert inspired by the way someone described their rap "flow" as "Fast, like a machine gun."[21] Woods' first project, an EP titledPurple Thoughtz Vol. 1 was released on January 19, 2014.[22][23] The project, which was described as "phonk" and havingcloud rap beats fromThe Guardian due to its psychedelic and "trippy" production[24] and was released with the single "White Shit" which included a video. The track, which was produced bySpaceGhostPurrp, went viral in 2017 within hip-hop circles following Wood's entry into the mainstream.[25] Shortly after the release ofPurple Thoughtz Vol. 1, Woods caught the attention of then industry-mainstays like theASAP Mob.[6]
The project and following features caught the attention of producer and Def Jam A&RDon Cannon after DJ Diamond Kuts played one of Woods' songs on a local radio station,[16][26] who signed Woods to their The Academy imprint and produced their first mixtape,The Real Uzi which was released on August 5, 2014.[13] After the release ofThe Real Uzi, Woods signed a record deal withAtlantic Records throughDJ Drama, Don Cannon's and Leighton Morrison's imprint, Generation Now.[27]
Following their signing to Atlantic Records, Woods was featured alongsideRich the Kid andASAP Ferg onCarnage's single "WDYW".[28] They also released several songs onSoundCloud including theMetro Boomin produced "No Wait",[29] "Pressure" which is a collaboration withLil Durk[30] and "Dej Loaf".[31] They were featured onFall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa's "Boys of Zummer" tour in August 2015.[32] Woods released their second mixtape,Luv Is Rage on October 30, 2015. The project, which features production from then-bubbling producersSonny Digital,TM88 andMaaly Raw with features fromBillboard charting rappers Wiz Khalifa andYoung Thug, was received positively and was featured on numerous music blogs such asThe Fader,[33][34]XXL,[16] andVibe.[35] They were further called a "breakout artist of 2015" byHotNewHipHop.[36]
2016: Breakthrough
Lil Uzi Vert performing at theHard music festival, July 31, 2016
In January 2016, Woods appeared at an ASAP Mob show in New York City to honor the deceased ASAP Yams,[37] and in February, released the single "Money Longer" on their SoundCloud following a radio debut onShade 45.[38] Controversy arose in March 2016 after a riot broke out on the final day ofSouth by Southwest during a Woods set, caused by a fight in the crowd.[39] On April 15, 2016, Woods released their third mixtape and first commercial mixtapeLil Uzi Vert vs. the World. The mixtape debuted at number 37 on theBillboard 200 chart, making it Woods' first entry on the chart. The project spent 55 weeks on theBillboard 200 album chart, eventually being certified gold.[40] Woods andKodak Black embarked on a joint tour in May 2016, titled the "Parental Advisory" tour.[41]
In June 2016, Lil Uzi Vert appeared inXXL magazine as part of their2016 Freshman Class. As part of this appearance, Woods performed in a 'freshman cypher', a group of underground rappers, alongsideDenzel Curry,Lil Yachty,21 Savage, andKodak Black. Riding the wave of recognition theXXL Freshman list gave them,[42] Woods released the video for "Money Longer".[43] The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 the following week at number 92, their first entry on the chart.[44] The song later peaked at number 54 and is currently certified double platinum in the United States.[45] Another single fromLil Uzi Vert vs. the World, Metro Boomin produced "You Was Right", became Woods second entry on the chart, debuting at number 89 and peaking at number 40.
On July 12, 2016, Woods announced their fourth mixtape,The Perfect LUV Tape,[46] which was released on July 31, their 22nd birthday. The mixtape featured the singles "Seven Million", featuringFuture,[47] and "Erase Your Social", both of which failed to chart on theBillboard Hot 100. The mixtape debuted at number 55 on theBillboard 200 album chart and is certified gold by the RIAA. In October 2016, Woods was announced to be an additional artist on Canadian singerthe Weeknd's tour.[48]
Woods announced a collaboration mixtape with Gucci Mane,1017 vs. the World,[49] which was released on November 23, 2016.[50] Four days later, Woods announcedLuv Is Rage 2[51] which eventually went through a series of delays.[52]
Uzi featured on the hip-hop trioMigos' single "Bad and Boujee". The single was released on October 28, 2016, and is from the trio's second studio album,Culture (2017). In January 2017, around the time the album released, the single peaked atop the U.S.Billboard Hot 100, becoming Uzi's first number 1 single as a lead or featured artist, and their highest-charting single overall.[53] On February 27, 2017, Woods released the EPLuv Is Rage 1.5 while on tour withthe Weeknd. The EP was positively received for its "nerdy" nature, withKingdom Hearts themed instrumentals and lyrics referring toanime,Steven Universe andhentai.[54] The EP was also credited as the start of Woods' affiliation with the "emo rapper" label due to the heartbreak-associated lyrics on the song "Luv Scars K.o 1600"[55] and references to threats of suicide and depression on the stand-out track "XO Tour Llif3".[56][57][58]
"XO Tour Llif3"'s significant popularity on SoundCloud resulted in Woods playing it live on the European leg of the Weeknd's tour[59] and was subsequently released as an official single.[60][61] On April 4, 2017, "XO Tour Llif3" debuted onBillboard Hot 100 at number 49[62] and peaked at number seven, becoming the rapper's highest-charting song, being certified six-times platinum as of August 2018.[45]
Luv Is Rage 2 was delayed from an unspecified due date on April 2, 2017, with Woods blaming it on DJ Drama.[63] On April 9, Don Cannon confirmed the project would not be released "any time soon" but confirmed that "XO Tour Llif3" would appear on the album.[64] Woods was featured on fellow rapperPlayboi Carti's single "Wokeuplikethis". It was released on April 7, 2017, and is from Carti's debut commercial mixtape,Playboi Carti (2017). The single was performed by the pair at Coachella 2017.[65]
Woods was featured alongsideASAP Rocky, Playboi Carti,Quavo andFrank Ocean on ASAP Mob's single "Raf". The single was released by surprise on May 15, 2017, and is from the collective's second studio album,Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy.[66]In early August, hip hop media personalityDJ Akademiks claimed thatLuv Is Rage 2 would release within 30 days.[67] On August 24, 2017,Luv Is Rage 2 was announced for a surprise release at midnight[68][69] and on August 25, Lil Uzi Vert released the album which included top ten single, "XO Tour Llif3" as the lead single.[70] "Wokeuplikethis" was eventually certified platinum and peaked at number 76 on theBillboard Hot 100.[71] The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 albums chart, with 135,000album-equivalent units[72] and has since been certified platinum. The album also created tenBillboard Hot 100 charting tracks, with two, "The Way Life Goes", featuring Oh Wonder, and "Sauce It Up" becoming singles. During British singerEd Sheeran's set at theVideo Music Awards, Woods and Sheeran performed a medley of "XO Tour Llif3" and Sheeran's chart-topping single, "Shape Of You".[73]
In September 2017, Woods teased a possible sequel project toLil Uzi Vert vs The World possibly titledLil Uzi Vert vs. The World 2[74][75] and a collaboration project with Playboi Carti titled16*29.[76] In October, a joint-tour with Playboi Carti called the "16*29 tour" was announced[77][78][79] further promoting the possibility of a collaboration project. The tour was cancelled shortly thereafter due to Woods claiming they needed to "focus".[80] In October 2017, Woods headlinedPower 105.1's annual Powerhouse music celebration, alongsidethe Weeknd,Migos, andCardi B, at theBarclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[81] Woods was also featured on Canadian rapperNav's platinum-certified single "Wanted You". The song was released on November 9, 2017, and is from Nav's debut studio album,Reckless (2018).[82]
On December 4, 2017, "The Way Life Goes" music video was released with a remix, featuring rapperNicki Minaj.[83] The song subsequently peaked at number 24 on theBillboard Hot 100.[84] Woods performed on Stephen Colbert'sThe Late Show performing "The Way Life Goes" on February 6, 2018,[85] and was later featured alongsideKanye West onTravis Scott's song, "Watch", which was released on May 3, 2018.[86] "Watch" debuted at number 16 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart. They were also featured on a remix for fellow rapperLil Tracy's single "Like a Farmer".[87][88][89] Two months after "Watch", Woods' collaboration with Juice Wrld on the track "Wasted" was released July 10, 2018.[90]
2018–2020:Eternal Atake,Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World 2, andPluto x Baby Pluto
In January 2018, Woods announced that they had completed a mixtape with record producerWheezy.[91] In May 2018, Don Cannon confirmed that their new project would be released in 2018 and speculation arose in July 2018 when Woods tweeted the words "Eternal Atake",[92] their second studio album (2020), pinning the tweet and announcing it was "coming soon"[93] and then at the end of the month sharing the then-chosen cover art for the project.[94] The then-chosen cover art forEternal Atake references the logo of the cultHeaven's Gate. The two members who survived the cult suggested that legal actions could be taken against Uzi for copying the logo style.[95][96] The then-thought lead single fromEternal Atake, "New Patek" was released on September 18, 2018.[97] Woods was then featured onLil Pump's single, "Multi Millionaire". The single was released on October 5, 2018, and is from Pump's second studio album,Harverd Dropout.[98]
In April 2019, following label trouble with Generation Now, it was announced that Woods was now signed toRoc Nation.[99] Two new promotional singles were released in April 2019, titled "Sanguine Paradise" and "That's a Rack", originally thought to be from their highly anticipated studio album,Eternal Atake.[100] On December 13, 2019, Woods released a new single titled, "Futsal Shuffle 2020", which is the lead single ofEternal Atake. They then released the second single of the album, titled "That Way", on March 1, 2020.Eternal Atake was released on March 6, 2020, with a sole guest appearance from American singerSyd. The release date of the album was a week earlier than fans expected it to release. "New Patek", "That's a Rack" and "Sanguine Paradise" did not appear on the album.[101]Eternal Atake debuted atop theBillboard 200.[102]
On March 12, 2020, Woods teased that the deluxe version ofEternal Atake and the sequel to their July 2016 mixtape,Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World, titledLil Uzi Vert vs. the World 2, would release the following day, the date fans expected the release date of the original album.[103] The deluxe edition would have fourteen new tracks, featuring guest appearances fromChief Keef,21 Savage,Future,Young Thug,Gunna,Lil Durk,Young Nudy andNav.[104] The first half of the album maintained a leading number one position (equal to 288,000 album sales in the United States) with 400 million streams in early 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic. This marked the largest streaming count for any album since 2018 whenLil Wayne's twelfth studio album,Tha Carter V, garnered 433 million streams.[105]
On April 24, 2020, Woods released a new single titled "Sasuke", the first since the release of the deluxe version ofEternal Atake, with a name referencing theeponymous character fromNaruto.[106] On July 21, 2020, Woods andFuture hinted at an upcoming joint project titledPluto x Baby Pluto on their social media. The two later released two new singles, "Patek" and "Over Your Head", on July 31, which was Uzi's 26th birthday.[107]Pluto x Baby Pluto was released on November 13, 2020, and peaked at number two on theBillboard 200.[108] A deluxe version containing the two previously released singles as well as 6 new tracks was released four days later on November 17.[109]
In late 2020, Woods began promoting new singles onInstagram live videos that were sonically similar to popular releases early in their career. On July 16, 2021, they also announced the title of their upcoming album asThe Pink Tape.[110] Woods subsequently announced an upcoming project titledForever Young, as well as a follow-up toLuv Is Rage 2 and a project to be released exclusively onSoundCloud. On October 29, 2021, Lil Uzi Vert released the single "Demon High".[111][112]
On July 12, 2022, Woods announced anEP titledRed & White, which was meant to be released prior toPink Tape.[113] The EP was released ten days later, with them releasing a number of highly anticipated tracks exclusively on SoundCloud in the lead-up to its release.[114] In October 2022, they released their single "Just Wanna Rock", which had gone viral on the video-sharing appTikTok. "Just Wanna Rock", aJersey club-inspired song with production from Synthetic and rising Jersey club producer McVertt,[115] peaked at number 10 on theBillboard Hot 100, their highest-charting single since the release ofEternal Atake.[84]
On June 30, 2023, Woods released their third solo studio albumPink Tape, containing 26 songs, including 3 bonus tracks. The album featuredguest appearances fromTravis Scott,Nicki Minaj,Bring Me the Horizon,Don Toliver andBabymetal.Pink Tape debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, making Woods just the third hip-hop artist of the 21st century, along withDrake andJ. Cole, to have their first three studio albums reach the top spot on the chart. It was the first hip-hop album of 2023 to top the charts.
After the release ofPink Tape, Woods teased their fifth mixtapeBarter 16, promising to release it ifPink Tape reached number 1 on theBillboard 200, this would be released next.[116][117] On August 16, 2023, Uzi teased the artwork cover for the mixtape on Instagram, which was inspired by Young Thug's debut commercial mixtape,Barter 6 (2015).[118] On August 19, 2023, multiple songs fromBarter 16 were leaked on the internet, leading to the project being scrapped. While on a nationwide tour forPink Tape, Woods teased an album titledLuv Is Rage 3 and suggested they would retire following the release of their fourth studio album. In October 2024, Woods began teasingEternal Atake 2.[119]
Musical style
Woods has been consistently been considered to beavant-garde by critics and journalists.Complex called Woods "one of those names to pay attention to in 2016", andSpin wrote "the 22-year-old has solidified [their] spot as one to watch" with their "signature rapid delivery."[120][121]Noisey called them "articularly charismatic", a "natural entertainer" who is "for better or for worse, yanking people into the future."[122]Time's Andrew Chow and Cady Lang called them an "unlikely superstar", highlighting that Woods "has rejected convention at every step of [their] young career."[123]
Lil Uzi Vert's style of rap has been compared torock music,[124] as well as being labeled with the terms emo rap[125] andpunk rap.[126] They have also been described as alo-fi rapper[127] and compared to rapper Lil Wayne.[128] Woods has called themself a "big Marilyn Manson fan" and called the band's 1998 albumMechanical Animals their favorite.[16]
Lil Uzi Vert has been repeatedly characterized by theirfacial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles andandrogynous fashion,[129] imagery built on a melodic approach totrap.[130]
Woods has had a long-standing stand-still with Generation Now imprint owners Don Cannon and DJ Drama over their music. Woods has insulted Don Cannon and DJ Drama over the delays to theirLuv Is Rage 2 album,[133] advised people against signing with Generation Now[134][135] and referred to DJ Drama as an "old person".[63]
Reese LaFlare and OG Maco
On April 29, 2016, Atlanta rapperOG Maco went on a rant on social media and claimed that he "paved the way" for Woods, whom he stated was "stealing [his] sauce". Maco implied there was no issue between the two, though Woods took offense to Maco mentioning fellow Atlanta rapperReese LaFlare, with whom Woods was feuding.[136] In August, Woods attempted to assault LaFlare at Day N Night Fest after seeing him through a security barrier, though they were stopped by security.[137][138] In September, Maco and Woods resolved their feud.[139] In January 2018, Woods punched LaFlare in the face and bragged about it onTwitter, though they later deleted the tweet.[140]
Rich the Kid
In early 2018, Woods tweeted that they were unhappy atDJ Drama's label, Generation Now. Fellow rapperRich the Kid replied to say that if Woods had signed to their label, Rich Forever Music, they would have never had that problem. Woods responded by stating that they would not sign to Rich's label for $20,000, implying this was the amount offered and that it was not enough. Rich then replied that it would have been worth accepting the offer either way. Things escalated with disses on social media between the two.[134] In March 2018, Rich the Kid released a diss track on Woods titled "Dead Friends", a play on words of Woods' catchphrase in their hit single "XO Tour Llif3".[141][142] This was to be followed by Woods' track "Rich Forever", which would never see an official release. An incident occurred between the two at aStarbucks in June 2018, when Woods attempted to attack Rich but was stopped by security.[143]
Personal life
Woods was in a relationship with fashion designer Brittany Byrd from 2014 to 2017. Byrd moved from California to attend theParsons School of Design, where she was studying when she met Woods.[6] Woods first referenced Byrd in their song "Nuyork Nights at 21" fromLuv Is Rage[144] and later made multiple other songs about her.[145] A popular figure among Woods' fans, she also appeared in the music video for Woods' breakout single "Money Longer".[146][147] On June 26, 2017, Woods and Byrd broke up, which Woods announced with a song titled "Stole Your Luv".[148][149] Since 2019, Woods has been in a relationship withJT of the hip hop duoCity Girls.[150]
Following the death of rapperLil Peep from an accidentalfentanyl overdose, Woods announced they were quitting drugs and attempting sobriety.[151] Also, after the2018 murder of fellow musicianXXXTentacion, Woods asked for help on social media from other rappers to build a foundation against gun violence, which would also provide for XXXTentacion's family and his future child.[152][153][154]
In July 2022, Woods announced on Instagram that they usethey/them pronouns,[155][156] which was later confirmed by their spokesperson in a statement toPitchfork.[157] In 2023, Woods confirmed that they identify asgender-nonconforming.[158]
In February 2021, Woods revealed that they had a 10-caratpink diamond implanted in their forehead, which they had planned to do since 2017.[159] They acquired the diamond, whose value was reported as $24 million, from jeweler Elliot Eliantte.[159][160][161][162] Woods stated that the decision was influenced by the animated seriesSteven Universe, of which they are openly a fan,[163] and by fellow rapperLil B, who has a similar implant.[164] Woods said that they "could die" if their diamond is not removed "the right way".[164][165] In June of the same year, they had the diamond removed from their forehead.[166] They had it reimplanted for their performance atRolling Loud the following month and revealed in September that fans ripped it out while Woods wascrowd surfing at that event.[167] They did not suffer serious damage and said that they still have the diamond.[167][168] They have since replaced it with a barbellpiercing.[168]
Woods has been accused of being aSatanist,[171] originally by battle rapper Daylyt who claimed that Woods worshippedSatan.[172] It has also been noted that quickly saying "Lil Uzi Vert" sounds similar to "Lucifer".[173] In July 2018, Woods told a crowd of fans that they were "going to hell" with them.[174] In August 2017, Woods created controversy by adding satanic imagery to their social media accounts and saying phrases often associated with Satanism such as "666".[175] Woods at one point had promoted Satanism on their social media, which resulted in their Instagram access being taken from them by their record label.[176] In March 2023, Woods stated that references to Satan they make are figurative and not literal, and that they do not believe Satan exists.[177][178]
Legal issues
2016 arrests in Atlanta and Philadelphia
On December 8, 2016, Woods was arrested inAtlanta for recklessly driving adirtbike. Woods and a friend were driving a dirtbike without lights and helmets before being noticed by police. While being chased by the police, Woods fell off their dirtbike and attempted to run away on foot before being caught and held on $6,500 bond.[179] In November 2017, the charge was resolved with Woods receiving a community service sentence.[180]
In October 2020, Woods and several others were arrested in the streets of Philadelphia after being involved in a paintball gun fight. They were caught after sharing a video of the dispute onInstagram.[181]
2021 assault charges
On July 2, 2021, Woods andSaint Jhn got into a confrontation after Saint Jhn was spotted by Woods with their ex-girlfriend Brittany Byrd. The confrontation led to a physical altercation between the two which resulted in Woods flashing a gun at the two, then holding the gun to their ex-girlfriend's stomach. It was reported that no one was harmed and everybody left the scene.[182][183][184]
On July 6, 2021, XXL reported that Woods allegedly hospitalized Byrd by punching her in the face multiple times and put a gun to her stomach.[185] Woods and their team did not respond to the claims made by Byrd.[186]
On February 2, 2022,TMZ reported Woods pleaded no contest in court to one count each of felonyassault with a firearm and misdemeanor injury. They later accepted aplea deal for a sentence of three years of formalprobation, one year of treatment for mental health and substance abuse, 52 weeks ofdomestic violence counseling, restitution and a 10-yearcriminal protective order.[187]
^In July 2021, Woods revealed in atweet that theirbirth certificate shows they were born in 1995, after erroneously believing they were born one year earlier.[14][15]
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