Lil Zay Osama

Isaiah Dukes, known as Lil Zay Osama, is an American rapper. His music, which he describes as "pain music," reflects his violent upbringing on the South Side of Chicago and explores subjects including grief, trauma and survival.[1][2]

Lil Zay Osama
Birth nameIsaiah Dukes
Born1998
Chicago, Illinois
GenresRap, Pop, R&B
Years active2011–present
LabelsWarner Records
Websitewww.lilzayosamaofficial.com

Early life

Osama was born and raised in Chicago. He lived at the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzville neighborhood on the South Side until he was 10.[3][4] His mother was the primary caretaker for Osama and his five siblings; although his parents did not formally separate until he was nine, his father was in and out of jail and rarely present.[5]

Career

Inspired by his older brother, Osama began rapping when he was 8 and recording at 10. At 12, simultaneous to the release of his first tracks and videos, he joined a gang.[5] "Part of an emerging wave of MCs changing Chicago rap", he was initially associated with Chicago's drill scene.[4] He used the name Lil Zay until 2010, when, as his gang-related activity ramped up, he was christened on the street as Lil Zay Osama.[6][7]

In 2015 Osama was shot in the chest, and while in the hospital, he was arrested on gun charges. At 16, as his videos hit 500,00 views on YouTube, he was sentenced to five years in a juvenile detention center. Committed to keeping away from the streets when he was freed, he focused on music for the duration of his incarceration, writing rap as well as songs influenced by pop and R&B.[5][7]

Osama's sentence was reduced to three years, and he was released in 2017. At 19, he returned to the South Side with a "new style, a new perspective, and a new level of determination." [8] In 2018, he put 8 new songs on SoundCloud, and in 2019, he released Hood Bible, a collection of 14 songs that came out one by one.[9] Hood Bible included his first hit, "Changed Up." The video for "Changed Up" received more than 20 million views on YouTube over the course of several months. Pitchfork attributed Osama's success to "relatable struggles in his lyrics" and "a realness that resonated".[10]

In August 2019, Osama signed with Warner Records.[11] Among other songs, he has since released "Like a Pimp", a collaboration with Stunna 4 Vegas,[12] "Rumors", "Ride 4 Me" featuring Jackboy and "61st to 64th."[13] In January 2021, it was announced that a new mixtape, Trench Baby, was set for a February release.[14]

References
  1. Holmes, Charles (2019-04-19). "Song You Need to Know: Lil Zay Osama, 'Changed Up'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  2. Simpson, Paul. "Lil Zay Osama | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  3. "Rising Chicago Rappers You Need to Know". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  4. Galil, Leor (March 7, 2019). "Lil Zay Osama is part of an emerging wave of MCs changing Chicago rap". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  5. DJ Smallz Eyes 2 (June 21, 2020). "Lil Zay Osama Parents Split by Age 9 and How It Affected Him, Father in State Prison 3 Years". www.youtube.com.
  6. Barshad, Amos. "Why Are So Many New Rappers Named After Osama Bin Laden?". GQ. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  7. "EXCLUSIVE: Lil Zay Osama Details Getting Shot in the Chest at 15, Sentenced to Juvenile Life". www.vladtv.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  8. Seabrook, Robby. "The Break Presents: Lil Zay Osama - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  9. "Lil Zay Osama". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  10. Pierre, Alphonse. "The Ones: Lil Zay Osama's "2 Years"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  11. "Lil Zay Osama Signs With Warner Records, Releases 'Talk to Me Crazy' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  12. Grant, Shawn (2020-11-17). "Lil Zay Osama and Stunna 4 Vegas Link for 'Like A Pimp' Video". The Source. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  13. "Lil Zay Osama Addresses "Rumors" In New Video". AllHipHop.com. 2020-12-12. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  14. "Interview with Lil Zay Osama". BRINGIN' IT BACKWARDS. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
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