Calboy
Calboy | |
|---|---|
| Calboy in May 2018 Calboy in May 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | 147Calboy |
| Born | Calvin Lashon Woods April 3, 1999 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Origin | Calumet City, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | |
Calvin Lashon Woods (born April 3, 1999), better known by his stage name Calboy (/ˈkælbɔɪ/), is an American rapper from Calumet City, Illinois. He is best known for his 2018 single "Envy Me", which received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Its success led him to sign with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records, who issued the song as lead single for his debut extended play (EP), Wildboy (2019). The EP peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200, while his second, Love Live the Kings (2020), lukewarmly entered the chart.[3]
Early life
[edit | edit source]On April 3, 1999, Calvin Lashon Woods was born on the South Side of Chicago; he later relocated to Calumet City, Illinois.[4] Woods turned to music to channel the frustrations of growing up below the poverty line. He is one of five children raised by a single mother.
Woods witnessed two of his best friends die, one of a drug overdose and the other to gun violence. His family migrated between small homes to small apartments.[5][6] His cousin is late rapper King Von.[7]
Career
[edit | edit source]2016–2017: Career beginnings
[edit | edit source]On July 7, 2017, Calboy released his debut mixtape, The Chosen One.[8] Later that year, Calboy released his second mixtape, Anxiety, on December 7, 2017.[9]
2018–2021: Numerous mixtapes, EPs and RCA Records
[edit | edit source]On June 18, 2018, Woods released his third mixtape, Calboy, the Wildboy. A single off the project was titled, "Unjudge Me", which featured Moneybagg Yo.
He released his single "Envy Me" on September 13, 2018, to critical acclaim. It later served as the lead single for his debut EP Wildboy, released on May 31, 2019. "Envy Me" peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[10] With the single's success came the signage of Calboy to Polo Grounds Music, distributed by RCA Records.[3] At the time, the label had already ended their partnership with ASAP Rocky following the May release of his third album, Testing.[citation needed] It was also rumored that Calboy also signed a management deal with Meek Mill's label, Dream Chasers, but he hinted that he left the label in 2021 after a financial disagreement.[11]
The Wildboy EP was followed by another EP, Long Live The Kings, released in March 2020, with the latter receiving a deluxe version the following July, including 6 new tracks.[12] On August 11, Calboy was included on XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.[13]
On March 22, 2021, "Miseducation" featuring fellow rapper Lil Wayne was released as the lead single from Calboy's debut album, Redemption, supposed to be released the same year, but was postponed. Swae Lee was also set to make an appearance on the album. Calboy claimed that the album was completed.[14]
As recent as February 2022, Calboy publicly disclosed his frustrations with Polo Grounds and RCA Records, believing he was being treated like a "label slave".[15][16][17]
2022–Present
[edit | edit source]Calboy has released two albums in this period, the 2022 release "Black Heart" and 2023's "UNCHAINED".[18]
Artistry
[edit | edit source]Influences
[edit | edit source]Woods has cited his influences as Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, Sherwood, Fuel, Chance the Rapper, The Starting Line, Chief Keef, New Found Glory, G Herbo, The All American Rejects, and 50 Cent.[19]
Woods' rap moniker comes from combining his government name Calvin and the character Cowboy from the 1979 cult film The Warriors.[20]
Discography
[edit | edit source]Mixtapes
[edit | edit source]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Chosen One |
|
| Anxiety |
|
| Calboy, the Wildboy |
|
Extended plays
[edit | edit source]| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [21] |
US R&B/HH [22] |
US Rap [23] |
CAN [24] | ||||
| Wildboy |
|
30 | 18 | 16 | 62 |
|
|
| Long Live The Kings |
|
136 | — | — | — | ||
| Black Heart[26] |
|
— | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Singles
[edit | edit source]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [27] |
US R&B/HH [28] |
CAN [29] | ||||
| "Envy Me" | 2018 | 31 | 14 | 51 | Wildboy | |
| "Caroline"[31] (featuring Polo G) |
2019 | — | — | — | ||
| "Unjudge Me" (featuring Moneybagg Yo) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Chariot" (featuring Meek Mill, Lil Durk and Young Thug) |
— | —[A] | — |
| ||
| "Purpose" (featuring G Herbo) |
— | — | — | Long Live the Kings | ||
| "Barbarian" (featuring Lil Tjay) |
2020 | — | — | — | ||
| "Brand New"[12] (featuring King Von) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Rounds"[12] (featuring Fivio Foreign) |
— | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | ||||||
Guest appearances
[edit | edit source]| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Get a Bag" | 2019 | Chance the Rapper | The Big Day |
| "100k On a Coupe" | Pop Smoke | — | |
| "Diana (Remix)" | 2020 | Pop Smoke, King Combs | Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (Deluxe) |
| "Thug Kry" | YG, Lil Mosey | My Life 4Hunnid | |
| "Why?" | 2024 | Houdini | HOU I'M MEANT TO BE |
Tours
[edit | edit source]Headlining
[edit | edit source]- Rockstar Wild Boyz Tour (2019)[33]
Supporting act
[edit | edit source]- Dying to Live Tour (Kodak Black) (2019)[34]
- I Am > I Was Tour (21 Savage) (2019)[35]
Notes
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Grant Rindner "Calboy is Bringing Melody and Authenticity to Chicago’s New Wave of Rap", Complex Networks, Calboy is part of an ascendant generation of Chicago rappers like Polo G and Lil Zay Osama who blend the street stories of the drill scene with the more refined song crafting abilities of artists like Chance the Rapper and Joey Purp.
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- 1999 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American male musicians
- People from Calumet City, Illinois
- Rappers from Chicago
- Songwriters from Illinois
- African-American songwriters
- 21st-century African-American rappers
- Dream Chasers Records artists
- RCA Records artists
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American songwriters