iLoveMakonnen
Makonnen Kamali Sheran[1] (born April 12, 1989), better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen (often stylized as ILOVEMAKONNEN), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.[2] He first became known for his 2014 song "Tuesday", which was discovered and remixed by Canadian rapper Drake. Originally released in August of that year, he signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records that same month; the song was given a commercial re-release by the label the following September and subsequently peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and received a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. "Tuesday" served as the lead single for his likewise re-issued self-titled debut extended play (2014), which modestly entered the Billboard 200. He parted ways with OVO and Warner in 2016, and his following releases failed to chart.[3]
Early life[edit]
Makonnen Kamali Sheran was born on April 12, 1989,[4] in South Los Angeles, California,[5] and was named after Makonnen, father of Ras Teferi who was later crowned as Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. His father is a first generation immigrant from Belize who worked as an electrician and his mother was a nail instructor who worked in the beauty business for over 30 years.[6] In an interview, he described himself as mixed with African American, Indian, Irish, Belgian, German and Chinese heritage.[7]
Growing up in Los Angeles,[6] he moved to the Atlanta area when he was 13 years old, due to his parents' divorce. There, he witnessed the death of a close friend in his senior year in high school.[6]