Swae Lee
Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown (born June 7, 1993),[1][2][3] known professionally as Swae Lee, is an American rapper. Known for his wide vocal range and genre-bending, Lee first saw mainstream recognition as one half of the Mississippi-based hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd, which he formed with his brother Slim Jxmmi. They signed with Mike Will Made It's EarDrummer Records, an imprint of Interscope Records in 2013 to release four albums which contained hit singles including "No Flex Zone," "No Type," and "Black Beatles" (featuring Gucci Mane)—the latter topped the Billboard Hot 100. He guest featured on French Montana's 2017 single "Unforgettable," which became his first song to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Later that year, he received a Grammy Award nomination for co-writing Beyoncé's single "Formation."
Not to be confused with Swan Lee.
Swae Lee
Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown
- Kid Krunk
- Kid the Great
- iHipster Lee
June 7, 1993
Inglewood, California, U.S.
Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
2010–present
2
In 2018, Lee released his debut solo studio album, Swaecation as part of Rae Sremmurd's third album, SR3MM (2018)—a triple album. That same year, his single "Sunflower" (with Post Malone) was released for the accompanying soundtrack to the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). The song peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, received two Grammy Award nominations,[4] and became the highest-certified song in RIAA history; the first to receive double diamond (20× platinum) certification.[5] Also in 2018, he released the single "Close to Me" (with Ellie Goulding and Diplo)—which peaked the US Adult Top 40 airplay chart—and made an uncredited guest appearance on "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott, which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 and also garnered two Grammy nominations. His 2020 single, "Be Like That" (with Kane Brown and Khalid) peaked within the top 20 on the chart and received quadruple platinum certification by the RIAA.
Early life[edit]
Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown was born on June 7, 1993, in Inglewood, California, to a single mother who worked on tanks in the United States Army.[6][2][7] Lee was raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, and began to make music in high school with his brother Slim Jxmmi and local rapper Lil Pantz as "Dem Outta St8 Boyz".[8] After graduating high school, Lee, alongside his brother, had a period of homelessness in which they squatted in an abandoned house.[9][10]
Artistry[edit]
Lee has become known for his hooks and melodies, as demonstrated in collaborations with the likes of Madonna, Ellie Goulding, Anitta, French Montana, and Post Malone, among other artists. He has been described as 'the songbird of our generation',[30] with several of his peers and critics praising his vocal ability. According to a 2017 interview with A Polaroid Story, Lee describes himself more as a singer than a rapper.[31]
Personal life[edit]
Lee has a daughter, who was born in 2020, with Brazilian model Aline Martins. In 2022, he filed for joint custody[32] and had a son with girlfriend Victoria Kristine.[33][34][35][36]
Lee has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and released a song with Rae Sremmurd as a tribute to the neurotype in 2023— "ADHD Anthem (Too Many Emotions)".[37]