Anthony Clemons Jr. (born September 26, 1991) is an American singer, rapper and songwriter from Willingboro Township, New Jersey. He rose to prominence as a guest performer on Kanye West's 2018 single "All Mine", after which he contributed to West's Wyoming Sessions and subsequent album, Jesus Is King (2019). Clemons' debut studio album, Happy 2 Be Here (2020) was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards; with a total of four, his three other nominations yielded from his songwriting work on albums for Mary J. Blige and H.E.R.[2][3] Clemons is also known for his contributions to the original version of West's 2021 single, "Hurricane", as well as other songs intended for the latter's tenth album Donda (2021), most of which remain unreleased.
Clemons was born and raised in Willingboro, New Jersey.[1] His musical taste was shaped by his parents playing Michael Jackson, The Notorious B.I.G. and Stevie Wonder.[1] At age four, Clemons began performing at birthday parties as a Jackson impersonator.[1] While studying at Burlington County Institute of Technology, Clemons was part of the youth choir at the Sharon Baptist Church and joined The Heritage Players and Showstoppers at Willingboro High School.[1] At family events, Clemons would sing with his sisters Ashley and Amber as the "Clemons Trio".[1] In 2009, during his parents' divorce, Clemons began his interest in songwriting.[1] Clemons began recording himself and producing music with Pro Tools and Logic.[1] Clemons attended a semester at Burlington County College before dropping out.[1]
Clemons began his songwriting career in 2016.[4] While working at Red Lobster in Cherry Hill, Clemons flew to Los Angeles bi-weekly in an attempt to meet songwriters and producers.[4] He would return to Philadelphia every time he ran out of money.[4] He studied songwriting at White Hall Arts Academy with Tanisha Hall.[5] Clemons' mother ultimately supported him in permanently moving to Los Angeles, where Clemons slept on two friends' floors.[4] Clemons wrote a song a day in exchange for rent.[4] In Los Angeles, Clemons met record producer Ryan Toby, who gave him the opportunity to work on Luke James' 2017 single "Drip" – Clemons' first major songwriting credit.[4]
In January 2018, Clemons met Nigerian record producer Bongo ByTheWay, and upon doing so, they recorded eleven collaborative tracks in a single day.[1] After the two quickly became acquainted, Bongo ByTheWay introduced Clemons to Chicago singer Jeremih;[4] Clemons recorded the hook for a Jeremih demo titled "All Mine".[6] After Jeremih's invitation to Kanye West's Wyoming ranch, the demo was played and reworked into the version heard on his eighth studio album Ye,[6] which utilized Clemons' demo.[6]
West then invited Clemons himself to the ranch to write and record demos for Teyana Taylor's second studio album K.T.S.E., on which he provided additional vocals on its song "Hurry".[4] Clemons saw an increase in fame after working with West.[7] In September 2018, Clemons was invited to Chicago by West and Chance the Rapper to work on West's ninth studio album.[4] Known at the time as Yandhi, Clemons was to serve as a guest feature on seven out of its eight tracks.[8] Several leaked songs from the album featured Clemons performing demo verses for West.[9] Yandhi was reworked and released as Jesus Is King in October 2019, where Clemons was credited on the tracks "Selah", "Everything We Need", and "Water".[4]
Formed in January 2019, Clemons and the World Famous Tony Williams became the lead vocalists for West's Sunday Service Choir.[10] That same year, Clemons worked with Beyoncé to co-write the song "Mood 4 Eva" for the soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift.[11] Clemons was invited to the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for his work with Beyoncé, Cordae, Chance the Rapper, Skrillex, Boys Noize, and Ty Dolla Sign.[1] Clemons co-wrote Camila Cabello's 2020 single "My Oh My" featuring DaBaby;[1] the song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12] In March 2020, Clemons released his debut album Happy 2 Be Here, which featured guest performances by Ty Dolla Sign, Timbaland, and Pharrell Williams.[11] In December 2020, it was nominated at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album.[13]
In December 2020, Clemons released his collaboration with Justin Timberlake, "Better Days". The duo debuted the song at a virtual concert fundraiser organized by Democratic politician Stacey Abrams, with proceeds going towards the Senate runoff election in Georgia.[13] Clemons, along with Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, and Bon Jovi, performed at the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20, 2021.[14]
On February 26, 2021, Clemons released a reissue of his debut album, Happy 2 Be Here as HAPPY 2 BE HERE (Anniversary Edition), with the additional song: "June 1st", commemorating the release of his 2018 breakthrough hit "All Mine" with Kanye West.
In 2024, Clemons wrote on the song "Talking / Once Again" from Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign's (¥$) collaborative album Vultures 1. The song moderately entered the Billboard Hot 100, while the album debuted atop the Billboard 200. For ¥$'s follow-up album Vultures 2, released on 3 August of the same year, he wrote on the track "My Soul", and provided additional vocals on the track "Sky City" along with American singer-songwriter The-Dream.
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [16] |
NZ Hot [17] | |||
| "4 Letter Word"[18] (featuring Timbaland) |
2019 | — | — | Happy 2 Be Here |
| "Excited"[19] (with Ty Dolla Sign) |
— | — | ||
| "Beep"[20] | 2020 | — | — | |
| "Freak"[21] | — | — | TBA | |
| "Better Days" (with Justin Timberlake) |
94 | 34 | ||
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Mama I Made It"[22] | 2019 | Happy 2 Be Here |
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "All Mine"[23] | 2018 | Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign | Ye |
| "13th Amendment"[24] | Kash Doll | 27: The Most Perfect Album | |
| "Bad Idea"[25][a] | 2019 | Cordae, Chance the Rapper, SiR | The Lost Boy |
| "Good Enough"[26] | Jim-E Stack | Ephemera | |
| "Full Time Cappers"[27] | G-Eazy, French Montana, Moneybagg Yo | Scary Nights | |
| "Selah"[4][a] | Kanye West, Bongo ByTheWay, Sunday Service Choir | Jesus Is King | |
| "Everything We Need"[4] | Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign, Sunday Service Choir | ||
| "Water"[4] | Kanye West, Sunday Service Choir | ||
| "Thanks Ye"[28] | 2020 | Consequence, Bongo ByTheWay, Kaycyy Pluto | No Cap Pack |
| "Wonder Years"[29] | Noah Cyrus | The End of Everything | |
| "Gifted"[b] | Cordae, Roddy Ricch | From a Birds Eye View | |
| "Baptize"[30] | Spillage Village, JID, EarthGang | Spilligion | |
| "Extra Special" | 2021 | Wale | Folarin 2 |
| "Wait for Me" | 2022 | Takis, Goody Grace | Welcome Home |
| Year | Awards | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63rd Annual Grammy Awards | Happy 2 Be Here | Best R&B Album | Nominated |
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