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]
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]
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]
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]
Calboy has released two albums in this period, the 2022 release "Black Heart" and 2023's "UNCHAINED".[18]
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]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Chosen One |
|
| Anxiety |
|
| Calboy, the Wildboy |
|
| 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. | |||||||
| 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. | ||||||
| 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 |
