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Lil Aaron
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Key Information
Aaron Jennings Puckett (born May 31, 1994),[1] known professionally as Lil Aaron (stylized as lil aaron), is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter from Goshen, Indiana. Merging elements of pop punk and emo with hip hop and pop, he has released five solo EPs, as well as two EPs as a member of the alternative hip hop collective Boyfriendz. He has also written songs for artists such as Blackbear,[2] Liam Payne,[3] Hailee Steinfeld, Dev and Kiiara.[4] He took part in the writing of Lizzo's 2019 album Cuz I Love You,[2] which won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[5]
Early life
[edit]Puckett grew up in Goshen, Indiana.[6] His older brother, Kora Puckett, is also a musician, playing in rock band Narrow Head.[7] As a child, his Christian parents didn't allow him to listen to secular music, however he eventually became a fan of secular punk rock and emo bands through websites such as MySpace and PureVolume, without his parents knowing.[8][9] First he discovered groups likes Never Shout Never, Owl City and The Ready Set, before becoming a fan of bands like Hit the Lights and Boys Like Girls.[9] Looking back in adulthood, he has stated "I’ve been emo my whole fucking life".[10] In middle school and high school, he was the vocalist of a pop punk band that was influenced by Hit the Lights and Metro Station and used overt auto-tune.[11] As he grew older, Puckett became increasingly interested in the independent hip hop scene that was coalescing on the internet. This led to him dropping out of high school and moving to Los Angeles.[8]
Career
[edit]Puckett began his career as a songwriter, working with artists such as Travis Mills, DRAM, Icona Pop and Kiiara.[8] However, he soon wished to perform the tracks he was writing himself, beginning a solo-career in 2016 with the "Damn" produced by Y2K.[8] On April 10, he was featured on the Travis Mills song "Trouble".[12] On June 23, he released the track Prolly featuring Ilovemakonnen.[13] On September 22, he was featured on the Joy song "Birthday".[14] For his debut EP Gloing Pain$, he enlisted the members of Polyphia to record the instrumentals.[8] Puckett's music first began gaining attention in mid-2017, through songs "Hot Topic" and "Warped Tour" that made references to cornerstones of pop punk and emo culture, namely Hot Topic and Warped Tour, and through sampling bands like Paramore and Panic! at the Disco.[11][15] In late 2017, Puckett formed the group Boyfriendz, with Smrtdeath and Lil Lotus.[16][17] They released their debut self-titled EP in December 2017.[18] The EP was recorded in a single night and was released within a week through SoundCloud.[19] In 2017, Puckett began working with Dr Luke and signed to his production company Prescription Songs.[20] He was later featured on the song "Faded" by Kim Petras. A music video was released for the track in January 2018.[21]
He featured on Goody Grace's song "In The Light Of The Moon", which was a part of the Infinite EP, released March 22, 2018.[22] On May 31, he released the EP Rock$tar Famou$.[23] The recording process for the EP was split between Kauai, Hawaii and Hollywood, California.[24] On May 11, the EP's track "Quit" featuring Travis Barker was released accompanied by a music video.[25] On September 5, a music video was released for the EP's song "Anymore" featuring Kim Petras.[26][27] On November 16 and 17, Puckett opened for Blink-182 during their concert at the Pearl Theater in Las Vegas.[28] He featured on Brooke Candy's song "Nuts", which was released on November 16.[29]
On December 7, 2018, he released a Christmas EP titled Worst Christmas Ever.[30] On December 29, he released the song "Studded Gucci Belt", which samples "Shake It" by Metro Station was accompanied by a music video featuring clips from the videos for "Welcome To The Black Parade", "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", "Misery Business", "Adam's Song" and "the Anthem".[31] On January 25, 2019, he released the EP Dark Matter.[32] Puckett was featured on Kim Petras' song "Homework" which was released on February 7.[33] On February 14, Boyfriendz released their second EP BFZ2.[34] He featured on Big Baby Scumbag's song "Dale Earnhardt (remix)", from the album Big Baby Earnhardt released January 17, 2020.[35] Puckett was featured on Big Freedia's song "GTFOMF", from the EP Louder released March 13.[36] He was featured on the track by Plavtinum titled "Girls on the Internet", which was release March 20.[37] He was featured on the songs "Lights Off" and "She Told me to the Kill Myself" by Smrtdeath, which were released on the album Somethjng's Wrong on November 13, 2020.[38][39][40] On October 6, 2020, he released his EP 808 Rock.[41] He was featured on the song "Michelle Pfeiffer" by Ethel Cain, which was released on Feb 11, 2021.[42]
Musical style
[edit]Puckett's music had been categorised as emo rap[35][43] and rap rock.[25][44] It includes elements of pop punk, SoundCloud rap and pop.[24] Alternative Press called his music "genre-defying".[28]
He has cited influences including Panic! at the Disco, Blink-182, Brokencyde and Dot Dot Curve[24] In an interview with Projectu.TV, he stated that his goal was to appeal to both "the kids who listened to A$AP, Cudi and Kanye and the kids who listened to Black Veil Brides, Blood On The Dance Floor, the Warped Tour kind of music".[4] His music often merges trap instrumentals with autotuned and distorted vocals using melodies reminiscent of pop punk and emo.[45] Complex writer Joe Price described his sound as "Travis Scott meets Green Day".[46] Pitchfork writer Jayson Greene described it as "sampl[ing] Panic! At the Disco, alternately whining like Blink’s Tom DeLonge and warbling like, well, Chief Keef over 808 claps. It’s all mixed together and atomized, a fever dream of Adidas tracksuits and dreads and emo power ballads".[44] Hypefresh.co described his music as "mixing pop-punk attitude with the new genre of autotuned rap".[6]
His music was cited as an influence by Yungblud for his album Weird!.[47]
Discography
[edit]Extended plays
[edit]| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Gloing Pain$ |
|
| Rock$tar Famou$ |
|
| Worst Christmas Ever |
|
| Dark Matter |
|
| 808 Rock |
|
| American Scumbag |
|
Singles
[edit]As lead artist
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Quit" (featuring Travis Barker) | 2018 | Rock$tar Famou$ |
| "Dark Matter" | 2019 | Dark Matter |
| "Vans Untied" | 2020 | 808 Rock |
| "That One Song"(featuring Lil Lotus) | 2021 | Non-album single |
| "Pretty Little Breakdown" (featuring Smrtdeath) |
As featured artist
[edit]| Title | Artist | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "Trouble" | Travis Mills | 2016 |
| "Birthday" | Joy. | |
| "Faded" | Kim Petras | 2017 |
| "In the Light of the Moon" | Goody Grace | 2018 |
| "Nuts" | Brooke Candy | |
| "Love Nightmare" | Macho Randy | |
| "Homework" | Kim Petras | 2019 |
| "Dale Earnhardt (remix)" | Big Baby Scumbag | 2020 |
| "GTFOMF" | Big Freedia | |
| "Girls On The Internet" | Plvtinum | |
| "Lights Off" | Smrtdeath | |
| "She Told Me to Kill Myself" | ||
| "Michelle Pfeiffer" | Ethel Cain | 2021 |
| "Bleach (On the Rocks) {lil aaron remix}" | John Harvie | |
| "HMU" | Ocean Grove | 2022 |
| "Walk Away" | Oni | 2024 |
With Boyfriendz
[edit]| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Boyfriendz |
|
| BFZ2 |
|
Songwriting credits
[edit]| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Written with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Fragile" (featuring Hailee Steinfeld) |
2016 | Prince Fox | Haiz (Japan deluxe edition) | Prince Fox, Jordan Palmer, Jordan Humphries |
| "Weekend" (featuring Icona Pop) |
Louis the Child | Non-album single | Louis the Child, Icona Pop, Imad Royal, Blaise Railey | |
| "#1" (featuring Nef the Pharaoh) |
Dev | Non-album single | Dev, Nef the Pharaoh | |
| "Coconut Oil" | Lizzo | Coconut Oil | Lizzo, Ricky Reed | |
| "Church" | 2017 | Chase Atlantic | Part One | Mitchel Cave, Christian Anthony, Clinton Cave |
| "All Night" | Big Boi | Boomiverse | Big Boi, Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Griffin Oskar, Chloe Angelides | |
| "I Don't Want It at All" | Kim Petras | Non-album single | Kim Petras, Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Aaron Joseph | |
| "Intro (Slow)" | Quinn XCII | The Story of Us | Quinn XCII, David Gamson | |
| "Bedroom Floor" | Liam Payne | LP1 | Liam Payne, Charlie Puth, Jacob Kasher, Ammar Malik, Noel Zancanella, Steve Mac | |
| "up in this" (featuring Tinashe) |
blackbear | cybersex | blackbear, Tinashe, Starrah, JUDGE, Wax Motif | |
| "Boys" | 2018 | Lizzo | Cuz I Love You | Lizzo, Ricky Reed, Nate Mercereau |
| "Feeling of Falling" (featuring Kim Petras) |
Cheat Codes | Non-album single | Cheat Codes, Sean Myer, Ivy Adara | |
| "Animal" | 2019 | Fever 333 | Strength in Numb333rs | Jason Aalon Butler, John Feldmann, Travis Barker, Zakk Cervini |
| "1,2,3 dayz up" (featuring Sophie) |
Kim Petras | Non-album single | Kim Petras, Aaron Joseph, Dr. Luke, Sophie | |
| "Clarity" | Clarity | Kim Petras, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, B Ham | ||
| "Got My Number" | Kim Petras, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, Jussifer | |||
| "Meet the Parents" | Kim Petras, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph | |||
| "Shinin'" | Kim Petras, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, Theron Thomas | |||
| "Death by Sex" | Turn Off the Light | Kim Petras, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, B Ham | ||
| "Reckless" | Spencer Barnett | Reckless | Spencer Barnett, Digi, Hoskins, Sam Fischer | |
| "Suicide Note" | ||||
| "Leaving" | Spencer Barnett, Hoskins | |||
| "17" | Spencer Barnett, Sam Fischer, Hoskins | |||
| "Come to Brazil" | Why Don't We | Non-album single | Why Don't We, Jacob Kasher, Jakkyboi, Smrtdeath, The Futuristics, 94Skrt | |
| "Goodbye 2 Heartbreak" | Vic Mensa & 93PUNX | 93PUNX | Vic Mensa, Dru DeCaro, Johan Lenox, Wil Anspach, Travis Barker | |
| "Not Another Christmas Song" | Blink-182 | Non-album single | Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, Matt Skiba, Matt Malpass, JP Clark, Mike Skwark | |
| "People You Know" | 2020 | Selena Gomez | Rare | Selena Gomez, Jason Evigan, Alex Hope, Steph Jones, Billboard |
| "No Service in the Hills" (featuring Blackbear, PRINCE$$ ROSIE & Trippie Redd) |
Cheat Codes | Hellraisers, Part 2 | Cheat Codes, Blackbear, PRINCE$$ ROSIE, Trippie Redd, Jonas Jeberg, Neil Ormandy | |
| "No Time" (featuring Dvbbs, PRINCE$$ ROSIE & Wiz Khalifa) |
Non-album single | Cheat Codes, Dvbbs, PRINCE$$ ROSIE, Wiz Khalifa, Daniel Blume, David Charles Fischer, Joris Mur | ||
| "Gravity's Rainbow" | The Used | Heartwork | The Used, John Feldmann, Rachel West | |
| "Party Till I Die" | Kim Petras | Turn Off the Light | Kim Petras, Aaron Joseph, Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver, Alex Chapman | |
| "No Chill" (featuring Lil Xxel) |
2021 | Cheat Codes | Non-album single | Cheat Codes, Lil Xxel, Benny Mayne, Daniel Penney, Joris Mur, Kyle Reynolds, Matt Elifritz |
| "Demons" | Escape the Fate | Chemical Warfare | Escape the Fate, John Feldmann | |
| "Romantic Disaster" (featuring Chrissy Costanza) |
Lil Lotus | Errør Bøy | Lil Lotus, Chrissy Costanza, John Feldmann | |
| "Wanna Be" (featuring Machine Gun Kelly) |
Jxdn | Tell Me About Tomorrow | Jxdn, Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker | |
| "Future Starts Now" | Kim Petras | Non-album single | Kim Petras, Aaron Joseph, Alex Chapman, Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver | |
| "Coconuts" | Feed the Beast | Kim Petras, Cedric de Saint-Rome, Rocco Did It Again!, Ryan Ogren, Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver, Aaron Joseph | ||
| "Icy Chain" | Saweetie | Pretty Bitch Music | Saweetie, Rocco Did It Again!, Dr. Luke, SupaKaine | |
| "Anxiety" | 2022 | Coi Leray | Trendsetter | Coi Leray, Lourdiz, Rocco Did It Again!, Ryan Ogren, Dr. Luke |
| "Slut Pop" | Kim Petras | Slut Pop | Kim Petras, Rocco Did It Again!, Ryan Ogren, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph | |
| "Treat Me like a Slut" | Kim Petras, Rocco Did It Again!, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph | |||
| "Rich Kids Ruin Everything" | Mod Sun | TBA | Mod Sun, John Feldmann | |
| "Skin of My Teeth" | Demi Lovato | Holy Fvck | Demi Lovato, Oak Felder, Alex Nice, Keith Sorrells, Laura Veltz | |
| "Heaven" | ||||
| "Wet Dream" | 2024 | Snow Wife | TBA | Atlgrandma, Snow Leann |
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Downfalls High | Background dancer | [48] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Aaron "lil aaron" Jennings Puckett". Billboard. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Aaron Jennings". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ King, Clive (29 December 2017). "Liam Payne smoked 'a bunch of cigarettes' before studio session". Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ a b "an interview with lil aaron". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". Grammy.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ a b "LIL AARON HAS HIS EYES ON BECOMING BIG IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH NO LABEL". 8 June 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Manno, Lizzie. "Narrow Head Are a Different Kind of Heavy Band". Paste. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Martin, Liam. "Lil Aaron Biography by Liam Martin". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b "AN INTERVIEW WITH SOUNDCLOUD RAPPER LIL AARON: "I'VE BEEN EMO MY WHOLE FUCKING LIFE"". Alternative Press. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ HUNTER, ELIZABETH (4 April 2019). "Lil Aaron is 2019's answer to pop-punk". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b Heinz, Natasha (16 May 2018). "LIL AARON'S HIGH SCHOOL BAND SOUNDED LIKE "HIT THE LIGHTS MEETS METRO STATION"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Travis Mills & lil aaron have done a song called 'Trouble' together". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "lil aaron & ILOVEMAKONNEN have made a song about things they should PROLLY do". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "JOY. just dropped 'Birthday' ft lil aaron". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "RAPPER LIL AARON SAMPLES PARAMORE, PANIC! ON NEW SONGS "WARPED TOUR" AND "HOT TOPIC"". Alternative Press. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ McCarthy, Liam. "Lil Aaron, Smrtdeath & Lil Lotus share 'Boyfriendz' mixtape". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Pierre, Alphonse. "10 Emo Rap Artists To Know". HNHH. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Rick, Vince. "10 Punk-Rap & Punk-Pop Artists You Should Listen To". HNHH. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Angell, Jack (28 April 2020). "LIL LOTUS IS REWRITING THE EMO PLAYBOOK AND THERE ARE NO RULES". Alternative Press. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Prescription Songs [@rxsongs]; (January 14, 2020). "Roster Roundup - meet the amazing @lilaaron 💚". Retrieved September 16, 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ Smith, Nikki (4 February 2018). "New Music Alert- Kim Petras releases single 'Faded'". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Dickman, Maggie (23 March 2018). "SINGER-SONGWRITER GOODY GRACE PREMIERES DEBUT EP, TALKS BLINK-182, MCR INFLUENCE". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Parizot, Matthew. "Lil Aaron Drops Melodic New EP "ROCK$TAR FAMOU$"". HNHH. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Crowley, James. "THE NEW ROCK$TAR$: A CONVERSATION WITH LIL AARON". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Travis Barker Guests On Emo Rapper Lil Aaron's New Track". Kerrang!. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Goldfine, Jael. "Kim Petras and Lil Aaron Go Full Mall-Goth". Paper. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ Joyce, Colin (5 September 2018). "Lil Aaron and Kim Petras Are Glittery Pop Prodigies (and Very Good Friends)". Vice Media. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b "MAJOR SCENE SUPPORTER LIL AARON TO OPEN FOR BLINK-182". Alternative Press. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Michael, Michael Love. "We're Going 'Nuts' Over Brooke Candy's Fierce Bangers". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Serra, Maria (8 December 2018). "DANNY WORSNOP SHARES NEW SOLO SINGLE AND OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED TODAY". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "LIL AARON MUSIC VIDEO FEATURES MCR, PARAMORE, P!ATD CLIPS". Alternative Press. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Everything We Know About Kim Petras' Upcoming New Releases". 28 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Crowley, Patrick. "Kim Petras Drops Three New Pop Confections Featuring Sophie, Lil Aaron: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Flynn, Audrey (20 February 2019). "Our Favorite Boy Band Has Returned With "BFZ2"". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b Smith, Nathan. "Big Baby Scumbag Big Baby Earnhardt". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ SHAFFER, CLAIRE (14 May 2020). "Big Freedia Gets Down in 'Pipe That' Video With Icona Pop, Soul Rebels". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Gallagher, Peach (20 March 2020). "PLVTINUM Enlists Lil Aaron For Sultry Single "Girls On The Internet"". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ ROGERS, JACK. "LISTEN: SMRTDEATH'S NEW GLITCHY ANTHEM 'DON'T LOVE ME'". Rocksound. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Irving, Kaitlin. "Smrtdeath Readies New Album 'Somethjns Wrong'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ ROGERS, JACK. "LISTEN: SMRTDEATH'S NEW GLITCHY ANTHEM 'DON'T LOVE ME'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "LYRICSOctober 2020 Music Album Release Calendar". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Song, Sandra. "Ethel Cain Comes Into Her Own on 'Michelle Pfeiffer'". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ SHARP, TYLER. "THE DEATH METAL TURTLENECK IS REAL". Loudwire. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b Greene, Jayson. "The Unlikely Resurgence of Rap Rock". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Basler, Patrick. "Review: Lil Aaron's "Gloing Pain$" is rap rock done right". Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Price, Joe. "Is Pop-Punk Rap's Next Big Obsession?". Complex Networks. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Carter, Emily. "YUNGBLUD Curates Spotify Playlist Of "Misfits" Who Inspire Him". Kerrang!. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Watch Machine Gun Kelly's Pop-Punk Musical Film 'Downfall High'". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
Lil Aaron
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early years
Upbringing and family
Aaron Jennings Puckett, known professionally as Lil Aaron, was born on May 31, 1994, in Frankfort, Indiana.[1] He spent his early childhood in Ohio before his family relocated to Goshen, Indiana, in 2005, where he grew up in a middle-class household—his father a financial advisor and his mother a college professor.[1] He was heavily influenced by his older brother Kora, a guitarist in indie rock bands including Sheer Mag, Bugg, and Narrow Head.[1] Lil Aaron grew up in a devout Christian household that emphasized religious values and maintained strict boundaries around cultural influences.[8] His parents prohibited access to secular music during his childhood, creating a sheltered environment that discouraged engagement with mainstream entertainment. This restriction shaped his early years, limiting his musical exposure primarily to religious contexts such as church hymns and Christian recordings.[8] The family's emphasis on faith fostered a disciplined but insulated upbringing, where non-religious media was largely off-limits, influencing his initial disinterest in broader popular music scenes.[8] Despite these constraints, Lil Aaron later transitioned to discovering punk and emo music, marking a pivotal shift in his personal interests.[8]Musical discovery and relocation
During his teenage years in Indiana, Lil Aaron discovered punk rock and emo music through online platforms like MySpace and PureVolume, which allowed him to explore secular genres forbidden in his strict Christian household.[8] These sites became a gateway to bands and sounds that resonated with his rebellious spirit, marking a pivotal shift from his sheltered environment to a burgeoning passion for alternative music.[8] At age 17, inspired by this newfound love for music, Lil Aaron dropped out of high school and relocated from Indiana to Los Angeles to chase opportunities in the industry.[9] The move represented a bold leap into the professional world of music, away from his hometown constraints.[3] Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Lil Aaron faced challenges as a self-taught artist navigating the competitive LA music scene.[8] Despite these hurdles, the city's vibrant creative environment, including access to studios in West Hollywood, helped him begin honing his craft independently.[3]Professional career
Songwriting beginnings
Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music, Lil Aaron immersed himself in songwriting, honing his craft by producing pop tracks over YouTube beats and in studio sessions with various producers. This period laid the foundation for his professional entry into the industry, where he signed with the independent publishing company Prescription Songs, founded by producer Dr. Luke. The signing positioned him within a network of established hitmakers and opened doors to high-profile opportunities. Lil Aaron's early collaborations included work with Dr. Luke, whose production expertise influenced his approach to crafting commercially viable pop and hip-hop hybrids. These partnerships emphasized catchy hooks and genre-blending structures, allowing Lil Aaron to contribute to projects that bridged emo-rap aesthetics with mainstream appeal. Among his initial songwriting credits, Lil Aaron co-wrote "Bedroom Floor," the 2017 debut single from Liam Payne's solo album LP1, which peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart and showcased his ability to deliver introspective lyrics over upbeat production.[10][11] He also penned the initial demo for "Fragile," a 2016 future-pop track by Prince Fox featuring Hailee Steinfeld, blending electronic elements with vulnerable themes of emotional fragility.[12] Additionally, Lil Aaron co-wrote "playboy shit" for Blackbear's 2017 digital EP digital drugz, a braggadocious track that highlighted his flair for playful, hedonistic narratives in alternative R&B-rap fusion.[13] These credits established Lil Aaron as an emerging talent capable of tailoring songs for diverse artists while infusing personal stylistic touches.Solo debut and EPs
Lil Aaron transitioned from songwriting for other artists to releasing his own music as a solo performer in the mid-2010s. His debut single, "Damn," produced by Y2K, was released in January 2016, marking his entry into the rap-rock scene with its blend of trap beats and emotional lyrics.[14] Earlier that year, on October 31, 2016, Aaron dropped his debut EP, Gloing Pain$, a seven-track project that showcased his fusion of pop, rock, punk, and R&B influences without any featured vocalists, emphasizing his standalone artistry.[15][16] Following this, Aaron released Rock on May 31, 2018, via Hazheart Records, an EP that highlighted his growing confidence in alternative hip-hop with rock elements.[17][18] The project included the single "Quit," featuring Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker on drums, which explored themes of addiction and heartbreak through energetic punk-infused production.[19][20] In December 2018, Aaron issued Worst Christmas Ever, a five-track holiday-themed EP released on December 7, capturing a darker, introspective take on seasonal motifs amid personal struggles.[21][22] The following year, on January 25, 2019, he followed up with Dark Matter, a six-song EP delving into emotional vulnerability and post-breakup reflections, featuring collaborations with artists like Wicca Phase Springs Eternal and Lil Soda Boi.[23][24] By October 6, 2020, Aaron released 808 Rock, a five-track EP that leaned into heavier rock-rap hybrid sounds, incorporating 808 basslines with guitar-driven energy to reflect his evolving style up to that point.[25][26]Boyfriendz and group work
In late 2017, Lil Aaron co-formed the emo rap collective Boyfriendz alongside Smrtdeath and Lil Lotus, establishing it as a collaborative project blending elements of emo trap and alternative hip hop.[27][28] The group emerged from the underground rap and punk scenes, positioning itself as an "emo boy band" that fused raw emotional lyrics with trap beats and punk-infused energy.[29] This formation marked a shift for Lil Aaron toward group-oriented work, allowing him to explore collective songwriting and performance dynamics distinct from his solo endeavors. Boyfriendz quickly released their self-titled debut EP on December 6, 2017, featuring tracks that highlighted the trio's chemistry through shared verses and thematic explorations of heartbreak and rebellion.[27] The project, distributed initially via SoundCloud, captured the group's spontaneous creative process and garnered attention within the emo rap community for its unpolished, high-energy sound.[28] Lil Aaron contributed prominently as a rapper and co-producer, infusing punk-rap hybrid elements into songs like "sober," where his verses bridged hip-hop flows with emo introspection.[27] The group followed up with their second EP, BFZ2, on February 14, 2019, expanding on the debut's formula with more polished production while maintaining the core emo-punk rap aesthetic. Tracks such as "BE AROUND" and "IDRGAF" showcased Lil Aaron's role in driving the group's vocal dynamics, often leading choruses that merged his melodic rap style with the punk-edged aggression of his collaborators.[29] This release solidified Boyfriendz's place in the alternative hip hop landscape, with Lil Aaron's contributions emphasizing a balance of individual flair and ensemble cohesion that propelled the collective's early impact.[28]Recent projects and collaborations
In 2024, Lil Aaron released the single "THANK GOD I'M A CELEBRITY" on May 3, marking a satirical take on fame and celebrity culture with a music video featuring actress Chloe Cherry.[30] This track served as a precursor to his debut full-length album, American Scumbag, which he independently released through Hazheart Records on June 28.[4] The album, produced in collaboration with Evan Gartner, explores themes of personal excess and industry disillusionment, drawing from Aaron's experiences in Los Angeles.[31][7] That same month, Aaron contributed vocals to RAT BOY's single "One In A Million," released on June 11 as part of the UK artist's upcoming album Suburbia Calling.[32] The track blends ska-punk rhythms with emo-rap elements, highlighting Aaron's versatility in cross-genre features.[33] Aaron has continued working closely with producers like Evan Gartner and through his affiliation with Prescription Songs, focusing on new solo material and songwriting contributions. In 2025, he released singles including "Stuntin Like My Daddy" in June, "Add Me Up", and "Acting Different", extending his performance-based output as of November 2025.[34][35][36]Musical style and influences
Genre fusion
Lil Aaron's music exemplifies a distinctive fusion of emo rap, pop rap, rap rock, and trap, creating a sound that bridges underground hip-hop sensibilities with rock-infused energy. This blend draws from the emotional introspection of emo rap and the melodic accessibility of pop rap, while incorporating the aggressive edge of rap rock and the atmospheric beats of trap. Critics have noted how his tracks blur these boundaries, resulting in an off-kilter aesthetic that defies traditional categorization.[37][38] Central to this genre fusion are production elements like autotuned and heavily layered vocals, which add a robotic, distorted texture reminiscent of trap and emo influences, often layered over heavy guitar riffs and electronic synths. For instance, in songs like "VANS UNTIED," filtered, hazy guitar chords combine with rap percussion and punk-style drums, while vocal effects create a staticky, rock-adjacent hook that enhances the track's intensity. This approach, refined through collaborations with producers like Travis Barker on drums, produces concise, polished tracks that feel both abrasive and anthemic.[39][3] Lyrically, Lil Aaron's work weaves themes of personal struggles, the highs and lows of fame, and tumultuous relationships, often delivered with raw vulnerability that aligns with emo rap conventions. Tracks from projects like GLOING PAIN$ explore the paradoxes of stardom—such as isolation amid success—and interpersonal conflicts, using trap's rhythmic flow to convey emotional turmoil without overt sentimentality. This thematic depth, paired with his genre-blending production, positions his music as a modern evolution of SoundCloud rap's experimental ethos.[40][3]Key influences and evolution
Lil Aaron's musical influences draw heavily from the emo and punk scenes of the 2000s, which informed his genre-blending approach from the outset. He has frequently cited Panic! at the Disco as a formative influence during his youth, drawn to their theatrical songwriting and elaborate style that emphasized emotional depth and narrative flair.[3] Blink-182 also played a pivotal role, particularly through collaborations with drummer Travis Barker and opportunities to open for the band during their Las Vegas residency shows, exposing him to the raw energy of pop-punk performance.[3] Early encounters with emo acts like Motion City Soundtrack, whose track "Everything Is Alright" captured themes of personal turmoil, further shaped his affinity for introspective lyrics over upbeat instrumentation.[3] Additionally, Brokencyde's pioneering fusion of trap beats with emo sensibilities influenced his adoption of an abrasive, high-contrast sound that merged aggression with vulnerability.[3] Lil Aaron's style evolved significantly from his initial forays into music, beginning with unsuccessful pop-punk bands in high school that echoed acts like Hit the Lights and Metro Station, prompting a temporary pivot away from rock elements.[41] He re-embraced his emo and punk roots in his early solo EPs, integrating trap-heavy production to create a raw, experimental hybrid that contrasted heavy 808 basslines with melodic hooks and confessional themes.[3] This progression marked a departure from pure trap toward a more balanced incorporation of rock influences, as evident in the polished pop structures of his 2018 EP ROCK, where emo introspection gained prominence over minimalist beats.[3] Immersion in the Los Angeles music scene amplified these shifts, particularly after his relocation, where regular appearances at Emo Nite events connected him to a community reviving 2000s alt-rock aesthetics.[42] Continued collaborations within this ecosystem, including work with scene-adjacent artists and producers on releases like the 2019 EP Dark Matter and the 2020 EP 808 Rock (which incorporates rap rock elements), further steered his sound toward rock-infused territory, culminating in the guitar-driven intensity of his 2024 album American Scumbag.[42][43][26][4] These partnerships reinforced a stylistic maturation, emphasizing live-band dynamics and punk attitude over earlier digital trap foundations.[3]Discography
Albums
Lil Aaron's debut studio album, American Scumbag, was released on June 28, 2024, through Hazheart Records, marking his first full-length project after a series of EPs.[4] The album blends emo introspection with trap-influenced beats, characteristic of Lil Aaron's emo rap style, exploring themes of personal turmoil, celebrity culture, and emotional vulnerability across its 12 tracks.[7][5] Key promotional singles included the lead track "THANK GOD I'M A CELEBRITY," released on May 3, 2024, and the surprise single "YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME," which dropped on May 31, 2024, both setting the tone for the album's confessional energy.[4] Reception has been generally positive among critics and fans, with user reviews praising its catchy "bops" and fusion of emo rock, hip-hop, and hyperpop elements, earning spots on year-end best albums lists and average ratings around 75-91% on music aggregation sites.[44][45]Extended plays
Lil Aaron released his debut extended play, Gloing Pain$, on October 31, 2016. The EP consists of 7 tracks and marks his entry into the emo rap and pop rap scenes, featuring raw, introspective lyrics over trap-influenced production by collaborators like Brenton Duvall and Y2K.[16][46][47] His follow-up EP, Rock, arrived on May 31, 2018, with 7 tracks that explore themes of fame, excess, and relationships. It includes guest appearances from artists such as Kim Petras on "Anymore," Kiiara, Travis Barker on drums for "Quit," and Rico Nasty, blending hip-hop with pop-punk elements during recording sessions split between Kauai, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.[48][17] On December 7, 2018, Lil Aaron dropped the holiday-themed EP Worst Christmas Ever, comprising 5 tracks executive produced by Travis Barker. The project offers a cynical, emo-infused twist on Christmas themes, with features like Goody Grace on "All I Need" and songs addressing isolation and dissatisfaction during the festive season.[49][21][50] Dark Matter, released January 25, 2019, features 6 tracks delving into darker emotional territories, including pain, self-doubt, and introspection. Notable collaborations include Lil Soda Boi on "Hurts" and Goody Grace on "Last Time I Checked," with production emphasizing moody, atmospheric beats in the emo rap style.[24][23][51] Lil Aaron's final EP in this series, 808 Rock, came out on October 6, 2020, containing 5 tracks that fuse rap with rock influences, highlighted by heavy 808 basslines and guitar-driven energy. Tracks like "BADSIDE" and "DANGEROUS" showcase his evolving sound, prioritizing high-energy, genre-blending experimentation.[52][26][43]Singles as lead artist
Lil Aaron's singles as a lead artist highlight his signature blend of emo rap, pop punk, and trap elements, often featuring high-profile producers and collaborators. These tracks have contributed to his growing fanbase, with several achieving significant streaming success on platforms like Spotify. His debut single, "Damn", released on January 25, 2016, and produced by Y2K, introduced his raw, introspective style and quickly gained traction in the alternative hip hop scene.[53] The track has amassed over 76 million streams on Spotify, marking a milestone in his early career. In 2018, "Quit", featuring drummer Travis Barker on production, was released as part of his EP Rock and captured attention for its punk-infused energy and themes of personal struggle. It has accumulated over 2 million Spotify streams as of 2025. "Dark Matter", a standalone single from January 18, 2019, that later titled his EP of the same name, explores emotional vulnerability with atmospheric production.[54] The song has surpassed 9.7 million streams on Spotify. More recently, "THANK GOD I'M A CELEBRITY", released on May 3, 2024, reflects on fame and self-reflection, serving as a lead single for his album AMERICAN SCUMBAG.| Title | Year | Key Collaborators/Producer | Streaming Milestone (Spotify, as of Oct 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Damn" | 2016 | Y2K (producer) | 76+ million streams |
| "Quit" | 2018 | Travis Barker (featured/producer) | 2+ million streams |
| "Dark Matter" | 2019 | None (solo) | 9.7+ million streams |
| "THANK GOD I'M A CELEBRITY" | 2024 | None (solo) | N/A |
Singles as featured artist
Lil Aaron has contributed guest vocals to various singles by other artists, often infusing emo rap sensibilities into diverse genres like punk, pop-punk, and alternative hip-hop. His features typically emphasize introspective lyrics and melodic flows that complement the lead artist's style, expanding his reach within underground and crossover scenes. A key example is his appearance on RAT BOY's "One In A Million," released on June 11, 2024. On this track from RAT BOY's album Suburbia Calling (released October 4, 2024), Lil Aaron provides additional verses that add an emo rap texture to the song's ska-infused groove, produced by Stephen Street, heightening its themes of unattainable dreams and youthful excess in a modern, space-age context.[55] In the emo rap sphere, Lil Aaron featured on 44Blonde's "You Don't Even Care," released October 6, 2023, as part of the Intervention project. His contribution delivers raw, emotive bars over a pop-punk backdrop with trap beats, underscoring lyrics about superficial friendships and emotional burnout, produced by Billy Gerrity.[56] Another post-2020 collaboration is his role on LiL Lotus's "Girl Next Door," issued April 9, 2022. Here, Lil Aaron's feature brings a hazy, nostalgic emo vibe to the track's alternative rap structure, co-produced by LiL Lotus, focusing on themes of idealized romance and personal disillusionment within the emo rap community. Lil Aaron also appeared on smrtdeath's "sober," released in 2020, where his verses enhance the song's melancholic trap-emo sound, exploring sobriety and regret through layered, atmospheric production that aligns with the duo's shared aesthetic in the genre.[57]With Boyfriendz
Lil Aaron is a founding member of the emo trap group Boyfriendz, alongside Smrtdeath and Lil Lotus, formed in late 2017 to explore collaborative themes of heartbreak, youth, and alternative hip-hop aesthetics.[58] The group's debut self-titled EP, Boyfriendz, was released independently on December 6, 2017, featuring Lil Aaron's prominent vocal contributions across all tracks, blending trap beats with emo-infused lyrics.[59] This 6-track project marked their initial output, with production from artists like Dylan Brady and 4evr, emphasizing raw emotional delivery in songs addressing personal struggles.[27] The tracklist for Boyfriendz includes:- "Check" (prod. Dylan Brady)
- "IDCIUDHMB" (prod. 4evr)
- "I'll B Fine" (prod. 4evr)
- "Iont Need Hoes" (prod. Joshua Heflinger)
- "Painless" (prod. Seann Bowe)
- "Punk Rock Boy" (prod. 4evr)
- "BE AROUND" (feat. Lil Lotus, Smrtdeath & lil aaron; prod. lil aaron)
- "IDRGAF" (feat. Lil Lotus, Smrtdeath & lil aaron; prod. Dylan Brady)
- "FAR AWAY" (feat. Lil Lotus, Smrtdeath & lil aaron; prod. Sean Myer)
- "FUCKED UP KIDS" (feat. Lil Lotus, Smrtdeath & lil aaron; prod. Dylan Brady)
- "OUTRO" (feat. Lil Lotus, Smrtdeath & lil aaron)