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Summer Walker
Summer Walker
Summer Walker
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Summer Marjani Walker (born April 11, 1996)[1] is an American singer and songwriter.[3] She signed with the Atlanta-based record label Love Renaissance, an imprint of Interscope Records, in late 2017 to release her debut commercial mixtape, Last Day of Summer (2018). Its lead single, "Girls Need Love", became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned a remix featuring Canadian rapper Drake.[4] Her debut studio album, Over It (2019), was met with critical praise, peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart—briefly breaking the record for the biggest debut streaming week for a female R&B artist—and received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[5][6][7][8][9]

Key Information

Her second studio album, Still Over It (2021), debuted atop the Billboard 200. The album broke the record for most streams in a single day by a female artist on Apple Music[10] and broke her previous record for largest streaming debut-week for a female R&B artist; she also matched Taylor Swift as the only female musical act to have 18 concurrent songs from one album enter the Billboard Hot 100.[11] It spawned the single "Ex for a Reason" (with JT of City Girls), which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, while its follow-up, "No Love" (with SZA and Cardi B), peaked within the top 15 and received platinum certification by the RIAA. Her 2023 single, "Good Good" (with Usher and 21 Savage), also entered the chart's top 40.

Her accolades include a Billboard Music Award, a IHeartRadio Music Awards, three Soul Train Music Awards, and four Grammy Award nominations.[12] In 2022 Billboard Women in Music recognized Walker with the Chart Breaker Award for her achievement on Billboard charts.[13] As of 2026, Walker has sold over 53.5 million certified units from the RIAA between albums and songs.[14]

Early life

[edit]

Walker was born and raised in Atlanta.[15] From 2016 to 2018, she had a small cleaning business. She taught herself how to play the guitar by watching tutorials on YouTube. Soon after, she began performing covers and posting various videos of herself to both YouTube and Vine.[16]

Career

[edit]

2018–2019: Career beginnings and Last Day of Summer

[edit]

Walker was discovered on Vine by a woman of the same name, who works as the studio manager of an Atlanta-based label called Love Renaissance.[16] In 2017, she signed with this label and Interscope Records. On October 19, 2018, Walker released her debut commercial mixtape, titled Last Day of Summer, supported by the lead single, "Girls Need Love".[17] Walker's album contained her thoughts on love, doubt, and womanhood.[18]

Towards the end of 2018, Walker toured with 6lack on the From East Atlanta With Love Tour.[19] Following the success of her mixtape, Apple Music named Walker as its newest Up Next artist in 2019, and she became the number 8 R&B artist worldwide across the platform.[20] On January 25, 2019, Walker released her first EP titled Clear, consisting of four tracks of acoustic recordings.[21] On February 27, she released the remix to her song, "Girls Need Love", with Drake.[22]

2019–2020: Breakthrough and Over It

[edit]

On August 23, 2019, Walker released "Playing Games" as the first single for her debut album, titled Over It. The song, which contains an interpolation of Destiny's Child's number-one hit "Say My Name", was produced by London on da Track.[23] Over It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 134,000 units in its first week. Its debut week marked the largest streaming week for an R&B album by a female artist, in terms of on-demand audio streams.[24] The album topped the R&B Albums chart for 14 nonconsecutive weeks.[25] Walker supported Over It with her accompanying The First and Last Tour, which kicked off on October 20.[26] Walker canceled 20 out of 29 dates, citing social anxiety.[27] On November 17, Walker won her first Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist, but later received backlash from fans for her short speech and was accused of faking her social anxiety.[28]

On June 29, Walker announced the release of an EP, titled Life on Earth to be released on July 10. The announcement came a day after she performed "Session 32" and "Come Thru" with Usher at the 2020's BET Awards, where Walker was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.[29] Life on Earth debuted atop the Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart, becoming Walker's second number one. It also debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 becoming Walker's second top 10 project on the chart.[30]

Two tracks from the EP charted on the Billboard Hot 100: "Let It Go", and "My Affection" featuring PartyNextDoor, at numbers 84 and 86, respectively.[31] "Come Thru" featuring Usher was certified platinum on August 20 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A few days later, on August 25, her song "Body" was certified gold, "Playing Games" was certified two-time platinum, and "Girls Need Love" was certified three-time platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively.[32] On October 14, Walker won the Billboard Music Award for the Best Female R&B Artist at the 2020 ceremony, beating out Beyoncé and Lizzo. Walker was also nominated for Top R&B Artist and Top R&B Album for Over It.[citation needed]

On November 23, she released a repackaged version of the Over It album, titled Over It (Complete Edition). The repackaged version of the album features all 18 songs from the standard version of the album plus additional instrumentals, a capella versions, live renditions and more. On December 10, Walker's debut song, "Session 32" was certified gold and her collaboration featuring Jhené Aiko, titled "I'll Kill You" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively. On the Billboard 200 year-end chart of 2020, Over It was the second best performing R&B album of the year behind The Weeknd's After Hours and was the seventeenth best performing album overall.[33]

2021–present: Still Over It and Finally Over It

[edit]
Walker performing live in 2025

On November 5, 2021, Walker released her second album Still Over It which has since broken the record for biggest R&B debut on the US albums chart since Beyoncé's album Lemonade. The album surpassed 166,000 units within the first week of release. On November 29, Walker and Ari Lennox performed the song "Unloyal" together at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards.

The "No Love" extended remix featuring Cardi B was announced on March 21, 2022. On March 25, it was released along with a music video.[34] In May, Walker was featured on Kendrick Lamar's track "Purple Hearts" from the 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, for which Walker earned her first Grammy Award nomination.[35]

On September 28, 2022, Ciara released the single "Better Thangs", featuring Walker.[36] The official music video, directed by Mia Barnes, premiered online on September 30.[37]

In 2023, Walker was featured on several songs including "Good Good" by Usher, "So Be It" by Alex Vaughn, "Hell n Back" by Bakar, "I Might" by Sexyy Red, and "Prove It" by 21 Savage. She also released her Clear 2: Soft Life EP, which served as a sequel to her 2019 EP, Clear,[38] and rereleased her debut commercial mixtape, Last Day Of Summer (Sped Up),[39][40] along with four new versions of her song Girls Need Love, titled Girls Need Love (Girls Mix).[41] These updated versions, which included a solo acoustic performance from Walker, also featured artists like Victoria Monet, Tyla, and Tink.

On November 14, 2025, Walker released her third album, Finally Over It.[42]

Personal life

[edit]

Walker has well over 24 tattoos as of 2019,[43] including face tattoos.[16]

In November 2020, Walker announced that she was expecting her first child, with then-boyfriend London on da Track.[44] Her daughter was born on March 22, 2021. Months later, the pair ended their relationship.[45][46] On June 25, 2022, she announced on Instagram Live that she was expecting her second child with then-boyfriend rapper Larry A.K.A. Lvrd Pharaoh.[47] She gave birth to twin boys on December 29, 2022.[48][49] She dated BMF co-star and rapper Demetrius Flenory Jr. from April to July 2023.[50]

In December 2024, she began dating Chicago rapper Rico Recklezz.[51] On May 8, 2025, she announced they broke up.[52]

Artistry

[edit]

Walker has said that she draws inspiration from Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Donell Jones and Erykah Badu.[53] She noted Mary J. Blige as an inspiration for the vulnerability and authenticity she displays in her own music, saying "back when Mary J. Blige and Faith Evans were making R&B, they had real pain and real stories. That's why it was so good." Walker has also cited Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo as inspirations for her to experiment and explore new sounds within the R&B and neo soul genres.[54]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Summer Walker discography

Tours

[edit]

Headlining

  • The First and Last Tour (2019)[55]
  • The Summer Walker Series (2022)[56]
  • The Still Finally Over It Tour (2026)

Supporting

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award Year[a] Nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
American Music Awards 2020 Herself Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Nominated [57]
"Playing Games" Favorite Soul/R&B Song Nominated
Over It Favorite Soul/R&B Album Nominated
2022 Herself Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Nominated [58]
Still Over It Favorite R&B Album Nominated
BET Awards 2020 Herself Best New Artist Nominated [59]
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Nominated
2021 Nominated [60]
2022 Nominated [61]
"Unloyal" BET Her Award Nominated
Billboard Music Awards 2020 Herself Top R&B Artist Nominated [62]
Top R&B Female Artist Won
Over It Top R&B Album Nominated
2022 Herself Top R&B Artist Nominated [63]
Top R&B Female Artist Nominated
Still Over It Top R&B Album Nominated
Billboard Women in Music 2022 Herself Chart Breaker Award Won [64]
Grammy Awards 2023 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Album of the Year (as featured artist and songwriter) Nominated
2024 Clear 2: Soft Life Best R&B Album Nominated
2026 "Heart of a Woman" Best R&B Performance Nominated
Best R&B Song Nominated
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2020[65] Herself Best New R&B Artist Won [66]
R&B Artist of the Year Nominated
"Girls Need Love" (with Drake) R&B Song of the Year Nominated
2021[67] Herself R&B Artist of the Year Nominated [68]
"Playing Games" R&B Song of the Year Nominated
MOBO Awards 2020 Herself Best International Act Nominated
2022 Nominated [69]
MTV Video Music Awards 2020[70][71] Herself Push Best New Artist Longlisted [72][73]
"Eleven" (with Khalid) Best R&B Nominated
NAACP Image Awards 2023 "No Love" (with Cardi B and SZA) Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) Nominated [74]
2024 Clear 2: Soft Life EP Outstanding Album Nominated [75]
"Good Good" (with Usher & 21 Savage) Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) Nominated
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards 2019 Herself Best New Artist Won [76]
R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated
"Girls Need Love (Remix)" Song of the Year Nominated
2020 Herself Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated [77]
"Come Thru" (with Usher) Song of the Year Nominated
Best Collaboration Nominated
"Playing Games" The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated
Over It Album of the Year Won
2023 Herself Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated
"To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug)" (with J Cole) Best Collaboration Nominated
"Good Good" (with Usher & 21 Savage) Won
Song of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated
Best Dance Performance Nominated
"Better Thangs" (with Ciara) Nominated
Clear 2: Soft Life EP Album of the Year Nominated

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Summer Walker

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Summer Walker (born April 11, 1996) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer known for her music, characterized by introspective lyrics, acoustic ballads, and slow jams that explore themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth. Born in , Georgia, Walker initially gained attention through self-recorded videos on social media, where she covered songs by artists like Drake and Jhene Aiko, leading to her discovery by LVRN Records co-founder Sean McNichol in 2016. She signed with LVRN/ in late 2017 after working as an estate cleaner and part-time dancer, releasing her debut EP Last Day of Summer that October, which featured the platinum-certified single "" and peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her breakthrough came with the 2019 debut album Over It, which debuted at number two on the , earned platinum certification from the RIAA, and included hits like "" (number five on ) and collaborations with artists such as Drake and Usher. Walker's subsequent releases solidified her status as a leading voice in modern R&B, with the 2020 EP Life on Earth addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and her 2021 sophomore album Still Over It debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, marking the largest debut week for an R&B album by a female artist since 2017. The 2023 EP Clear 2: Soft Life reached number 26 on the Billboard 200 and featured guests like J. Cole and Snoh Aalegra. In 2024, she released the single "Heart of a Woman," which peaked in the top ten on the Hot R&B Songs chart and earned Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance in 2026. Her follow-up single "Spend It" in 2025 charted at number 12 on the Hot R&B Songs chart, and her third studio album Finally Over It was released on November 14, 2025, concluding the Over It trilogy with features including Doja Cat, GloRilla, and Anderson .Paak. Throughout her career, Walker has received four Grammy nominations, BET Awards, and Soul Train Awards recognition, while collaborating with artists including SZA, 21 Savage, and Kendrick Lamar on tracks like "Purple Hearts" from the latter's 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

Early life

Family background

Summer Walker was born on April 11, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia. She has English and African-American descent, stemming from her British father and American mother, Venice. Walker's early years were shaped by family challenges, including her parents' divorce when she was young, which contributed to a "trying" environment marked by isolation and limited paternal involvement. The divorce led to periods of for Walker, as she often spent time alone without much family support from her father, fostering a sense of amid the familial instability. This upbringing contributed to her developing introversion and , which she has discussed as influencing her preference for and self-expression through music. Her family's roots trace back to Georgia, where she was raised in the area.

Pre-music pursuits

Walker attended North Springs Charter High School in Sandy Springs, , where she graduated in 2014. Following high school, Walker briefly worked as a dancer in nightclubs around 2015, using the role as an early outlet for performance and self-expression. From 2016 to 2018, she operated a small cleaning service business named Summer So Clean, providing residential and , , and services in the area. During this period, Walker began self-teaching herself acoustic guitar by watching online tutorials on around 2016, marking her initial steps toward musical creation.

Career

2017–2018: Breakthrough online and label signing

In 2017, Summer Walker emerged in the music scene by uploading acoustic cover songs to , where her raw, emotive renditions of R&B and tracks began attracting a growing online audience. Self-taught on guitar while working as a house cleaner and part-time dancer, Walker used the platform to share intimate performances that highlighted her vulnerable vocal style, marking her initial breakthrough in the digital space. Her rising visibility on caught the attention of executives at (LVRN), an Atlanta-based label, leading to her signing a with the company in November 2017. LVRN, which had entered a distribution deal with the previous year, recognized Walker's potential through her organic online buzz and quickly integrated her into their roster alongside acts like . This deal provided Walker with professional production support while allowing her to maintain creative control over her introspective songwriting. Building on her social media momentum, Walker released her breakout single "Girls Need Love" in August 2018 as the lead track for her debut mixtape, Last Day of Summer. The song's relatable lyrics about resonated widely, propelling it to viral status on through user-generated clips and stories that amplified its stripped-back, bedroom-pop vibe. By October 2018, the mixtape debuted on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, solidifying Walker's transition from online hobbyist to signed artist. The success of "Girls Need Love" extended into early 2019 with a high-profile remix featuring Drake, released in February, which peaked at No. 37 on the and earned platinum certification from the RIAA. This collaboration, arranged through LVRN's connections, boosted Walker's mainstream exposure and underscored her label's strategy of leveraging discovery for targeted artist development.

2019: Last Day of Summer and Over It

Following the success of her 2018 debut mixtape Last Day of Summer, which featured the breakout single "Girls Need Love" and debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200, Summer Walker released her follow-up project Last Day of Summer as a reimagined collection, but the core 2019 milestone was her debut studio album Over It on October 4, 2019, via LVRN and Interscope Records. Over It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 134,000 album-equivalent units, the biggest streaming week ever for an R&B album by a female artist at the time, and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for three weeks. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA on May 7, 2020, for sales and streaming equivalent to one million units in the United States. Key singles from Over It included "Playing Games" featuring , which peaked at number 9 on the chart, "" with Usher, which peaked at number 27 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, and "Body," which hit number 9 on the chart. The album explores themes of heartbreak, toxic relationships, and self-reflection, with Walker drawing from personal experiences of vulnerability and growth in her lyrics. Critics praised Walker's raw emotional delivery and introspective songwriting, with awarding the album 7.2 out of 10 for its "unflinching vulnerability" and authentic portrayal of relational turmoil. highlighted its place among the best albums of 2019, commending the sultry production and Walker's ability to blend with confessional depth. The acclaim contributed to her first Music Award nomination in 2020 for Top R&B Album.

2020–2021: Still Over It and rising fame

In 2020, amid the , Summer Walker participated in virtual performances to maintain her visibility, including a socially distanced duet with Usher on "" and "Session 32" at the , which showcased her sultry vocals in a minimalist setup. She also contributed to collaborations that year, such as the remix of Justin Bieber's "Yummy," where her smooth harmonies added an R&B layer to the pop track. These efforts helped sustain momentum from her debut album while highlighting her adaptability to virtual formats. Walker's rising profile earned her first Grammy nominations at the in 2021, including Best R&B Album for Over It and Best R&B Song for "" featuring , recognizing her songwriting and production on the 2019 project. Building on this acclaim, she announced her sophomore album in late 2021, drawing from personal experiences of heartbreak to explore themes of post-breakup , , and closure following her split from . The album's lead single, "Ex For A Reason" featuring JT of , was released on October 15, 2021, blending Walker's emotive delivery with JT's sharp verses on navigating toxic exes and reclaiming agency. Another key track, "No Love" with , served as a prominent single emphasizing emotional boundaries and rejecting unfulfilling romance. Still Over It, released on November 5, 2021, via LVRN and , featured guest appearances from , , and NO1-NOAH, among others, and debuted at number one on the with 166,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, marking Walker's first chart-topping album and solidifying her mainstream breakthrough.

2022–2025: Collaborations, hiatus, and Finally Over It

In 2022, Summer Walker featured on Kendrick Lamar's track "Purple Hearts" from his album , alongside , blending her signature R&B vocals with Lamar's introspective hip-hop style. The collaboration peaked at number 22 on the and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance. She continued contributing guest appearances in 2023, including on Kali Uchis's "Deserve Me" from the album , where Walker's harmonies complemented Uchis's sultry pop-R&B production. Following these features, Walker took a brief hiatus from major releases in 2023 to focus on personal matters, including her role as a . During this period, she released the EP Clear 2: Soft Life, a short project emphasizing and emotional recovery, but largely stepped back from the spotlight amid rumors of considering from music. Walker returned in late 2024 with the single "Heart of a Woman," released on October 25 as the lead track for her upcoming project, addressing themes of emotional resilience in romance. The song debuted at number 57 on the during the tracking week ending November 9, 2024, marking her 36th chart entry. By 2025, it achieved platinum certification from the RIAA for one million units sold in the United States. In 2025, Walker released the follow-up single "Spend It," which peaked at number 12 on the chart, further previewing her third studio album. On , 2025, Walker announced her third studio album, Finally Over It, released on November 14, 2025, via LVRN and , comprising 18 tracks that conclude her "Over It" trilogy. The album explores themes of boundary-setting in relationships, healing from heartbreak, and self-worth, presented as a two-part on choices in love "for better or for worse." As of 2025, Walker had amassed over 32 million RIAA-certified units across her catalog, underscoring her commercial impact in . Alongside the album reveal, Walker announced a headline tour in October 2025 to support Finally Over It, with dates including festival appearances like headlining Rocking the Daisies in from October 2 to 5. The tour builds on her history of sold-out shows, emphasizing live performances of new material centered on empowerment and closure.

Personal life

Relationships

Summer Walker began her most publicized romantic relationship with (real name London Tyler Holmes) in 2019, while collaborating on her debut album Over It. Their partnership was marked by on-and-off dynamics and frequent rumors of , which Walker alluded to in lyrics on her 2021 album , such as the track "4th Baby Mama." The couple ultimately split in mid-2021 amid these allegations, though they continued co-parenting their daughter born earlier that year. In late 2021, Walker started dating rapper , known professionally as , with whom she got matching face tattoos of each other's names, "Summer" and "Larry." The relationship ended in late 2022, shortly before the birth of their twin sons in December, but the pair maintained an amicable co-parenting arrangement. Walker began dating actor and rapper Lil Meech (Demetrius Flenory Jr.) in May 2023, confirming the relationship publicly through social media posts. The romance ended in July 2023 after allegations of infidelity surfaced, with Walker addressing the breakup on . In an October 2025 interview, she reflected on the experience, stating that his life had become "terrible" following the split. In April 2024, Walker went public with a relationship with Coop Cashington, sharing affectionate photos on for her birthday and noting that he had tattooed her name on his face. The relationship, which faced public scrutiny over allegations against Cashington, ended by July 2024. Walker entered a brief romance with Chicago drill rapper Rico Recklezz in late 2024, going public with affectionate posts during the holidays. The relationship concluded in May 2025, with Walker announcing the split on and expressing a desire for personal peace and growth, stating she was "over men" at the time. In September 2025, Walker appeared at the with an unidentified older white man as her date, dressed in coordinated outfits, which sparked widespread speculation about a "sugar daddy" dynamic due to the noticeable age difference and his affluent appearance. Walker addressed the rumors in a subsequent livestream, neither confirming nor denying the nature of their connection while emphasizing her focus on self-empowerment. Later, in an 2025 with Speedy for the "360 With Speedy" series, she elaborated on her evolved dating philosophy, adopting a "boundary-first" approach that prioritizes respect, , and clear expectations over traditional romance, influenced by past heartbreaks.

Family and motherhood

Summer Walker welcomed her first child, daughter Bubbles Renee Walker, in March 2021 with producer . The couple, who had been in an on-again, off-again relationship, co-parented the child following their split, with Walker sharing glimpses of her motherhood journey on social media while prioritizing privacy for her daughter. In December 2022, Walker gave birth to twin sons with her then-partner (LVRD Pharoh), expanding her family to three children under the age of two. Despite the couple's subsequent breakup, remained involved in the twins' lives, as evidenced by his occasional social media posts featuring the boys. On August 30, 2024, Walker shared a professional photoshoot on showcasing four generations of women in her family: herself, her mother, her grandmother, and daughter Bubbles, all dressed in elegant white gowns to emphasize their intergenerational bonds. The images, which covered Bubbles's eyes for privacy, highlighted Walker's appreciation for her maternal lineage and family unity. Throughout her 2023 hiatus from music, Walker publicly discussed the difficulties of balancing motherhood with her career, including postpartum challenges and the emotional strain of single parenting three young children. In interviews and posts, she described the "mom guilt" associated with time away from her kids during creative work, crediting the break for allowing her to focus on family healing and personal growth.

Artistry

Musical style and themes

Summer Walker's music is primarily rooted in , incorporating elements of and neo-soul that emphasize emotional intimacy and genre-blending experimentation. Her sound often features slow tempos and minimalistic production, creating a languid, atmospheric vibe that prioritizes mood over high-energy beats. Acoustic guitar elements are a recurring hallmark, appearing in bare ballads that evoke raw confessionals, as heard in tracks like those on her debut EP Last Day of Summer, where stripped-down instrumentation underscores personal storytelling. Lyrically, Walker's work centers on themes of and heartbreak, drawing directly from her lived experiences to explore the complexities of romantic entanglements. She frequently delves into toxic relationships, portraying the frustration, neglect, and emotional turmoil they bring, as in songs that confront unfaithful or absent partners with a mix of pettiness and raw honesty. Self-empowerment emerges as a key motif, with narratives shifting from passive suffering to assertive reclamation of agency, often framed through confessional anthems that resonate with listeners navigating similar pains. Her style has evolved from the introspective, lo-fi aesthetic of Last Day of Summer—characterized by home-recorded vulnerability and sparse arrangements—to the more polished, feature-heavy productions of Over It (2019) and Still Over It (2021). In these later albums, minimalism persists but is layered with trap-influenced grooves and guest collaborations, allowing her neo-soul-infused melodies to reach broader emotional depths while maintaining a focus on unfiltered catharsis. This progression continued in subsequent releases, including the 2023 EP Clear 2: Soft Life, which retained acoustic intimacy amid collaborations with artists like Childish Gambino and Jorja Smith; the 2024 single "Heart of a Woman," emphasizing empowerment and earning 2026 Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance; and the 2025 album Finally Over It, a two-part project closing her "Over It" trilogy with raw storytelling on healing and self-worth, featuring guests such as Doja Cat and GloRilla. These works reflect further maturation in her artistry, blending personal rawness with professional refinement to amplify themes of relational reckoning and closure. Walker's visuals often mirror this unpolished emotional core, incorporating social media-inspired aesthetics like candid, low-fi imagery that enhances the authenticity of her heartbreak-driven narratives.

Influences and vocal technique

Summer Walker's musical influences draw heavily from classic and contemporary R&B artists known for their emotional depth and introspective songwriting. She has cited , , and as early inspirations that sparked her interest in singing as a creative outlet, alongside figures like , , Jill Scott, , and D’Angelo for their raw storytelling and soulful expression. Walker has also expressed admiration for the vulnerable, confessional styles of modern peers such as , , and , as well as timeless R&B icons like , whose breathy delivery and thematic honesty resonate with her own artistic ethos. These influences shaped her appreciation for music that prioritizes personal narrative over polished perfection, as she noted in discussions about the "real pain and real stories" in early R&B. Her vocal technique features a breathy, emotive delivery infused with elements, creating a haunting, bluesy tone that conveys raw vulnerability and authenticity. Walker has described her singing as intentionally "imperfect," allowing emotions to flow naturally rather than adhering to technical precision, which fosters a deep connection with listeners through unfiltered expression. This approach, rooted in soul music's spiritual resonance, is evident in her ability to modulate her voice for dramatic effect, blending chill introspection with intense fury to mirror personal turmoil. Walker's songwriting evolved from self-taught guitar skills acquired via tutorials, which enabled intimate, acoustic-based compositions early in her career and served as a form of personal therapy. As her profile grew, she transitioned to more collaborative production, particularly with , who executive produced the majority of her debut album Over It (2019) and contributed to half of (2021), blending her heartfelt lyrics with trap-infused beats to elevate her sound. This shift marked her artistic growth from solitary creation to dynamic partnerships that amplified her introspective themes. In live performances, Walker has confronted significant stage fright tied to her social anxiety and introverted personality, often describing performing as anxiety-inducing and preferring studio work. She addressed these challenges through therapy, which helped her understand and manage her emotions, allowing gradual improvement in commanding the stage despite ongoing nervousness. This personal development underscores her commitment to authenticity, even as she navigates the demands of fame.

Discography

Studio albums

Summer Walker's debut studio album, Over It, was released on October 4, 2019, via LVRN and . The project features 18 tracks, with production contributions from Arsenio Archer on several songs, including "Me." It has been certified double platinum by the RIAA, denoting two million units sold in the United States. Her sophomore effort, , arrived on November 5, 2021, also through LVRN and Interscope. The 20-track album includes guest appearances from on "No Love" and on "Toxic." It debuted at number one on the chart and has since earned platinum certification from the RIAA. The singer's third studio album, Finally Over It, was released on , 2025, completing her "Over It" trilogy via LVRN and Interscope. It comprises 18 tracks, led by the single "Heart of a ," and delves into themes of closure and the choices available when true love seems unattainable.

Mixtapes and EPs

Summer Walker's non-album releases include one mixtape and three extended plays, which have served as creative outlets between her studio albums, often exploring introspective themes with minimal production or live elements. Her debut mixtape, Last Day of Summer, was released on October 19, 2018, through LVRN and Interscope Records. The project features 12 solo tracks, including "Girls Need Love," "Body," and "Playing Games," blending R&B with trap influences over a runtime of approximately 28 minutes. It debuted and peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking her first entry on the ranking. Following the mixtape, Walker issued her first EP, Clear, on January 25, 2019, also via LVRN and Interscope. This four-track live recording, captured in , emphasizes acoustic vulnerability with songs like "Riot" and "Body," focusing on relational clarity without guest appearances. The EP did not chart on the but helped build anticipation for her debut studio album. In 2020, Life on Earth arrived as a five-track EP on July 10, through the same labels. Clocking in at 16 minutes, it includes "Body" and "Deeper," with no featured artists, and reflects personal growth amid the . The release debuted at number 8 on the , selling 28,000 equivalent units in its first week, and topped the Top R&B Albums chart. Walker's most recent EP, CLEAR 2: Soft Life, was released on May 19, 2023, via LVRN and Interscope. The nine-track project, spanning 29 minutes, features collaborations with Childish Gambino on "New Type" and Solange on "Agayu's Revelation," alongside solo cuts like "Hardlife" and "Pull Up," shifting toward themes of peace and self-care. It debuted at number 26 on the with 24,000 equivalent units.
TitleRelease DateLabelTracksPeak Chart Position (Billboard 200)
Last Day of Summer (mixtape)October 19, 2018LVRN/Interscope1244
Clear (EP)January 25, 2019LVRN/Interscope4—
Life on Earth (EP)July 10, 2020LVRN/Interscope58
CLEAR 2: Soft Life (EP)May 19, 2023LVRN/Interscope926

Singles

Summer Walker's singles career began with the release of "Girls Need Love" in 2018 as the lead single from her debut mixtape Last Day of Summer. The original track gained traction on streaming platforms, but the remix featuring Drake, released in February 2019, propelled it to mainstream success, debuting at No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately peaking at No. 37. The remix has been certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA, denoting over seven million units sold in the United States. In 2019, Walker released "Playing Games" as the lead single from her debut studio album Over It. The track, which features on the remix, debuted at No. 87 on the and reached a peak of No. 16, marking her highest-charting solo entry at the time. It has since been certified 5× Platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding five million units. "No Love," featuring SZA and serving as a single from Walker's second studio album in 2021, debuted at No. 13 on the —her highest debut to date—and peaked there while reaching No. 5 on the chart. The collaboration has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA, reflecting two million certified units. In November 2024, Walker released "Heart of a Woman" as the lead single from her third studio album Finally Over It, produced by Tavaras Jordan. The ballad debuted at No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult R&B Airplay chart for one week in May 2025. It earned Platinum certification from the RIAA on October 30, 2025, for one million units sold. The follow-up single "Spend It" was released on May 2, 2025. It debuted at No. 12 on the chart.

Tours

Early tours

Summer Walker's early live performances centered on her debut headlining tour, The First and Last Tour, launched in support of her 2019 album Over It. Announced in August 2019, the North American trek was initially slated for 29 dates, starting at the Mala Luna Festival in , , with rapper Melii serving as the primary opening act. However, citing challenges with and emotional exhaustion, Walker canceled multiple dates, ultimately completing 20 shows through early 2020, including key stops in cities like , , and New York. The tour highlighted Walker's intimate R&B style in theater and arena venues, featuring sets drawn heavily from Over It, such as "Playing Games" and "Body." Special guests elevated select performances, including Jhené Aiko and Usher joining her at the sold-out Novo in Los Angeles on November 8, 2019, where Aiko performed alongside Walker for an acoustic rendition of "Come Thru." These shows, spanning December 2019 to February 2020 in their core phase, drew strong attendance and underscored her rising popularity despite the cancellations. The COVID-19 pandemic halted in-person touring in 2020, forcing Walker to pivot to virtual and limited-capacity formats through 2021. She delivered remote performances for major events, including a sultry duet of "Come Thru" with Usher at the June 2020 BET Awards and her NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert in August 2020, which amassed millions of views for its raw, bedroom-recorded takes on hits like "Body" and "Session 32." Sporadic in-person appearances resumed cautiously in 2021, such as her collaboration with Ari Lennox on "Unloyal" at the Soul Train Awards in November, allowing her to maintain fan engagement amid health restrictions.

Later headlining tours

Following the success of her 2021 album , Summer Walker launched a limited headlining run in 2022 known as the Summer Walker Series, comprising four shows from March 20 to April 1 across , , , and . The tour featured opening acts NO1-NOAH and MARVXXL on all dates, with joining for the Houston and Dallas performances, drawing strong crowds and positive fan feedback for Walker's intimate delivery of R&B hits like "No More Love" and "Ex for a Reason." This brief outing marked her return to headlining after a period of selective appearances, emphasizing her growing international appeal with sold-out venues. Walker extended her 2022 commitments with additional headlining dates in April and May, including a performance at The Pavilion at in , on April 17, and a slot at Broccoli City Festival in Washington, D.C., on May 7, where she headlined alongside artists like . These shows, spanning , showcased her evolving stage presence amid personal challenges, receiving acclaim for high-energy sets that blended vulnerability with crowd engagement, though some dates faced postponements due to health concerns. In 2023, amid a partial hiatus focused on family and creative recovery, Walker made selective festival appearances to maintain her live presence, such as headlining sets at the Dreamville Festival in Raleigh on April 2, where she performed fan favorites including "" to an enthusiastic audience of over 40,000. Other notable outings included the Lovers & Friends Festival in on May 6 and the Strength of a Woman festival in on May 13, both of which highlighted her vocal prowess and received praise for emotionally resonant performances during a low-key touring year. These events underscored her strategic approach to live shows, balancing scale with personal well-being while grossing significant festival revenue contributions. In 2024, Walker continued her selective festival appearances, performing at Jazz in the Gardens in on March 9 and California in Inglewood on March 15. In 2025, following the release of her third studio album Finally Over It on November 14, Walker performed as a special guest on Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller's co-headlining tour, with dates spanning over 25 stadium shows across North America from July 11 (including in ) to October 5, featuring stops in cities such as Tampa, , and .

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Summer Walker has received several nominations from the across its annual , primarily in R&B categories, though she has yet to secure a win as of November 2025. Her nominations highlight her contributions as a lead and collaborator in , with recognition for both albums and songs that explore themes of relationships and emotional vulnerability. In 2023, at the , Walker earned her first nomination as a featured on Kendrick Lamar's album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, specifically for Album of the Year due to her vocal performance on the track "Purple Hearts." This marked an early acknowledgment of her growing influence in the genre, though the album's broader collaborative nature placed her in a supporting role for the nod. Walker achieved her first solo nomination in 2024, at the , for Best R&B Album with her EP Clear 2: Soft Life. Released in 2023, the project built on her signature intimate sound, earning praise for its production and lyrical depth, but it did not result in a win. Most recently, on November 7, 2025, Walker received two nominations for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2026: Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, both for her single "Heart of a Woman" from the album Finally Over It. These nods recognize the track's songwriting by Walker and David Bishop, emphasizing her evolution in crafting emotionally resonant R&B material.
YearCategoryWorkResult
2023 (65th)Album of the Year (Kendrick Lamar feat. Summer Walker)Nominated
2024 (66th)Best R&B AlbumClear 2: Soft LifeNominated
2026 (68th)Best R&B Performance"Heart of a Woman"Nominated
2026 (68th)Best R&B Song"Heart of a Woman"Nominated

Other accolades

Walker has received numerous accolades from major music awards ceremonies beyond the Grammys, recognizing her impact in the R&B genre. In 2020, she won the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Female Artist, honoring her breakthrough success with the album Over It and singles like "." She also earned the Chart Breaker Award at the 2022 event, celebrating her rapid chart dominance and sales exceeding 10 million units across projects. At the Soul Train Awards, Walker secured early career honors, including Best New Artist in 2019 for her debut EP Last Day of Summer and rising singles. The following year, she won Album of the Year for Over It, which debuted at number two on the and featured multi-platinum tracks such as "Come Thru" with Usher. In 2020, Walker received the iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New R&B Artist, acknowledging her swift ascent with over 1 billion global streams by that point. More recently, at the 2025 BET Awards, she was awarded the BET Her Award for "Heart of a Woman," praised for its empowering themes of and resilience in Black women's experiences. Walker's commercial achievements are further evidenced by RIAA certifications, with over 32 million units certified as of 2025, including platinum status for albums like Still Over It (2021) and multi-platinum singles such as "Girls Need Love" (7x platinum). These milestones underscore her role in revitalizing contemporary R&B through vulnerable lyricism and genre-blending production.

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