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Valee
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Valee Taylor (born August 27, 1988) is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. His third mixtape, 1988 (2017) was discovered by Pusha T, who led him to sign with fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West's record label GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in February 2018. His debut extended play (EP), GOOD Job, You Found Me was released the following month and executive produced by West. In May of that year, his single "Womp Womp" (featuring Jeremih) narrowly entered both the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100. In the following year, he parted ways with the label.[1][2][3][4]
Early life
[edit]Valee Taylor grew up on Chicago's South Side, living in the Robert Taylor Homes and moving repeatedly once they were demolished.[5] Valee has said his mother exposed him to musicians such as Erykah Badu, Sade, Jill Scott at an early age.[6] Valee pays homage to the artists frequently in his music.[6] He was trained as an auto mechanic, and earned income by working on automobiles from his mother's garage prior to recording.[7]
Throughout his schooling, he had repeated issues with anger, and his outbursts led to his expulsion from numerous schools.[5] The rapper cites Cash Money and Project Pat as early hip hop influences.[5]
Taylor says he decided to make music on a whim while living in the South Side of Chicago. He says he was on his way to purchase a video game system, but on the way decided to go to Guitar Center instead. He purchased the necessary equipment to start making beats and shortly after he began rapping over them.[8]
Music
[edit]Valee's early work includes collaborations with producers such as Rio Mac and Chase the Money.[5] His first song, "Cash Don't Bend" (with Ty Money) was released in 2015. From then until 2017, Valee released five independent projects: 12:12 (2015), 1:11 (2016), 2:22 (2016), 12:12 Again (2016) and 1988 (2017).[9]
After he was signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music by the label's then-president Pusha T in February 2018, he released his debut extended play and first retail project, GOOD Job, You Found Me. It was executive produced by West[10] and saw minimal commercial response, although Pitchfork reviewed the project and gave it a score of 7.4/10.[10]
In May 2018, Valee released the single "Womp Womp", featuring Jeremih.[11] The song was later featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 Netflix film Beats[12] leading its debut at number 98 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100[13] and at 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[14]
In 2019, he released a surprise EP, Runnin Rich, which included features from G Herbo, King Louie, and Vic Mensa.[15] The cover art is a picture of the rapper's pet Chihuahua dog named Cliff Notez, whom he was publicly condemned for dying red. Valee responded to the critics explaining he used "edible vegan dye" in order to color the pet's fur.[15] He also released tracks with Big Baby DRAM ("About U"), Matt Ox ("Awesome"), and Lil Yachty ("Wombo") and appeared on YG's album 4Real 4Real.[15]
Valee is currently managed by Andrew Barber, founder of notable Chicago Hip-Hop Blog: Fake Shore Drive.[16]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- 12:12 (2015)
- 12:12 Again (2016)
- 1988 (2017)
- Runnin' Rich (2019)
- VACABULAREE (2022)
Collaboration Albums
[edit]- The TrAppiEst Elevator Music Ever! (with AYOCHILLMANNN) (2021)
- The TrAppiEst Disco Music Ever! (with AYOCHILLMANNN) (2021)
- Gimme Five Im High (with CHASETHEMONEY) (2021)
- Virtuoso (with Harry Fraud) (2023)
- VALEEDATION (with MVW) (2023)
- CAR TOONS (with Top$ide & Trap-A-Holics) (2023)
EPs
[edit]- 1:11 (2016)
- 2:22 (2016)
- GOOD Job, You Found Me (2018)
- VLANE (with Stan Lane) (2021)
- VLANE (Instrumentals) (with Stan Lane) (2021)
- VLANE 2 (with Stan Lane) (2024)
- Partridge (with Black Noi$e) (2024)
Singles
[edit]- VTL (2016)
- Shell (2017)
- Acid (2017)
- I Got Whatever (2017)
- Miami (2017)
- Are U Live (with Chance the Rapper & Jeremih) (2017)
- Miami (Remix) (featuring Pusha T) (2018)
- Womp Womp (featuring Jeremih) (2018)
- Spondivits (with Dro Fe) (2018)
- Awesome (featuring Matt Ox) (2018)
- About U (featuring DRAM) (2018)
- You & Me Both (2019)
- Uninvited (featuring Calboy) (2019)
- Do My Thing (with Outlaw Mel, The Outfit & TX) (2020)
- Bling Bling (with CHASETHEMONEY) (2020)
- Still Do (with MVW) (2021)
- Us (with MVW) (2021)
- Aladdin (with Stan Lane) (2021)
- Fa Good (with Stan Lane) (2021)
- Picture Me (with the Kii & Kelvyn Colt) (2021)
- Hard 2 Notice? (with DarkoQuan & Eight O) (2021)
- Trident (with CHASETHEMONEY) (2022)
- AREA (with Bandland ZZ) (2022)
- BUN B (with Bandland ZZ) (2022)
- Will Pharrell (with DarkoQuan) (2022)
- Yhet (with AYOCHILLMANNN) (2022)
- Never That (with MVW & 645AR) (featuring Matt Ox) (2022)
- Gucci Wallabees (with DarkoQuan) (2022)
- Oscar (with MVW) (2022)
- Around + Wolfe's Deep Snippet (with KingTrey & Yvng.Wolfe) (featuring Michael Christmas) (2022)
- Long Week (2022)
- HERMES$ (featuring TyMadeit) (2022)
- Hedi (with Tommy Revenge & SkipOnDaBeat) (2022)
- Man Man (with My Favorite Color) (2022)
- Risk (with Z Money) (2023)
- Sci-Fi (with Meech La'flare) (featuring MOSCO) (2023)
- Yo Yo (with MVW) (featuring Tony Shhnow) (2023)
- Could Be (with MVW) (2023)
- Pistachio (with MVW) & Zelooperz) (2023)
- Yellow (with DarkoQuan) (2023)
- Vibrant (with MVW & Action Bronson) (2023)
- Watermelon Automobile (with Saba & Mavi) (2023)
- Chanel (with Kanine the Don) (2023)
- Tailor Swift (with MVW) (2023)
- Créme De La Créme (with MVW & Pink Siifu) (2023)
- CoMmandO (with Stan Lane) (2024)
- Kn0ck Kn0ck (with Sicario & YUNG KRONIK) (2024)
Personal life
[edit]Valee has two children and three dogs (Furrari, Ravioli and Sophia).[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (March 7, 2018). "Here's how Kanye West put his touch on Valee's new EP". The Fader. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Mahadevan, Tara. "7 Things You Need to Know About G.O.O.D. Music's Newest Signee Valee". Complex. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Garvey, Meaghan (January 26, 2018). "Introducing Valee, the G.O.O.D. Music-Approved Rapper With an Elegant Trap Sound". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Kot, Greg (March 9, 2018). "Chicago rapper Valee makes his mark on new EP, but gently". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Biography of Valee". Valee Music. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ a b Holmes, Charles. "10 Things To Know About Valee, The Chicago Rap Rookie Backed By Kanye And Chance". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (November 1, 2018). "Valee Is a Quiet Rapper Making a Lot of Noise". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Terry, Bryan Allen Lamb,Josh (April 21, 2017). "Welcome to the Warped World of Valee'". Vice. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Valee". Genius. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ a b "Valee: GOOD Job, You Found Me EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (May 2, 2018). "Valee – "Womp Womp" (Feat. Jeremih)". Stereogum. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ Hough, Quinn (June 21, 2019). "Every Song On Netflix's Beats Soundtrack". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100, week of June 1, 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100, week of June 8, 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Valee drops surprise EP Runnin' Rich". The FADER. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ two, Eric HendrixWriter at Red RollJust a native south side Chicago kid with an opinion or (January 28, 2020). "Valee: A New Wave of Music". Red Roll. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (May 7, 2018). "Valee, Kanye West's New Signee, Is a Rapper Who Just Might Build You a Koi Pond". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
Valee
View on GrokipediaBiography
Early life
Valee Taylor was born c. 1988 in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the Robert Taylor Homes, a high-rise public housing project in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side.[6][7] He spent much of his childhood moving around various areas of the South Side, navigating the challenges of growing up in a high-crime environment that included dangerous neighborhoods.[8] As a child, Taylor developed an early fascination with mechanics, often taking apart and reassembling objects to understand their inner workings.[6] From a young age, Taylor was exposed to music through his mother, who played soul artists such as Erykah Badu, Sade, and Jill Scott, shaping his appreciation for smooth, emotive sounds.[7] He also drew hip-hop influences from Southern acts like Project Pat and Three 6 Mafia, as well as Chicago's own Kanye West, which informed his rhythmic sensibilities during his formative years on the South Side.[1] Prior to pursuing music, Taylor worked as an electrician, carpenter, and car customizer after high school.[2][7] Around 2013, he decided to start rapping on a whim, purchasing recording equipment impulsively during a trip intended for buying a video game system, without any prior formal training.[1][7]Personal life
As of 2018, Valee is a father of two children and the owner of three dogs named Furrari, Ravioli, and Sophia.[9] In May 2019, Valee faced public backlash after posting a video on Instagram showing his Chihuahua, Cliff Notez, with its fur dyed bright red. The rapper clarified that he used an edible vegan dye, insisting it was safe and non-toxic for the animal. Despite his explanation, animal rights organization PETA issued a letter criticizing the act, stating that no animal desires to be dyed and urging Valee to avoid using pets as fashion accessories in the future.[10][11][12] Valee maintains strong ties to his hometown of Chicago, where he was born and raised, and continues to identify closely with the city's culture and work ethic in his lifestyle.[13][14]Career
Musical beginnings
Valee entered the music scene in 2014 with his debut single "Benji & Nina" featuring Ty Money on DJ Bandz's Chilanta mixtape.[1] He gained further local notice in 2015 by providing the hook for Ty Money's "Cash Don’t Bend" from the mixtape Cinco De Money.[1][15] Later that year, Valee released his debut mixtape 12:12 on December 12, which featured minimalist trap production and his signature laid-back, melodic delivery over 12 tracks.[1][16] Building on this momentum, Valee followed with the 1:11 EP on January 11, 2016, a six-track effort that showcased his self-produced beats and concise song structures, further honing his "chill trap" style distinct from Chicago's dominant drill sound.[17] He continued with the 2:22 EP on February 22, 2016, a five-track project emphasizing his unorthodox flows. Later that year, he released the mixtape 12:12 Again on December 12, expanding to 14 tracks with contributions from producers like Cardo and RioMac, including standout cuts like "Million Dollars" that emphasized his intricate flows and off-kilter lyricism.[18][19] These releases helped cultivate buzz in Chicago's rap circuit, where Valee was praised for his elegant, understated approach amid the city's competitive scene, earning shoutouts from peers like G Herbo.[1][6] In 2017, Valee continued his prolific output with singles like the self-produced "Shell," which amassed hundreds of thousands of streams for its woozy, innovative trap vibe, and "Two 16s" featuring local artist Z-Money, a track that demonstrated his breath control and became a minor sensation in Chicago clubs.[1][6] His third mixtape, 1988, hosted by DJ Bandz and released on April 21, solidified his rising profile with 10 tracks blending soulful samples and trap elements, ultimately catching the attention of Pusha T through tracks like "Miami."[20][21] Early collaborations during this period, such as his feature on Bowl King's No Glorification tape, underscored his growing connections within Chicago's hip-hop community.[1]GOOD Music era
In February 2018, Chicago rapper Valee signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music label after being scouted by Pusha T, who introduced him as the newest signee via Instagram.[22][23] Valee's debut EP under the label, GOOD Job, You Found Me, arrived in March 2018 and was executive produced by Kanye West, who provided guidance during its creation despite limited direct involvement in production.[24][25] The six-track project, spanning just over 14 minutes, earned critical acclaim for its minimalist trap sound and Valee's whispery delivery over sparse beats, with Pitchfork awarding it a 7.4 out of 10 and praising tracks like "Shell" for their catchy innovation.[26] That May, Valee released the single "Womp Womp" featuring Jeremih, a slinky collaboration produced by Cássio that highlighted his sly humor and bemused flow.[27] The track peaked at number 24 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 98 on the Canadian Hot 100, marking his first notable chart entry.[28] During this period, Valee engaged in several high-profile collaborations, including "Dim Sum" with Vic Mensa (2018), "Wombo" with Lil Yachty (2018), "Awesome" with Matt Ox (2018), "About U" with DRAM (2018), a cameo alongside Chance the Rapper in the "Dim Sum" video, and "I Was on the Block" with YG (2019).[29][30][31][32] Valee released his final project under GOOD Music, the EP Runnin' Rich on June 4, 2019, featuring collaborations with G Herbo, Vic Mensa, and King Louie. He parted ways with the label later that year, reflecting in interviews on the split as a move toward greater creative independence.[33]Independent releases
After departing GOOD Music in late 2019, Valee began working under the management of Andrew Barber, founder of the Chicago hip-hop platform Fake Shore Drive, who helped guide his independent trajectory starting around that time. This partnership emphasized Valee's prolific nature, allowing him to experiment with diverse producers and collaborators while maintaining a low-key, self-directed approach. In 2021, Valee expanded his collaborative efforts with the release of The TrAppiEst Elevator Music Ever!, an 11-track project with producer AYOCHILLMANNN released on March 23, that blended trap elements with elevator-music-inspired beats, featuring appearances from artists like Top$ide on tracks such as "Make Em Say Ugh." This was followed by his first independent solo full-length album, VACABULAREE, on December 7, 2022, a 15-song effort produced by the likes of Zelooperz and Na-Kel Smith, showcasing Valee's signature laid-back flows over eclectic, vibe-heavy instrumentals. The album highlighted his evolution toward more introspective and genre-blending sounds, though it received niche acclaim rather than widespread commercial success. Valee's output accelerated in 2023 with several notable projects. He collaborated with Detroit producer Top$ide on the mixtape CAR TOONS, hosted by DJ Trap-A-Holics and released December 15, featuring 10kdunkin and King Hendricks over 12 tracks of playful trap. Virtuoso, released on July 21, paired him with New York producer Harry Fraud for 11 tracks that fused soulful samples with Valee's off-kilter delivery, including standout features from Action Bronson on "Vibrant," and Saba and Mavi on "Watermelon Automobile." Later that year, on October 20, he dropped VALEEDATION with producer MVW, a 14-track set via MVW Productions and Fake Shore Drive that incorporated playful, offbeat production and guest spots like Pink Siifu on "Créme De La Creme." These projects underscored Valee's growing network in underground hip-hop circles, prioritizing artistic synergy over mainstream appeal. Extending into 2024, Valee continued his collaborative streak with shorter EPs that maintained his experimental edge. VLANE 2, a five-track EP with producer Stan Lane released on March 29, explored cloud rap influences with concise, atmospheric cuts like "CoMmandO" and "SeE it." Shortly after, on May 3, he teamed with Detroit producer Black Noi$e for Partridge, another five-song EP featuring quirky, sample-driven beats on tracks such as "All Spice" and "Clutch." In August, Valee released his solo album V-Sides on August 16, a 13-track project delving into abstract trap vibes. Closing the year, he collaborated with Surf Gang on the EP GREY SKY LONDON released December 13, blending moody production with features across five tracks. In 2025, Valee reunited with Harry Fraud for the collaborative album EGONOMICS, released May 16, featuring guests like Bruiser Wolf, Curren$y on "Driver's Ed," DRAM, and Z Money, evolving his braggadocious style over nine soul-infused trap beats.[34] Throughout this independent era, Valee also gained minor visibility through placements like his 2018 single "Womp Womp" (featuring Jeremih) on the soundtrack for the 2019 Netflix film Beats, but he has yet to achieve major commercial breakthroughs, instead building a cult following through consistent, producer-focused releases.Musical style and influences
Artistic style
Valee's artistic style is characterized by an "elegant trap" sound, which blends muted, impressionistic trap beats with open space and subtle production elements to create a chill, laid-back atmosphere.[6] This approach features minimalistic flows that prioritize light-footed, magnetic rhythms over dense layering, often self-produced to emphasize understated charisma and innovative shifts in cadence, such as double-time bursts or seamless, no-pause phrasing.[6] Soulful undertones in the production, drawing from serene and off-kilter arrangements, contribute to a zen-like serenity that distinguishes his work from more aggressive trap variants.[2] His lyrics are witty and concise, frequently centering on themes of luxury, high-end cars, and vignettes of everyday Chicago life, infused with vivid, relatable imagery from his Bronzeville upbringing, including nightclub and strip club scenes.[2] These elements are delivered through a soft, understated murmur that avoids irritation, focusing on smooth, melodic phrasing rather than confrontational bars, with auto-tune employed sparingly to maintain a natural, articulate flow.[6] This calm, distinctive delivery enhances the thematic elegance, allowing punchy observations on opulence and urban routines to land with quiet precision. Over time, Valee's style has evolved from the raw energy of his early mixtapes, where quick self-production captured unpolished trap urgency, to more refined and experimental vibes in his independent releases.[2] Post-GOOD Music, collaborations like those with producer MVW have introduced polished fusions of trap with contemporary classical structures, termed "museum rap," resulting in sophisticated melodies and genre-transcending arrangements that build on his core minimalism.[35] Recent projects, such as the 2025 album EGONOMICS with Harry Fraud, showcase this progression through ghostly, precise soul-trap beats and braggadocious yet breezy lyricism, tiptoeing understated techniques over intricate samples for a connoisseur's trap aesthetic.[5]Influences
Valee's musical influences draw heavily from neo-soul artists, particularly Erykah Badu and Sade, whose works introduced him to melodic structures and emotional depth during his formative years.[36] In interviews, he has expressed admiration for their smooth vocal deliveries and soulful introspection, citing a desire to sample or collaborate with Badu and Sade to infuse trap elements with neo-soul's atmospheric quality.[36] Similarly, Valee has highlighted Jill Scott as a key figure, envisioning tracks that blend her soulful style with trap production to create hybrid sounds.[37] His hip-hop foundations stem from Southern rap pioneers, including Cash Money Records,[36] which instilled trap rhythms and a distinctive swagger in his approach. Valee has named Project Pat's debut album Ghetty Green as a personal favorite, crediting its raw energy and flow innovations for shaping his rhythmic sensibilities alongside Three 6 Mafia's collective influence.[38] These elements provide the gritty, bass-heavy backbone to his music, contrasting with the smoother soul layers. The Chicago rap scene further molds Valee's style through interactions with local talents, allowing him to fuse Southern trap with the city's eclectic hip-hop and R&B undercurrents.[6] Collaborations with artists like ZMoney exemplify this blend, where Chicago's innovative beat selection and laid-back flows merge with broader R&B influences to produce a unique regional sound.[6] As Valee has noted in discussions of the city's diverse talent, these local inspirations contribute to an "otherworldly" aesthetic in his work, characterized by off-kilter rhythms and ethereal vibes that transcend traditional drill or party rap.[36]Discography
Mixtapes
Valee's early projects were self-released mixtapes that introduced his minimalist trap style. 12:12 was released independently on December 12, 2015, featuring 12 tracks that showcased his concise lyricism and trap-influenced sound.[39] The follow-up, 12:12 Again, arrived on December 12, 2016, via independent release, with additional tracks expanding on the debut's themes, production, and wordplay.[40] 1988, released independently on December 12, 2017, was a breakthrough mixtape with 12 tracks that garnered viral attention, including the feature on Z-Money's "Two 16's," leading to label interest.[41]Studio albums
Following his mixtape era and GOOD Music affiliation, Valee released full-length studio albums independently. Runnin' Rich was issued on June 4, 2019, featuring collaborations with Chicago artists like Vic Mensa, King Louie, and G Herbo, emphasizing his creative freedom.[42] In 2022, Valee released VACABULAREE through Shell Company Records, an independent album with introspective lyrics and varied beats, reflecting his artistic evolution.[43] V-Sides, a solo effort, was released on August 16, 2024, comprising 13 tracks that continued his abstract trap sound.[44]Collaborative albums
Valee has collaborated on several full-length albums with fellow artists and producers, sharing primary billing to fuse their styles into cohesive projects that expand his discography. The TrAppiEst Elevator Music Ever!, released on March 23, 2021, marks an early collaborative effort with producer AYOCHILLMANNN. The 11-track album reimagines trap music through smooth, ambient production reminiscent of elevator music, featuring contributions from Bandland ZZ on select cuts and emphasizing laid-back flows over minimalist beats.[45] In 2023, Valee partnered with Top$ide for CAR TOONS, released on December 15 and hosted by Trap-A-Holics. The 12-track project blends Chicago and Detroit trap aesthetics with features from 10kdunkin and King Hendricks.[46] Also in 2023, Valee partnered with veteran producer Harry Fraud for the entirely production-driven album Virtuoso, released on July 21. Fraud's beats draw from soul, jazz, and orchestral samples, providing a lush backdrop for Valee's concise, melodic delivery across 11 tracks. Guest appearances from Action Bronson, 03 Greedo, Saba, Mavi, and RXK Nephew add layered verses, highlighting the project's focus on refined, vignette-style songwriting rather than extended narratives.[47][48] Valee closed out 2023 with VALEEDATION, a joint album with producer MVW released on October 20. The 14-track project delves into experimental hip-hop, crafting abstract soundscapes that evoke fine art through distorted samples, unconventional rhythms, and introspective lyricism. Features from Pink Siifu, Zelooperz, Tony Shhnow, and Bbyafricka contribute to its boundary-pushing vibe, reflecting the duo's fluid chemistry and innovative approach to genre fusion.[35][49][50] In 2025, Valee collaborated with Harry Fraud again for EGONOMICS, released on May 16. The 9-track album features guests like Bruiser Wolf and Curren$y, evolving his braggadocious, abstract trap sound.[51] That year, Valee and MVW released WHERE WERE WE on November 14, a 15-track collaborative album via MVW Productions / Fake Shore Drive, featuring Niontay and Z Money, exploring refined experimental hip-hop.[52]EPs
Valee's extended plays represent key milestones in his career, showcasing his evolution from underground mixtape roots to label-backed releases and recent independent collaborations. These projects, typically featuring fewer than ten tracks, highlight his concise approach to songwriting and production partnerships. His early EP, 2:22, was released on February 22, 2016, comprising 5 tracks self-produced with minimalistic beats, introducing themes of street life and introspection, clocking in at around 14 minutes.[53] 1:11, released on January 11, 2016, comprising six tracks that built upon the sound of his earlier mixtapes like 12:12. Self-produced with minimalistic beats, it introduced Valee's signature laid-back delivery and themes of street life and introspection, clocking in at around 15 minutes.[54][55] In 2018, Valee issued GOOD Job, You Found Me, his first project under Kanye West's GOOD Music imprint, executive produced by West and released on March 2. This six-track EP, featuring a guest appearance by Pusha T on "Miami," emphasized sparse, atmospheric production and Valee's whispery flows over consumerist lyrics, marking his major-label introduction.[56][26] More recently, VLANE 2, a collaborative EP with producer Stan Lane, arrived on March 29, 2024, as a five-track effort totaling nine minutes. Entirely produced by Lane, it delves into cloud rap aesthetics with icy, minimal beats and Valee's rhythmic wordplay, continuing his independent phase post-GOOD Music.[57][58] On May 3, 2024, Valee partnered with Detroit producer Black Noie without additional guests. The project experiments with off-kilter rhythms and abstract lyricism, creating a "weird & wonderful" synergy that showcases Valee's adaptability in experimental hip-hop contexts.[59][60] FOE LUCY'S, VOL. 8: OOT2LAY, a collaborative EP with Bandland ZZ, was released on October 23, 2024, featuring 4 tracks produced by Lil Amg and Kilt Karter, blending trap and cloud rap elements.[61] GREY SKY LONDON, released December 13, 2024, is a collaborative EP with Surf Gang, consisting of 5 tracks that fuse Valee's style with the collective's experimental trap sound.[62]Singles
Valee began releasing singles in the mid-2010s, establishing his laid-back, melodic trap style through independent mixtape cuts and later major-label efforts under GOOD Music. His early work often featured Chicago collaborators, blending boastful lyrics with minimalistic production. As he transitioned to independence post-2019, Valee continued dropping standalone tracks, focusing on collaborations with producers like Harry Fraud and artists in the underground rap scene.[1] Notable standalone singles include:| Title | Year | Featured artist(s) | Chart performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Cash Don’t Bend" | 2015 | Fat Money | N/A | Debut single from Valee's mixtape 12:12, produced by RioMac and Y.F Beatz; marked his initial foray into trap production.[63][15] |
| "Womp Womp" | 2018 | Jeremih | #36 Rhythmic Songs (Billboard), #24 Bubbling Under Hot 100, #98 Canadian Hot 100 | Lead GOOD Music single produced by Cássio; gained traction via HBO's Ballers soundtrack placement and became a summer anthem for its playful hook.[64][65][66] |
| "Awesome" | 2018 | Matt Ox | N/A | GOOD Music/Def Jam release produced by Nick Mira; highlighted Valee's effortless flow alongside Matt Ox's distinctive delivery.[67][68][69] |
| "Driver's Ed" | 2025 | Harry Fraud, Curren$y | N/A | Independent single previewing the collaborative album EGONOMICS; showcases Valee's ongoing evolution with veteran producer Harry Fraud.[70][71] |
References
- https://www.[hotnewhiphop](/page/HotNewHipHop).com/910165-valee-currensy-harry-fraud-drivers-ed-stream
