TeeFlii

TeeFLii

TeeFlii performing in 2013.
Background information
Birth name Christian Jones
Born (1987-07-17) July 17, 1987
Origin South Central, Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • organ
  • piano
  • guitar
  • drums
Years active 2007–present
Labels
  • Excuse My Liquor
  • Epic
Associated acts
Website teeflii.com

Christian Jones (born July 17, 1987), better known by his stage name TeeFLii, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and Record producer from South Central, Los Angeles, California. He is currently signed to Epic Records. He is best known for his debut commercial single "24 Hours", which was premiered in March 2014, and features 2 Chainz. His debut studio album Starr was released February 3, 2015 by Epic Records.

Early life

TeeFlii first learned of music as a kid in church, drawn to keyboards after seeing how much his grandfather, who was a pastor, paid his organ players.[1] Frequenting his grandfather's church, he learned to play multiple instruments, such as the organ, piano, guitar and drums.[2] TeeFlii had both a spoiled and wild childhood. The spoiled part being that, he played drums for Barbra Streisand at a Democratic Party event. He spoke of the wild part saying, "I was bad—fighting, stealing. I’d go take your bike, bring it to my backyard, spray-paint it, try to ride it around."[1] Throughout his childhood, his mother battled drug addiction, and he did not know his biological father until his teens. TeeFlii started smoking weed at age eight and moved out of his parents' place for good at age thirteen.[2]

As a teenager, TeeFlii got into dancing and krumping, performing under the name Baby Tight Eyez and earned placement in a few early Chris Brown music videos as well as appearing in a major role in Rize, David LaChapelle's 2005 documentary about Los Angeles' Krump scene. After the film was released, by the time he was 19, he had been living at various friends' houses, and after having his first daughter he went through an issue with the mother, where he lost visitation rights. He then started writing songs for other people to "get the vent off" and started seeing a better chance at stability in his life, so he pushed himself as an artist.[1]

Musical career

TeeFlii (left) performing with frequent collaborator Nipsey Hussle in December 2013.

Early on his career prior to releasing his first project, TeeFlii collaborated with West Coast-based rappers such as Problem, YG, Nipsey Hussle and Skeme.[2] His debut mixtape AnNieRuO'TAY 1 was released on December 1, 2012. It featured collaborations with Skeme, Problem, Bad Lucc, and Nipsey Hussle among others.[3] AnNieRuO'TAY 1 was met with generally positive reviews from music critics.[4] His second official mixtape AnNieRuO'TAY 2: The TakeOver was released on March 5, 2013.[5] It featured production by DJ Mustard, 1500 or Nothin' and TeeFlii himself. At the same time he was recording his next mixtape, a project entirely produced by DJ Mustard to be released soon.[5] He also indicated that he was working on a project with Nipsey Hussle.[6] AnNieRuO'TAY 2 was met with mainstream coverage from publications such as Chicago Reader,[7] and Fact,[8] among others.

On July 4, 2013, TeeFlii released his third mixtape in eight months, the DJ Mustard-produced Fireworks. It featured collaborations with Dom Kennedy, Casey Veggies, Ty Dolla Sign, Omarion and E-40, among others.[9] The mixtape would receive positive reviews upon release, Stereogum would end up naming it the "Mixtape of the Week".[10] Rolling Stone also would name it the fourth best mixtape of 2013. They said, "Where Mustard’s beats normally evoke a strip club's booty-whomp, here he pushes himself, brilliantly, towards R&B smoothness."[11] On July 16, 2013, the music video for "This D" was premiered by Vice.[12] In August 2013, TeeFlii signed to Epic Records after being actively persuaded by label executive L.A. Reid.[1] Then on October 2, 2013, "This D" was released as his debut single.[12] The following day, he released the remix to "This D", featuring Jadakiss and Tyga.[13] After "This D" received major radio rotation in Los Angeles, he got a major co-sign from rapper Snoop Dogg.[14] The song would peak at number 35 on the US Billboard Rhythmic chart.[15]

In October 2013, LA Weekly named TeeFlii the best R&B singer in Los Angeles.[16] On November 25, 2013, he released his fourth mixtape AnnieRUO'TAY 3: Who The Fuck Is Annie?. The seventeen track mixtape featured a collaboration with Dom Kennedy and production by The Futuristiks and himself, among others.[17][18] On December 9, 2013, "That's How We Livin'" a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Warren G was released. It was then included on Snoop's mixtape That's My Work Vol. 2.[19]

On March 26, 2014, TeeFlii premiered his second official single "24 Hours" featuring 2 Chainz, with production by DJ Mustard. Along with its release, it was announced that TeeFlii's debut studio album would be titled Starr and released during mid-2014.[20] "24 Hours" was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United States on April 7, 2014,[21] and then was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio on May 6, 2014.[22] The track peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as a bonus track on Starr.

Personal life

TeeFlii's invocations of his faith are frequent as he believes in Christianity. His grandmother was a gospel singer and his aunt harmonized for Elvis Presley's backup group, The Sweet Inspirations.[2] His grandmother is the one that taught him the most about singing.[23] He has five children; three daughters, and two sons. [2]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B/HH US
Rap
Starr — 42 —
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes
Title Album details
AnNieRuO'TAY 1
AnNieRuO'TAY 2: The TakeOver
  • Released: March 7, 2013
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma & DJ Mustard
  • Format: Digital download
Fireworks
  • Released: July 4, 2013
  • Produced by DJ Mustard
  • Format: Digital download
AnNieRuO'TAY 3: Who The Fuck Is Annie
  • Released: November 21, 2013
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma
  • Format: Digital download
AnnieRuO'TAY 4
  • Released: June 30, 2015
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B/HH		 US
Rap		 US
Rhythmic
"This D" 2013 — — — 35 N/A
"24 Hours"
(featuring 2 Chainz)		 2014 85 21 15 8 Starr
"Change Your World" — — — —
"Blue Lipstick"
(featuring Chris Brown)		 — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of featured singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B/HH		 US
Rap
"Still Callin'"
(Dom Kennedy featuring TeeFlii)		 2014 — — — Get Home Safely
"Do It to Ya"
(YG featuring TeeFlii)		 — — — My Krazy Life
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest Appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"Like Me" 2012 Problem Welcome To Mollywood 2
"Hollywood" DJ Quik, Hollywood
"Fuck That Nigga" 2013 DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla Sign, Constantine, Tory Lanez Ketchup
"Hate It or Love It" Nipsey Hussle Crenshaw
"Sprung" YG Just Re'd Up 2
"Get It" RJ O.M.M.I.O
"That's How We Livin" Snoop Dogg, Warren G I Got That Work Vol. 3
"Favorite Position" 2014 Boxxx XTC
"Where The Party At" Slim 400 Keepin' It 400
"Deep" DJ Mustard, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa 10 Summers
"Valet" Eric Bellinger, Pleasure P Choose Up Season

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "GEN F: TeeFLii". The Fader. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Weiss, Jeff (2013-06-13). "TeeFlii Starred in Rize. Now He's About the Hottest Underground R&B Singer Going | Music | Los Angeles | Los Angeles News and Events". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  3. ↑ Dell (2012-12-01). "Tee Flii – AnNieRuO’TAy 1 [Mixtape] | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  4. ↑ "TeeFlii :: AnnieRUO'Tay :: TeeFlii.com". Rapreviews.com. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  5. 1 2 "Download TeeFLii’s AnnieRUO’TAY 2 Mixtape". The Fader. 2013-03-06. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  6. ↑ "Meet TeeFlii, the Ratchet Prince of Los Angeles R&B | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  7. ↑ Galil, Leor (2013-06-17). "Take a break from all this Kanye and Jay-Z talk with TeeFlii | Bleader". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  8. ↑ "Tee Flii channels The-Dream on new mixtape AnnieRUO’TAY2 – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  9. ↑ "DJ Mustard, TeeFLii "Fireworks" Mixtape". Complex. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  10. ↑ "Mixtape Of The Week: TeeFLii & DJ Mustard Fireworks". Stereogum. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  11. ↑ "10 Best Mixtapes of 2013: DJ Mustard TeeFlii, 'Fireworks'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  12. 1 2 "Here's the New Video for TeeFlii's "This D" | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  13. ↑ "TeeFLii f. Tyga and Jadakiss, "This D (Remix)" MP3". The Fader. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  14. ↑ "The Break Presents: TeeFlii - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  15. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f=ts_chart_artistname%3A%2ATeeflii%2A&f=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Teeflii
  16. ↑ "Los Angeles Best R&B Singer | Best Of 2013 | Arts & Entertainment | Los Angeles News and Events". LA Weekly. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  17. ↑ Ju, Shirley (2013-11-25). "TeeFlii "ANNIERUO'TAY 3: Who The Fuck Is Annie?" Cover Art, Tracklisting, Download & Mixtape Stream | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  18. ↑ » by Trent Clark November 27, 2013, 7:42am (2013-11-27). "TeeFlii - AnnieRUOTAY 3 Mixtape". Hiphopwired.com. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  19. ↑ "TeeFlii f/ Snoop Dogg & Warren G "That's How We Livin'"". Complex. 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  20. ↑ http://noisey.vice.com/blog/premiere-teeflii-feat-2-chainz-24-hours
  21. ↑ http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases
  22. ↑ http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases
  23. ↑ Montes, Patrick (2013-08-09). "TeeFLii Turned R&B Into "Fly'n'B" With a Little Bit Of Ratchetness". Blogs.ocweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
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