Ty Dolla Sign

Ty Dolla Sign

Ty Dolla $ign in 2015
Background information
Birth name Tyrone William Griffin, Jr.
Born (1985-04-13) April 13, 1985
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active 2007–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website dollasignworld.com

Tyrone William Griffin, Jr. (born April 13, 1985),[1][2] better known by his stage name Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American hip hop and R&B recording artist from Los Angeles, California. He first gained major recognition in 2010, through his appearance on YG's "Toot It and Boot It," which Ty Dolla Sign wrote and produced for Def Jam Recordings. In the summer of 2013, he signed a record deal with Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records. He is best known for his hit singles "Paranoid", "Or Nah" and "Blasé",[3] as well as writing the hooks to "Loyal", "Post to Be" and "FourFiveSeconds".[4]

Musical career

2007–11: Early career

The son of musician Tyrone Griffin, a member of Lakeside,[5] Ty Dolla Sign began his music career by learning how to play the bass guitar. Since then, he also learned to play drums, guitar, keyboards and the MPC.[6] Later, he and his partner Kory, signed a record deal with Venus Brown and Buddah Brown Ent, and released a mixtape, titled Raw & Bangin Mixtape Vol 2. The duo also made guest appearances on albums by other artists such as Sa-Ra Creative Partners and Black Milk, where they sang on the song "U" on the latter's 2007 recording Popular Demand.[7] However, that deal began to fall through, causing Dolla Sign and Kory to call it quits with each other.

After the dispute, Dolla Sign would collaborate with YG, a fellow rapper from Los Angeles.[8] Dolla Sign's initial claim to fame was through the success of YG's single "Toot It and Boot It",[9] a song he both wrote and produced with YG.[10] He then became affiliated with YG's group Pu$haz Ink. During 2011, Dolla Sign released his first song, "All Star", featuring Joe Moses, with production by Fuego. Ty Dolla Sign then released "My Cabana", featuring Young Jeezy, which was ranked on Complex's Best 50 Songs of 2012 list at number 23.[11]

2012–14: Beach House series

Ty Dolla Sign in November 2013.

In 2012, Ty Dolla Sign signed a deal to Atlantic Records.[12] After signing a deal, he then released his first mixtape, titled Beach House on October 1, 2012.[13] Following the release of his second mixtape, titled Beach House 2 on July 1, 2013. This project features guest appearances from Too $hort, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J and Kirko Bangz, among others.[14] On the following day, it was revealed that he was signed to a deal to Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records.[15] During mid-2013, he toured with Khalifa and A$AP Rocky, among others on the name of "Under the Influence of Music 2".[16]

On September 10, 2013, Ty Dolla Sign released a song, titled "Paranoid" featuring B.o.B, with the production handled by DJ Mustard. The song was later announced to be his first single, that would be featured on his new EP. The song would eventually be certified Platinum two years later.[17] On October 22, 2013, the Ethan Lader-directed music video for "Paranoid", premiered via Diddy's Revolt.[18][19] The single became highly popular, also the song peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of January 4, 2014.

On January 7, 2014, Ty Dolla Sign released his second single for the EP, titled "Or Nah" featuring Wiz Khalifa and DJ Mustard.[20] Additionally the song's production was handled also by DJ Mustard and it contains a sample of Trillville's "Some Cut".[21][22] The music video was shot and filmed, during January 2014.[23] On January 21, 2014, Ty Dolla Sign released his debut extended play, Beach House EP. The EP features guest appearances from Casey Veggies, Wiz Khalifa, Twista, Jay Rock, Trey Songz, French Montana, Travi$ Scott and Fredo Santana, while the production was primarily handled by Ty Dolla Sign himself, along with DJ Mustard,[24][25] Cardo and Young Chop, among others. He stated that the EP would feature a new sound from him, and that it would be on a whole other level compared to his other mixtapes.[25] Ty Dolla Sign described the EP as being a preview for his debut album, at the time due to be released later during 2014.[26] The remix to "Paranoid" featuring Trey Songz, French Montana and DJ Mustard, is featured on the EP.[27]

2014–present: Free TC

On February 23, 2014, Ty Dolla Sign revealed that his debut album would be titled Free TC, and would be released during the third quarter of 2014. He told Revolt, that he had already completed 8 songs for the album, and that he would be going on the tour, named Under the Influence 3 with Wiz Khalifa during 2014.[28] He was chosen for the 2014's XXL freshman class.[29] In May 2014, Ty Dolla Sign told The Fader, that he would release a mixtape, $ign Language sometime during the next few months, which would then be followed by Free TC.[30] In August 2014, Dolla $ign revealed that Jeremih, Wiz Khalifa, YG, Yo Gotti and Jay 305 will be appearing on Sign Language.[31] On August 24, 2014, which happens to be the same day, as he released his mixtape Sign Language, Ty Dolla Sign told HotNewHipHop, that he has worked with Rihanna on a track from her upcoming album.[32]

While working on his debut album, Ty Dolla Sign appeared on Chris Brown and Tyga's Fan of a Fan: The Album on the second track, titled "Nothin' Like Me", as well as Big Sean's song "Play No Games" off of Dark Sky Paradise. On May 26, 2015, he released his first single for Free TC, titled "Only Right" featuring TeeCee4800, Joe Moses and YG, produced by DJ Mustard.

On June 26, 2015, he released his second single for Free TC, titled "Blasé" featuring Future and Rae Sremmurd.

On July 1st, 2015, Ty was featured on Snow Tha Product's "One Time". They had done the successful song "Don't Judge Me" two years earlier.

Free TC's fourth single, titled "Saved", which features E-40, peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.[33] Ty's album pre-order as well as the third single "When I See Ya" featuring Fetty Wap, became available on September 11, 2015.[34] Ty revealed that on October 13, 2015, exactly one month before his album comes out, he would release a new mixtape Airplane Mode.[35] The album was released on the 13th of November, 2015, via Taylor Gang Records, Atlantic Records & Pu$haz Ink. On February 26, 2016, Fifth Harmony released the single "Work from Home" featuring Ty Dolla Sign, which so far has peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.[36][37]

Artistry

Ty Dolla Sign in 2013.

Musical style

Ty Dolla Sign sings and raps, combining elements of hip hop and contemporary R&B. When asked if he was a rapper, he stated: "People would call it rap, but I really don’t feel like I rap. There’s so many great rappers, like if we had to battle or some shit, they would just cream me. I don’t really consider myself a rapper, I just happen to have bars, or something like that. I still sing man, I’m a singer, ya feel me?"[38]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Griffin, Tyrone William Jr. "Songwriter/Composer: GRIFFIN TYRONE WILLIAM JR". Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Happy Birthday, Ty Dolla $ign". The Boombox. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ty-dolla-ign-mn0002659130/awards
  4. ↑ http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/sign-language-5-songs-you-didn-t-know-ty-dolla-sign-penned-news.14180.html
  5. ↑ Sundermann, Eric (August 12, 2013). "Ty Dolla $ign Just Wants to Be a Man | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  6. ↑ Leight, Elias. "Ty Dolla $ign Talks 'New Black Punk,' Loving Babyface, Gritty 'Free TC' LP". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  7. ↑ Chau, Danny. "Los Angeles Plays Itself: The Surprising Rise of Ty Dolla $ign". grantland.com. Grantland. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  8. ↑ "Hanging With 50 Cent and Breaking Into the Industry — Who Is Ty Dolla $ign?". Complex. October 26, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ Sittner, Brian. "Eclipse Magazine interviews Tydolla$ign". Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  10. ↑ Torres, Gina. "Producer Tydolla$ign Releases New Mixtape "House on the Hill"". Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  11. ↑ "23. Ty Dolla $ign "My Cabana" — The 50 Best Songs of 2012". Complex. December 11, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign on Singing, Producing and Screwing Your Girlfriend - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  13. ↑ Bacher, Danielle (2013-10-03). "I Hung Out With Ty$ the Other Night. Things Got Out of Hand | West Coast Sound | Los Angeles | Los Angeles News and Events | LA Weekly". Blogs.laweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  14. ↑ "19. Ty Dolla Sign, Beach House 2 — The Most Anticipated Albums of Summer 2013". Complex. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  15. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign Officially Joins Taylor Gang". Vibe. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  16. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign Reveals 'Beach House EP' Tracklist". Theboombox.com. 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  17. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20151210220147/http://riaa.com/media/E955FF19-5B8E-2D2A-4463-2908FF95F5C8.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ "It Doesn’t End Well For Ty Dolla $ign In New Video, "Paranoid"". TheSource. 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  19. ↑ Ben says: (2013-10-22). "Video: Ty Dolla $ign f. B.o.B., "Paranoid"". The Fader. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  20. ↑ "Or Nah (feat. Wiz Khalifa and DJ Mustard) [Explicit]: Ty Dolla $ign: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. January 7, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign f/ Wiz Khalifa "Or Nah"". Complex. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  22. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign ft. Wiz Khalifa – "Or Nah"". Hiphopwired.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  23. ↑ "38. Ty Dolla $ign, Beach House EP — The Most Anticipated Albums of 2014". Complex. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  24. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign EP Release Date & Tracklisting - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  25. 1 2 timsanchez818 (2013-12-10). "Exclusive: Ty Dolla $ign Sounds Off On New EP And Imitators". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  26. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign Wants To Rule The Summer Again - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  27. ↑ Miranda J. (December 11, 2013). "Ty Dolla $ign EP Release Date & Tracklisting – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  28. ↑ "REVOLT – Ty Dolla $ign Prepping Debut Album, 'Free TC'". REVOLT. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  29. ↑ "XXL Freshmen 2014 Cover Revealed". XXL. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  30. ↑ Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "Cover Story: Ty Dolla $ign Is the Life of the Party". The FADER. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  31. ↑ Patrick Lyons. "Ty Dolla $ign Says That Jeremih, Wiz Khalifa, YG And Yo Gotti Appear On His "Sign Language" Mixtape [Update: Release Date And Artwork Revealed]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  32. ↑ Patrick Lyons. "Ty Dolla $ign Talks Working With Rihanna And Meeting 2Pac". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  35. ↑ "Ty Dolla $ign on Twitter: "#AIRPLANEMODE MIXTAPE TOMORROW!! LISTEN TO TRACK #1 NOW:"". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  36. ↑ Lynch, Joe (February 26, 2016). "Fifth Harmony Debuts 'Work From Home' Video, Talks Renaming Single to Avoid Rihanna Confusion". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Fifth Harmony - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Who Is Ty Dolla $ign?". Complex. October 26, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  39. ↑ Westhoff, Ben Ty Dolla $ign: crunch time for rap's reigning hooksmith The Guardian. October 29, 2015

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