Lucki Camel Jr. (born May 30, 1996), known mononymously as LUCKI, is an American rapper and record producer from Chicago, Illinois. Regarded as an influential figure in underground hip-hop, he initially came to public attention in 2013 after releasing his debut mixtape, Alternative Trap. He followed with a number of projects, including his debut studio album Freewave 3 (2019); he later followed with the mixtapes Days B4 III (2019) and Almost There (2020) after signing to record label Empire.[1]
Lucki | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lucki Camel Jr. |
| Also known as |
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| Born | May 30, 1996 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Empire |
| Website | https://www.sincerelylucki.com/ |
Lucki went on to achieve mainstream prominence with the singles "New Drank" and "Super Urus"; The latter served as the lead single to Lucki's second studio album Flawless Like Me (2022), which debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200.[2] Lucki's third studio album, S*x M*ney Dr*gs (2023), went on to debut at number 15.[3]
Early life
editLucki Camel Jr. was born on May 30, 1996, in the West Side of Chicago, Illinois. He listened to Erykah Badu, Prince, and The Notorious B.I.G. growing up[4] and cites Chief Keef, Future, Kanye West and Babyface Ray as some of his current inspirations.[5] Lucki started rapping in his first year of high school after praise from his close friends. Soon after, he dropped out of Proviso East High School at the age of 16 to pursue music full-time because the pressure of the high-school fame went against his will to study.
Career
edit2012–2013: "Untouchable Lucki"
editInitially known as "Lucki Eck$",[6] his debut single and music video "Untouchable Lucki" was produced and premiered by music blog Elevator.[7] Lucki's music was first brought to Elevator co-founder Bryan Zawlocki's attention by Lucki's friends Antoinne Bryant and Kevin Wright Jr, who at the time were interns for Elevator. Elevator subsequently produced Lucki's first two music videos "Untouchable" and "Everything Outside", both directed by Bryan Zawlocki, alongside Antoinne Bryant and Kevin Wright Jr.
2013–2014: Alternative Trap
editWith his friend and producer Plu2o Nash and other producers, Lucki released his first project, titled Alternative Trap at the age of 17. Lucki garnered attention from multiple music blogs including Fake Shore Drive, Elevator, Complex and Noisey, because of his distinct flow and cadence, most prominent on his lead single "Count on Me", which garnered over 700,000 views on YouTube.[8]
After receiving attention from music blogs for his self-proclaimed "alternative trap" music, Lucki started receiving attention from other music artists as well. In July 2014, FKA Twigs collaborated with Lucki on a song titled "Ouch Ouch"; the collaboration was a celebration of Twigs' recent visit to Chicago, as she tends to collaborate with local artists when she travels.[9]
August 2014 saw the release of his second project, Body High. Later on that month, Red Bull Sound Select released a track titled "Weightin' On", featuring Danny Brown, whom he met at SXSW when they both played Red Bull's Sound Select showcase.[10]
In December 2014, Lucki collaborated with fellow Chicago musician Chance the Rapper and released a song titled "Stevie Wonder".
2015–2017: X, Freewave EP, Freewave 2, Watch My Back
editAfter releasing his first single to his third project titled X, Lucki continued to drop more songs from the mixtape in 2015; the other singles were "Lowlife" and "What I Wanna". Lucki released X on May 30, 2015, his 19th birthday.
A few months later, Lucki started releasing freestyles to his extended play Freewave EP. At first, they were single songs, but soon announced they were to be a part of the upcoming EP; he first released "Freewave Freestyle" and "Back Home", and soon followed with "Freewave 3, 4, 5, and 7". The EP consisted of ten songs, the tenth song titled "Rumors" was added a couple of weeks later.
In January 2016, Lucki announced his name change from Lucki Eck$ to Lucki when he released the first single to his then upcoming project, @ MIDNIGHT, titled "Deja Vu", featuring fellow Chicago rapper Joey Purp. Lucki claimed that the Eck$ moniker was "childish" and that he has "grown" from the name. On August 15, 2016, he released the Freewave 2 mixtape. This was followed by Watch My Back on December 1, 2017, which was supported by the popular single "Sunset".
2019–2021: Freewave 3, Days B4 III and Wake Up Lucki
editLucki released his debut studio album Freewave 3 in February 2019 and notably included the song "More Than Ever".[11] This was followed by Days B4 III on October 25 which had the popular song "4 The Betta".[12] It was his first charting project, debuting at number 188 on the Billboard 200. His fifth EP Almost There was released on May 29, 2020, acting as a placeholder for fans until his next project.[13][14] On February 12, 2021, he released the single "Greed" with Lil Yachty. On November 18, 2021, he released the song "Neptune V.S Industry" as the lead single to the collaborative album with producer F1lthy, Wake Up Lucki, which was released on December 3, 2021.[15][16]
2022–present: Flawless Like Me, S*x M*ney Dr*gs, and GEMINI!
editThroughout 2022, Lucki began releasing a number of singles, including "Super Urus", released February 18, 2022, "Y Not?", released June 14, 2022, and "Coincidence", released August 19, 2022, which was accompanied by a music video directed by Cole Bennett.[17] After many delays, Lucki released his second studio album, Flawless Like Me on September 23, 2022, and included guest appearances from Future and Babyface Ray. It became his highest charting project, debuting at number 12 on the Billboard 200.[18]
On January 20, 2023, he had a guest appearance on Trippie Redd's Mansion Musik album on the track "Die Die".[19] On April 27, 2023, Lucki released the track "Leave Her".[20] He then released the single "No Bap" on his 27th birthday.[21] Lucki announced his third studio album, S*x M*ney Dr*gs on July 5, which ended up being released on July 7, 2023.[22] The album marked the highest number of Spotify streams he had received in a day.[23] On March 23, 2024, Lucki released a single titled "All Love".[24]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [25] |
CAN [26] | ||
| Freewave 3 |
|
— | — |
| Flawless Like Me |
|
12 | — |
| S*x M*ney Dr*gs |
|
15 | — |
| Gemini! |
|
20 | 92 |
Mixtapes
edit- Alternative Trap (as Lucki Eck$) (2013)
- Body High (as Lucki Eck$) (2014)
- X (2015)
- Freewave 2 (as Luc) (2016)
- Watch My Back (2017)
- Almost There (2020)
- Wake Up Lucki (with F1lthy) (2021)
Extended plays
edit| Title | Extended play details |
|---|---|
| Freewave EP |
|
| Son of Sam |
|
| Days Be4 Storm |
|
| Extra Lucky (with BrentRambo) |
|
| NYC |
|
| Days B4 II EP |
|
| Hell Never Mattered (with Hotelroom) |
|
| Extra Lucky 2 (with BrentRambo) |
|
| Codeine in a Drought (with C Choppa) |
|
| Days B4 III[27] – No. 188 US Billboard 200[28] |
|
| IDGAF Days B4 May 30 :) |
|
| Almost There[13] |
|
| The World Is Lucki's |
|
| Almost Woke |
|
| 2 Faced |
|
| 2 Faced, Pt. 2 |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Untouchable Lucki" | 2013 | rowspan="11" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | |
| "Boomin" | 2014 | ||
| "Ouch Ouch" | |||
| "God Knows" | 2015 | ||
| "Cholos" | |||
| "Weightin' On"[29] (featuring Danny Brown) |
|||
| "Lita" | |||
| "What U Do To Me" | 2016 | ||
| "Deja vu" | |||
| "Medacine" | |||
| "Mirror" | |||
| "Me" | Freewave 2 | ||
| "Bloodboy Freestyle" | |||
| "6th Sense" | |||
| "RTF" | rowspan="10" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | ||
| "Live It" | 2017 | ||
| "Truth" | |||
| "Do You Want" | |||
| "Caroline" | |||
| "Feels Like Death" | |||
| "What Ya Life Like" | |||
| "Special" (with Warhol.ss) | |||
| "Nothing Different" | |||
| "Stay Wit Me" | |||
| "Are U Wit Me" | Watch My Back | ||
| "Komfortable" | |||
| "Waiting On" | |||
| "hxh" | rowspan="23" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | ||
| "Won't Make It" | |||
| "If You Knew" | |||
| "Molly" (featuring Davethewizard) | |||
| "Throw Away" | |||
| "Silhouette" | |||
| "Fear or Lust" | |||
| "4get" | |||
| "Friendly" | |||
| "You Called Me" | |||
| "Got Me" | |||
| "Till Sunday" (with Whatsjaye) | |||
| "Faker$$" | |||
| "Hero" (with Yung Skii) | |||
| "Lies" | |||
| "Pink Roses" | |||
| "Static" | |||
| "Pull Up with Ah Stick" (Remix) (with Yung Marco) | |||
| "My Type Freestyle" | |||
| "Incoming" | |||
| "Pump Fakin" | |||
| "Play" | |||
| "4Everybody" | 2018 | ||
| "Fools Gold" | Better Days | ||
| "Find Yourself" | rowspan="3" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | ||
| "Sports Mode" | |||
| "Starstruck" | |||
| "Swtichlanes" | Days B4 II | ||
| "At Night" | rowspan="2" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | ||
| "Overnight" | |||
| "Fazoland" | Propane Lord | ||
| "Lover Boy" | |||
| "Rudebwoy" | rowspan="2" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | ||
| "2nd Place | |||
| "More Than Ever" (With CHASETHEMONEY) | Freewave 3 | ||
| "Peach Dream" | 2019 | ||
| "Politics" | |||
| "Almost Back" | rowspan="5" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | ||
| "On One Hand" | |||
| "Do You Worry" | |||
| "Nascar Dashcar" | |||
| "Trooper" | |||
| "4 The Betta |
|
Days B4 III | |
| "Role Play" | 2020 | rowspan="3" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | |
| "Faith" | |||
| "Think I" | |||
| "Tune & Scotty" | Almost There | ||
| "Greed" (featuring Lil Yachty) | 2021 | rowspan="2" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album singles | |
| "Sosa in This Audi" | |||
| "Neptune vs. Industry" (With F1lthy) | Wake Up Lucki | ||
| "Super Urus" | 2022 | Flawless Like Me (as a bonus) | |
| "New Drank" |
|
Non-album singles | |
| "Meet Me There" | |||
| "Good Memories" | |||
| "Y Not?" | Flawless Like Me (as a bonus) | ||
| "Coincidence" | Flawless Like Me | ||
| "Geeked n Blessed" | |||
| "Leave Her" | 2023 | data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Non-album single | |
| "No Bap" | s*x m*ney dr*gs | ||
| "All Love" | 2024 | Gemin! | |
| "Heavy On My Heart" | |||
| "Courtesy Of" |
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Neptune Estate" (Remix) | 2014 | King Krule, Wiki | — |
| "Preface" | FKA Twigs | LP1 | |
| "Phone Sex" | 2015 | Robb Banks | Year of the Savage |
| "Superman" | Louis M^ttrs | Slow Waves | |
| "Keep That" | 2016 | Goodbye Tomorrow | Tunnel Stripe Exit Ramp |
| "Want From Me" | 2017 | UnoTheActivist | Whole Thang |
| "%%%%" | Lil Tracy | Life of a Popstar | |
| "Beam Me Up" | 2018 | Thouxanbanfauni | The Lost Files |
| "Coco" | 2020 | Lil Tracy | Designer Talk 2 |
| "Space Boy" | 2021 | Manny Laurenko | Storm Coming |
| "Mona Lisa" | Brentrambo | — | |
| "Back N Action" | 2022 | Babyface Ray | FACE (Deluxe Edition) |
| "GTA" | DaeMoney | — | |
| "2k in the Soda" | Internet Money | We All We Got | |
| "##RR##EFG" | Kankan | WAY2GEEKED | |
| "Spill My Cup" | Lil Double 0 | Walk Down World | |
| "Millions" | 2023 | Talibando, Veeze | War Lord |
| "Who Is That?" | DaeMoney | Slae Season 3 | |
| "Die Die" | Trippie Redd | Mansion Musik | |
| "Broke Phone" | Veeze | Ganger | |
| "Coming Home" | Benji Blue Bills | Campaign Blue | |
| "Tired" | Christ Dillinger, Joeyy, DJ Smokey | Year 2023 AD: Nukes Are Now Legal | |
| "Jungle Juice" | 2024 | Lil Double 0, Lil Crix | Freebirdz |
References
edit- ^ "Who the F**k is Lucki and Why Do People Like Him So Much?". Complex. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
- ^ Hynes, Hayley (2022-10-02). "Lucki's Flawless Like Me Outsells DaBaby's Baby On Baby 2, Twitter Reacts". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Billboard 200: Week of July 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ "The Break Presents: Lucki Eck$". XXL Mag. 18 December 2013. xxlmag.com. Retrieved on 06-02-2016.
- ^ "Lucki Eck$ is the Best New Rapper You Haven't Heard". Noisey. 10 December 2013. noisey.vice.com. Retrieved on 06-02-2016.
- ^ "Lucki Can Tell Nothing But His Truth". Pitchfork. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Lucki Ecks "Untouchable Lucki" [Video] shot by Elevator". Elevator. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Lucki Eck$ - Count On Me (Official Video)" – via YouTube. youtube.com. Retrieved on 06-02-2016.
- ^ "Premiere: Watch Lucki Eck Complex.com. Retrieved on 06-02-2016". Complex Networks.
- ^ "Lucki Eck$ – "Weightin' On" (Feat. Danny Brown) (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. 11 August 2014. stereogum.com. Retrieved on 06-02-2016.
- ^ "Lucki: Freewave 3". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Lucki: Days B4 III". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ a b "Lucki drops off new EP 'Almost There'". Revolt. May 29, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ Shepard, Ryan (May 29, 2020). "Album Stream: Lucki – Almost There". Def Pen. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ "Lucki / F1lthy: Wake Up Lucki". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Lucki and F1lthy wake up new listeners on 'Wake Up Lucki'". Our Generation Music. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Lucki makes Lyrical Lemonade debut with iPhone-shot visual 'Coincidence,' 'Double Check'". Our Generation Music. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ Wheeler, Sage (2022-09-26). "Lucki's "Flawless Like Me" needs no luck to truly be flawless". Daily Trojan. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Trippie Redd Announces New Album 'Mansion Musik' Executive Produced by Chief Keef". Hypebeast. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Lucki shares new song "Leave Her"". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Lucki shares birthday bop 'NO BAP' ahead of 'SMD' - Our Generation Music". ourgenerationmusic.com. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "Lucki Blesses His Fans With "s*x m*ney dr*gs". www.hotnewhiphop.com. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ Gage, Dewayne (13 July 2023). "Lucki Became One of Rap's Biggest Stars by Doing Things His Way". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Horvath, Zachary (2014-04-23). "Lucki follows up "2 Faced" with new Single "All Love"". HNHH.
- ^ @billboardcharts (October 3, 2022). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)..." (Tweet). Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Twitter.
- S*x M*ney Dr*gs: "Billboard 200: Week of July 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- Gemini!: @billboardcharts (June 24, 2024). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." (Tweet). Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of June 29, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ @FLAWLESSLUCKI (November 3, 2019). "days b4 iii (DAYSB4 FLAWLESSNESS) is a EP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ @billboardcharts (November 4, 2019). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (4/4)" (Tweet). Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "American single certifications – Lucki – 4 The Betta". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "American single certifications – Lucki – New Drank". Recording Industry Association of America.