Lakeyah Danaee Robinson (born February 28, 2001), known mononymously as Lakeyah, is an American rapper, singer, and television personality. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she began rapping at the age of 15. At 18, she moved to Atlanta and was signed to Quality Control Music. In 2021, she was announced as part of the XXL magazine freshman class, the first from Milwaukee.

Lakeyah
Lakeyah in 2022
Lakeyah in 2022
Background information
Birth nameLakeyah Danaee Robinson
Born (2001-02-28) February 28, 2001 (age 23)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer, television personality
Years active2020–present
Labels
Formerly ofBTM (2017–2020)
PartnerKhiante Hardy (2020 - present)

Early life

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Lakeyah Danaee Robinson[1] was born on February 28, 2001, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she was also raised.[1] In high school, she began on the slam poetry team before she was convinced by friends at the age of 15 to rap for the #SoGoneChallenge where people submit performances of rap verses to the instrumental of the song "So Gone" by Monica.[2]

In 2017, she joined the music duo "BTM" (Beyond the Music) and they achieved over one million YouTube views.[1]

In 2019, she went on a birthday trip for her 18th birthday to Atlanta, Georgia and visited rapper T.I.'s Trap Museum and its exhibit on Quality Control Music. Inspired to move to Atlanta, she enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta for college but dropped out after two months.[2]

Career

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Lakeyah stayed in Atlanta after dropping out of college and went viral for the #FirstDayOutChallenge, a rap challenge celebrating rapper JT from the female rap group City Girls being released from prison. After that challenge and going viral from a freestyle over the song "We Paid" by 42 Dugg and Lil Baby, she was signed to Quality Control Music.[2] On October 9, 2020, Lakeyah released her first single, "Big FlexHER", featuring 42 Dugg.[3] It amassed over 400,000 views in five days[3] and currently has over six million views.[4]

On December 11, 2020, Lakeyah released her debut album, Time's Up.[5] It included the singles "Female Goat" featuring City Girls and "Worst Thing".[6] "Female Goat" is Lakeyah's most popular track on YouTube, with over 25 million views.[7]

In the spring of 2021, Lakeyah was named a brand ambassador for Rihanna's lingerie line, Savage X Fenty.[8]

On April 9, 2021, Lakeyah released her second project, In Due Time. The album included features from Gucci Mane and Yung Bleu.[9] After the album's release, Lakeyah was 4th on Rolling Stone's Breakthrough 25 charts, which ranks the fastest rising new artists, behind Cico P.[10]

On June 16, 2021, XXL magazine named Lakeyah to the 2021 XXL Freshman Class, a spotlight for up and coming rappers that previously featured Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Chance the Rapper, and Megan thee Stallion. She was the first Milwaukee rapper named an XXL freshman in its 14 year history.[11] The same year she also released a mixtape entitled My Time with the single "313-414" featuring Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley. The mixtape is part of the Gangsta Grillz series hosted by DJ Drama. The artwork depicts Lakeyah holding a championship trophy dressed in a Milwaukee Bucks jersey which is a tribute to her hometown and winners of the NBA Championship that same year.

In 2022 Lakeyah was cast as a regular on the BET reality show The Impact: Atlanta season 1 and season 2. She also released two more projects No Pressure Part 1 and No Pressure Part 2 with the singles "Mind Yo Business" featuring Latto and "Real Bitch" featuring Gloss Up. The projects also featured collaborations with Lucky Daye, Flo Milli and Layton Greene.

On November 18, 2024 Lakeyah released a new single entitled "F.Y.T." featuring Rnb singer Jacquees a remake of the Notorious Big and R Kelly collaboration which is featured on her mixtape Keymix lll a tribute to her fans that have been loyal since the beginning of her career.

Notable artist Lakeyah has collaborated with include: 42 Dugg, City Girls, Layton Greene, Yung Bleu, Gucci Mane, Tee Grizzley, DJ Drama, Latto, Gloss Up, Nardo Wick, Kash Doll, Flo Milli, Lucky Daye, Icewear Vezzo, Moneybagg Yo and Jacquees.

Discography

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Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details Peak chart positions
US
US
R&B/HH

Time's Up - -
In Due Time
  • Released: April 9, 2021
  • Label: Quality Control
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
- -
Keymix lll
  • Released: November 30, 2024
  • Label: CBE Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
- -
List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title EP details Peak chart positions
US
US
R&B/HH

No Pressure (Pt. 1)
  • Released: June 17, 2022
  • Label: Quality Control, Motown
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
- -
No Pressure (Pt. 2)
  • Released: September 23, 2022[12]
  • Label: Quality Control, Motown
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
- -

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Certifications Album
"Big FlexHer"[13]
(featuring 42 Dugg)
2020 Time's Up
"Windows"[14]
"Female Goat"[15]
(featuring City Girls)
"Poppin"[16]
(featuring Gucci Mane)
2021 In Due Time[17]
"Perfect"[18]
(with Yung Bleu)
"Easy"[19]
"Too Much"[20]
"I Look Good"[21] 2022 No Pressure (Pt. 1)
"Mind Yo Business"[22]
(featuring Latto)
"Real B***h" (with Gloss Up) No Pressure (Pt. 2)
"F.Y.T." (with Jacquees) 2024 Keymix lll

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kellman, Andy. "Lakeyah". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Seabrook III, Robby (December 16, 2020). "The Break Presents: Lakeyah". XXL. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Evgenivna, Daniela (October 14, 2020). "QUALITY CONTROL'S LAKEYAH DANAEE EXPLAINS THE MAKING OF 42 DUGG-FEATURED "BIG FLEXHER" SINGLE". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Lakeyah – Big FlexHer ft 42 Dugg (Official Video)". YouTube. Lakeyah. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ^ Halas, Allen (December 22, 2020). "Audio: Lakeyah – "Time's Up"". Breaking & Entering Milwaukee. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Rytlewski, Evan (December 11, 2020). "Lakeyah teams with City Girls for 'Female Goat' video, shares her 'Times Up' mixtape". 88.9 Radio Milwaukee. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Lakeyah – Female Goat ft City Girls (Official Video)". YouTube. Lakeyah. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Levy, Piet (April 22, 2021). "Quality Control Music found Lil Baby and Migo stars. Their next bet: Lakeyah". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Callas, Brad (April 9, 2021). "Lakeyah Drops New Project 'In Due Time' f/ Gucci Mane and Yung Bleu". Complex Magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. ^ Blake, Emily (May 5, 2021). "Big Scarr, Cico P, and Lakeyah lead Breakthrough 25 Chart". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Levy, Piet (June 16, 2021). "Lakeyah makes XXL's Freshman Class. She's the first Milwaukee rapper to join the list". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Lakeyah - No Pressure (Pt. 2)". Apple Music. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "Big FlexHer – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. December 11, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "Windows – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. December 11, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Female Goat – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. December 11, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "Poppin – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. April 9, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "In Due Time – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. December 11, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "Perfect – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. April 9, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  19. ^ "Easy – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. April 9, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  20. ^ "Too Much – Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. April 9, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  21. ^ "I Look Good - Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. May 6, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Mind Yo Business - Single by Lakeyah". Spotify. June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
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Note 1
Project 4