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Jay Versace
Birth nameJahlil Gunter
Born (1998-01-24) January 24, 1998 (age 26)
OriginPleasantville, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
OccupationRecord producer
Years active2014–present

Jahlil Gunter[3] (born January 24, 1998),[4] known professionally as Jay Versace, is an American record producer and former Internet personality.[5][6] He began posting comedy videos onto Vine as a teenager, and amassed over three million followers on the platform[7][8][9] before shifting focus onto a career in music production in 2018.[1][10] He has since been credited on the Billboard 200-number one albums SOS (2022) by SZA[2] and Call Me If You Get Lost (2021) by Tyler, the Creator—both of which also won Grammy Awards.[11] His other work includes songs for Doja Cat, Lil Yachty, Boldy James, and Westside Gunn.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Versace is from Pleasantville, New Jersey.[12][13] His moniker was inspired by a Vine video in which American rapper Riff Raff feeds his dog "Versace water from the fountain of life".[9]

Career

[edit]

2014–2017: Social media career

[edit]

In 2014, Versace began making comedic videos onto the video-sharing platform Vine, usually involving reenactments of certain scenarios involving his family members, friends, and entertainers.[9] His work was also noted to involve the amplification of the spirituality, creativity, and mental health of black people.[1][14] He relocated to Los Angeles in 2016 at the age of 18.[7] He was nominated for Viner of the Year at the 8th Shorty Awards.[15] Versace had amassed over three million followers and two billion total views on Vine before the platform was discontinued in January 2017.[7][5] Thereafter, he turned to other social media platforms, amassing 2 million followers on Instagram and 500,000 subscribers on YouTube.[8] He also starred alongside American actors Danielle Campbell and Nathan Kress in his own Fullscreen web series, Jay Versace is Stuck in the 90s,[16] which was nominated for Best Web Series at the 10th Shorty Awards.[17] Versace signed a representation contract with United Talent Agency in January 2018,[18] and then was slated to feature alongside American internet personality Miles McKenna in an eight-part web series by Portal A Interactive titled My Wizard & Me, yet this did not come to fruition.[19]

2018–present: Music career

[edit]

Versace started experimenting with music production for the first time in May 2018, with help from his musician friends Knxwledge and Pink Siifu.[1][10] He began posting atmospheric, lo-fi music instrumentals to his SoundCloud account.[12] Versace approached American rapper Westside Gunn and asked to work together, before the latter discovered his account and ended up using one of Versace's first-ever songs on his own album, Pray for Paris (2020), titling the track "Versace".[20] He then produced all tracks on the mixtape, The Versace Tape (2020) by American rapper Boldy James, which became the first-ever release on Griselda Records in August 2020.[21] In March 2021, Versace contributed a remix version of the song "Lay_Up.m4a" by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats to the duo's remix album, Unlocked 1.5 (2021).[22] He also produced the song "Safari" off of American rapper Tyler, the Creator's sixth studio album Call Me If You Get Lost (2021),[11] which won the award for Best Rap Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.[10] Released in August 2022, the track "On God" by American rappers Meechy Darko, Freddie Gibbs and A-Trak, which was co-produced by Versace and Dot da Genius.[23] Versace then produced the songs "SOS" and "Smoking on My Ex Pack" from American singer SZA's second studio album, SOS (2022), which earned him critical acclaim and commercial success.[2] SZA credits her first attempts at rap music to Versace, who encouraged her to "talk her shit".[2]

Personal life

[edit]

Versace came out as queer[1] via a Snapchat post in 2016, claiming that "I love people in general idgaf what gender you are".[24][25][8] His mother, Nikesha Dolly Gunter, died of illness in May 2022.[26]

Production discography

[edit]
Year Artist Album Song
2020 Westside Gunn Pray for Paris "Versace"
Boldy James The Versace Tape "Maria"
"Nu Wave"
"Cartier" (featuring ElCamino)
"Brick Van Exel"
"Long Live Julio"
"Monte Criso"
"Cardinal Sin"
"Bentayga"
"Roxycontin" (featuring Keisha Plum, Tiona Deniece and Westside Gunn)
Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin FlySiifu's "Mind Right"
Lil Yachty Lil Boat 3.5 "Lil Diamond Boy" (bonus track)
2021 Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats Unlocked 1.5 "Lay_Up.m4a (Jay Versace Version)"
Patrick Paige II If I Fail Are We Still Cool? "Who Am I
Tyler, the Creator Call Me If You Get Lost "Safari" (co-produced with Tyler, the Creator)
Westside Gunn Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B "Free Kutter" (featuring Jay Electronica)
2022 Fly Anakin Frank "Bag Man"
Draft Day Non-album single "How Far Will I Go" (featuring Lil Yachty)
Xavier Omär b l u r r "A Dream"
Meechy Darko Gothic Luxury "On God" (featuring A-Trak and Freddie Gibbs) (co-produced with Dot Da Genius)
SZA SOS "SOS"
"Smoking on My Ex Pack"
2023 Summer Walker Clear 2: Soft Life "Pull Up"
"New Type" (featuring Childish Gambino)
Doja Cat Scarlet "97"
"Often"
"Love Life"
2024 Vince Staples Dark Times "Étouffée"

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award Year Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
BET Social Awards 2019 Social Hustle Award Himself Nominated [27][28]
Grammy Awards 2022 Best Rap Album Call Me If You Get Lost (by Tyler, the Creator) Won [10]
Grammy Awards 2024 Best Progressive R&B Album SOS (by SZA) Won [10]
Shorty Awards 2016 Viner of the Year Himself Finalist [15]
2018 Best Web Series Jay Versace Is Stuck in the 90s Nominated [17]
Soul Train Awards 2016 Internet Soul Sensation Badu Award Himself Won [29]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Rose, Jordan (August 4, 2020). "Beats, Blackness, and Revolution: A Conversation With Jay Versace". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Conteh, Mankaprr (December 12, 2022). "How Jay Versace Got SZA to Talk Her Shit on 'SOS'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (September 22, 2023). "Read the credits for Doja Cat's new album Scarlet". The Fader. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Osborne, Susanna (January 24, 2022). "Happy Birthday: Jay Versace's Seamless Transition From Social Media Star To Executive Producer On Tyler, The Creator's Album". Global Grind. iOne Digital. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Rodrigues, Ashwin (May 13, 2020). "How Vine Star Jay Versace Became a Rap Producer". Vice. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Wallace, Riley (September 4, 2020). "Griselda Collaborator & Social Influencer Jay Versace Is Paving The Way For Queer Hip Hop Producers — & He Knows It". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Cahill, Ryan (April 20, 2018). "Jay Versace interview: "I want to be free of sexuality and not boxed in as a guy who's gay"". Gay Times. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Hawkins, Erica (June 17, 2020). "Jay Versace Is Living The American Dream, 2.0". Ladygunn. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Starling, Lakin (July 12, 2016). "How Jay Versace Became The Funniest Teenager On The Internet". The Fader. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e Nwanji, Ngozi (December 9, 2022). "Jay Versace Went From The Face Of Popular Memes To Producer On SZA's Highly Anticipated 'SOS'". AfroTech. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Bloom, Madison (June 25, 2021). "Tyler, the Creator Releases New Album Call Me If You Get Lost". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Holmes, Charles (May 12, 2020). "From Memes to Music: How Jay Versace Landed On a Westside Gunn Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Sheppard, Elena (May 30, 2018). "This aspiring comedian got famous by making people laugh in six seconds". Yahoo! Life. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Hughes, Jazmine (October 31, 2016). "Vine Dries Up. Black Humor Loses a Home". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Lee, Ashley (April 11, 2016). "Shorty Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (August 15, 2017). "Fullscreen Sets Fall Slate: Shows Starring Jay Versace, Danielle Campbell, Nathan Kress". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 16, 2018). "Shorty Awards Nominees: Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe Among Those Recognized For Social Media Excellence". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  18. ^ Weiss, Geoff (January 18, 2018). "Comedian And Actor Jay Versace Signs With UTA". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  19. ^ Weiss, Geoff (July 24, 2017). "Portal A Unveils Eight-Series Slate Featuring Jay Versace, Miles McKenna". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  20. ^ Setario, Shawn (August 14, 2020). "How Boldy James Made His Griselda Debut With Help From Jay Versace and Westside Gunn". Complex. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  21. ^ Threadcraft, Torry (August 6, 2020). "Boldy James Announces 'The Versace Tape,' Produced By Jay Versace - Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. ^ Price, Joe (March 5, 2021). "Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats Release 'Unlocked 1.5' Project f/ Benny the Butcher, Joey Badass, and More". Complex. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  23. ^ Blistein, Jon (August 3, 2022). "Flatbush Zombies' Meechy Darko Teams With Freddie Gibbs, A-Trak for New Song 'On God'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Hamedy, Saba (September 28, 2016). "Vine star Jay Versace opens up about his sexuality in a Snap". Mashable. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  25. ^ McNamara, Brittney (September 27, 2016). "Vine Star Jay Versace Comes Out to Fans About His Sexuality". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  26. ^ Cole, Ty (May 24, 2022). "Fans Come To Jay Versace Defense After Social Media Star Posts A GoFundMe Page For Mother's Memorial". BET. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  27. ^ Weiss, Geoff (February 22, 2019). "Queen Naija, BlameItOnKway Nominated At Second Annual 'BET Social Awards'". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  28. ^ BET [@BET] (January 17, 2019). "These superstars have taken social media & built their AMAZING brands/careers! Vote now for the #SocialHustle award at the #BETSocialAwards!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 22, 2023 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "The 2016 Soul Train Awards Red Carpet Moments, Winners, Performances & More". The BLACK Media. November 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
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