Born in Inglewood, California as Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown, singer Swae Lee first saw mainstream recognition as the younger and melodic half of Southern hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd. Swae's versatile music and sound that is undeniably and utterly Swae is credited to his upbringing in Texas, which serves as a focal point in his beginnings in music at the age of around 11.
Outside of school and familial extracurriculars, Swae would experiment with production, recording software, and learn how to mix audio. Swae has made a name for himself outside of his duo work, showcasing himself as a force to be reckoned with both within and beyond the hip-hop world. Tracks such as French Montana's Diamond-certified "Unforgettable" highlight his singing chops, while his impressive list of writing credits includes Beyoncé's "Formation." Swae's melodic repertoire, however, is not relegated exclusively to the R&B and hip-hop sphere as his crooning can also take on ballad form and mesh into a more electronic background as well—a complex Gemini in many ways.
Swae's impact on the music industry is also underscored by his record-breaking achievements, including the historic success of "Sunflower," which became the first-ever song to be certified 2x Diamond by the RIAA. This iconic, Grammy-nominated track stands as one of the biggest streaming records in history. In addition to "Sunflower," Swae's contributions to hits like Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode" have also earned Diamond certifications, further cementing his place as a dominant force in modern music.
Above all, however, Swae insists that the music is meant to be feel good and both embodies and advocates for a positive life outlook. Swae's goals for his music as universal and far- reaching—with projected listeners ranging from doctors to lawyers to kids and "whatever lifestyle you live", as Swae puts it—but entirely unique to what is popular and being produced today are not far off.