All eyes were on Kanye West back in 2021. Amid the endless hype of Donda and multiple project delays, the record was more than solely a Kanye project. With Donda, Ye was looking to create a defining album for hip-hop as a whole. This sentiment was reflected in the feature list ranging from DaBaby to Jay-Z. However, one of the more unknown features of the project came in the form of Fivio Foreign. The Brooklyn MC shocked fans with his feature on “Off The Grid,” becoming the main talk of a song that featured West and Playboi Carti. The drill banger would become one of the most successful tracks off of Donda, solidifying rapper Fivio Foreign’s fame in the hip-hop world.
However, “Off the Grid” didn’t propel Fivio from irrelevancy to stardom. He rose to fame in 2019 with his single “Big Drip,” featuring Lil Baby and Quavo. The track’s success would land him a $750,000 deal with Colombia Records. He also landed a feature on Drake’s “Demons,” which charted at 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. A tougher and scrappier character, it didn’t take long for Fivio’s rapid flow to solidify him as an in-demand feature artist in the rap space.
Pop Smoke Mentored Fivio Foreign
Fivio Foreign’s ambitions go far beyond featuring on prominent artists’ hit songs. After the passing of New York’s drill icon Pop Smoke, the 33-year-old is looking to inherit that mantle. Even though Pop was a decade younger than Fivio, he was taking a fraternal interest in the career of his peer. In fact, he attempted to get the label that signed him to sign Fivio, too. A great deal of Fivio’s modern-day success has its roots in the worldwide success that Pop was beginning to achieve. It’s why West took note of the sound and implemented it into Donda. The point is there seems to be a sort of moral obligation from Fivio to carry on his legacy.
In his mid-20s, he was still nothing more than just another guy mean-mugging into the camera of several YouTube videos shot in Brooklyn. For years, he had to watch his contemporaries get signed while he remained on the streets. However, that struggle would morph into uniquely potent and vexed bars from Fivio, who often raps about his chaotic upbringing. At its core, drill music was founded as a charged release from the struggles of street life. That very core has caused a fair bit of controversy in New York, with Mayor Eric Adams claiming that drill was “alarming.” He would end up speaking directly to Fivio, who refused his wishes to tone down the genre’s sound. Now, Fivio Foreign is morphing into the vocal rapper of New York drill that he always had the potential to be.
Fivio Released Debut Studio Album B.I.B.L.E In 2022
Last year saw Fivio continue to grow his notoriety. His debut studio album, B.I.B.L.E, is wholly focused on creating drill with a sense of crossover appeal. While it was a fairly surface-level take on the drill’s popular sonic tropes, the album experienced moderate success behind its lead single, “City of Gods.” West would return the love for Fivio Foreign’s verse off Donda, bringing Alicia Keys into the mix. Featuring synth-wave keys and a distorted 808, the track has done over 100 million streams on Spotify. Other record highlights were “Changed On Me” and “Confidence.” While the overall album was a mixed bag, Fivio proved that he could hold his own as the leading voice throughout an entire project.
2023 Has Been A Trying Year For Fivio
However, 2023 hasn’t been the easiest year for Fivio Foreign. News recently surfaced that Fivio would miss Rolling Loud. He stated, “My first time missing a show, and I feel so crazy about it, but my body dealing w some real issues. Just keep me in yah prayers.” His absence from the event arrives a month after he revealed he was struggling with his mental health: “Scratch dat… I’m not healed I’m depressed.” Additionally, his “Demon Time” diamond chain was reportedly snatched earlier this month. However, Fivio is still releasing new music amidst his rough moment. On May 19, he released “Bag On Em,” produced by 15-year-old wunderkind Mini Boom.
While Fivio Foreign has had a rough few months, he’s still pivoted himself for a significant upcoming decade. From having his album produced by Kanye West to collaborating with multiple A-list MCs, Fivio is in a position to continue to push the new wave drill scene in New York. Reportedly sporting a net worth of $1.5 million, he’s a far cry from his days on the streets after his mother passed away. In addition, all signs are pointing to a new project from Fivio this calendar year.
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