Killy (rapper)

Khalil Tatem[1] (born August 19, 1997), better known by his stage name Killy (stylized as KILLY)[3], is a Canadian hip-hop artist and rapper from Toronto, Canada. He is best known for his break-out single, "Killamonjaro" which is certified Platinum by Music Canada.[4]

Khalil Tatem
Killy performing in March 2018
Background information
Birth nameKhalil Tatem[1]
Born (1997-08-19) August 19, 1997
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2015–present
Labels
Associated acts
  • 16yrold
  • Nessly
Websitekilly.co

Early life

Khalil Tatem was born August 19, 1997 to his Bajan father and Filipino mother. Killy grew up in Toronto before moving to Victoria, British Columbia at 8 years old.[5] Killy attended a majority Francophone school whilst living in Toronto, though he was one of the only children that didn't speak French. After moving to Victoria, Killy began attending a school where he was one of the only minorities, saying that he was "under-represented."[6] Disinterested in school, Killy took up soccer in his free time and discovered rap music while attending Agincourt Collegiate Institute, eventually making it a hobby.[7] Killy moved back to Toronto as a teenager, living in Scarborough, where he began to focus more of his time on creating music.[5][6]

Career

Killy has been rapping since 2015 and involved himself in the Toronto nightlife, quickly making connections.[5] Killy recorded several songs in one studio session in 2015 and released them all in 2016, the only releases he made that year.[6] He released his first song in 2016, titled "Big Bux" on SoundCloud[8] and released three more tracks in 2016. The tracks gave Killy local buzz in Toronto which provoked him to record more music.

In February 2017, Killy released "Killamonjaro", which went viral[9] and was certified Gold in Canada by March 2018.[4] The song's popularity gathered him an interview on Adam22's "No Jumper" podcast[7] and a feature on Drake's OVO Sound Radio.[10][11]

Killy released his first studio album on March 5, 2018, titled Surrender Your Soul.[12] The album spawned press from Complex and Pitchfork news[13] and "No Sad No Bad" which peaked at number 65 on the Canadian Hot 100 songs.[14]

On September 14, 2018, Killy released his first EP KILLSTREAK, which includes five songs.

On June 14, 2019, Killy released his new album LIGHT PATH 8, which includes 13 songs.

Discography
Main article: Killy discography
  • Surrender Your Soul (2018)
  • KILLSTREAK (2018)
  • Light Path 8 (2019)

Singles
  • 2017: Killamonjaro
  • 2017: Distance
  • 2017: No Romance (feat. 16yrold)
  • 2017: Forecast
  • 2018: No Sad No Bad
  • 2018: Beautiful 00*
  • 2018: Very Scary
  • 2019: Swag Flu
  • 2019: Triple Helix
  • 2019: Drought (feat. 16yrold)
  • 2020: Fast Life (feat. Gab3)
  • 2020: Vendetta
  • 2020: VV's (feat. Houdini & 6ixbuzz)
  • 2020: Sailor Moon

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Nominee / work Result
2019 Juno Award Breakthrough Artist of the Year Killy Nominated
Fan Choice Award Killy Nominated
Rap Recording of the Year Surrender Your Soul Nominated
gollark: "Moral reason" meaning what?
gollark: ... why?
gollark: Personally, I think traditions are bad, unless they're good.
gollark: Compromise solution: every year we elect a random penguin which owns America but is not allowed to exercise this power in any way.
gollark: The number is from Wikipedia, which says that 600000 of those are people who are already there and who are granted legal status.

References
  1. "Killy | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  2. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/killy/202317329
  3. "KILLY on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  5. "KILLY: capturing the energy of the moment – SOCAN Words and Music". SOCAN Words and Music. May 2, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  6. "Killy's Ascent to the Top of Rap Is a Matter of Perfect Timing". Noisey. October 6, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  7. No Jumper (August 16, 2017), The KILLY Interview – No Jumper, retrieved August 19, 2018
  8. Big Bux ft. SEGA, retrieved August 19, 2018
  9. "The Inevitability of Killy". PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  10. "Toronto's Killy Drops New Song "Forecast" On OVO Sound Radio". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  11. "Killy Continues His Viral Success With "Forecast"". Complex. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  12. "KILLY's debut project Surrender Your Soul goes past the point of no return". The FADER. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  13. "Killy: Killy: Surrender Your Soul Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  14. "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
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