Iamsu!

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Best New Artist – SPIN

“Iamsu! is gifted with melody and also emotion” – The New York Times

“…[Iamsu! is] not just an underground rap star, but an artist with emotional range” – Rolling Stone

“[Iamsu!] is making some of the catchiest and most pleasant music in all of rap right now.” – Stereogum

“IamSu!’s confident and fluid rhymes shine.” – Complex

“[IamSu!] asserts himself as a hip-hop tour de force with fluid, confident rhymes.” – The FADER

“…a standout in the Bay’s young, emerging pool of talent.” – HipHopDX

“[Iamsu!] is very easy to like, and…he flashes an intensity to match.” – Pitchfork

“It truly seems that Iamsu! is incapable of making a bad song.” – VICE

“[Iamsu! is] the biggest star to come from The Bay since E-40 and Too $hort.” – The Source Magazine

Iamsu!, the 25-year-old producer and rapper with a mop afro and playful laugh, enjoys the challenge of bridging two worlds. Known both for his grounded storytelling and command of West Coast party music’s slapping palette, he’s a thoughtful introvert and high-energy leader all in one. Along with his crew HBK Gang, he’s offering listeners a new brand of positive, pro-individuality rap that might be mistaken for preachy if it weren’t so fun.

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Iamsu! learned to make beats as a teen at Youth Radio, an Oakland nonprofit where he studied with hyphy hitmaker Trackademicks and tutored other kids. Eventually he and HBK Gang, now a 16-man crew, started holing up in HBK producer Chief’s basement studio, spending hours collaborating around a Pro Tools-rigged PC. Su credits the confidence of his recordings to the HBK guys, who created a comfortable environment where he could experiment with his raspy flow and expand his sound. “I’m hella shy, but not when we’re around each other. I’m more experimental with my style over there,” he explains.

From HBK’s humble mini-studio, Su has contributed to surprisingly wide-reaching songs, like “Function,” last Summer’s feel-goofy anthem with E-40, YG and Problem, Wiz Khalifa’s “Bout Me” and LoveRance’s “Up,” the spare sex ode Su produced and guest emceed on. “Up” shows Su’s talent for writing straightforward, easy-to-lock-into hooks, but he’s prouder of the detailed production and carefully arranged melodies on 2012’s introspective Kilt tape, where he boasts about being trustworthy, staying independent (“2 Milli”) and making honest money (“Mama I Made It”). “When I first started rapping, I tried to talk about hood shit and it was a flop,” he says. “I rap for people that wanna enjoy themselves and chill out. I make music for girls to get dressed to. Ultimately, it makes the most sense for me to be myself.”

Su was the executive producer for his independently released studio album, Sincerely Yours, which debuted on ADA/Warner Music Group. The album was subsequently hailed as one of the best hip hop albums of 2014 by Rolling Stone. His four recent tapes (Kilt, bass-centric $uzy 6 $peed and Jay Ant collaboration Stoopid in 2012; Million Dollar Afro with rising LA rapper Problem in 2013) have spawned approachable street anthems like “Mobbin,” and a “100 Grand” remix with Juvenile, catching the attention of West Coast fans and national tastemakers alike. Stereogum named $uzy it’s Mixtape of the Week and SPIN ranked Su as one of this past June’s Best New Artists. He was nominated for XXL’s 2013 Freshman List and profiled in The FADER’s 2013 Spring Style issue. He continues to generate new material, in the interest of delivering the best possible product to fans new and old. “I don’t focus on the things that I’ve already done, I always think about what’s next and how I can elevate myself,” he says. “I want to inspire people through that energy. I feel like I was put here to connect people.”

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Press Releases

Performed Live at NBA Halftime, Iamsu! Shares Self-Produced “Game Time”
Premiered by Complex, the HBK Gang Members Collaborate For An Infectious Track
Premiered With the Launch of FreeBread, the Bay Area Rapper Drops Tripped-Out Visual For “They Say” Off His Eyes On Me Mixtape
Iamsu! Drops His Most Mature Effort to Date With His Latest Mixtape, Premiered by Billboard
Iamsu! and Tyga Are Feeling Hella Good On their New Single, Premiered by Stereogum
HBK Day To Include Clothing Capsule Release & EP Signing, Followed By a Secret Show
Premiered by The FADER, Iamsu! Strives for “Nothing Less” Than Perfection in 2015
Behind the Scenes: Iamsu!’s Video Shoot for “Only That Real”
Recap: HBK Gang Attract Over A Thousand Fans for HBK Day
Iamsu! To Tour in Support of Forthcoming Album “Sincerely Yours”
Iamsu! and Pink Dolphin Team Up to Release Limited Edition 8-piece Capsule Collection & Mixtape on February 15th
Iamsu! Thanks Fans For Supporting New Single With New Freestyle; Debut Single “Only That Real” Now On iTunes
Esquire Premieres First Single “Only That Real” for Iamsu! Who Announces Debut Album
Iamsu! & HBK Gang Lead Off 2014 With “Never Goin’ Broke” Video
Iamsu! and Sage the Gemini to Perform Together at HBK Holiday Show in NYC
Iamsu! and Sage the Gemini’s Hometown Halloween Show Documented On Video
Iamsu!’s HBK Gang Releases Video For Gang Forever Track “Quit Cattin'”
Iamsu! & Sage the Gemini Team With Producer Salva to Create “Check Yo Ponytail 2” Mixtape
HBK Gang Rapper Releases New Aris Jerome-Directed Video, “Hipster Girls”
Iamsu!’s HBK Gang Releases Video For Lead Single, “Go Crazy,” Off The Gang Forever Mixtape
Iamsu!’s HBK Gang Releases Debut Mixtape, Prepares For West Coast Tour
FADER Premieres HBK Gang’s “Go Crazy”, New Mixtape Dropping Monday
Iamsu! Celebrates HBK Forever Tour Presented By Pink Dolphin & Upcoming HBK Gang Forever Mixtape With New Video “STU Freestyle”
SPIN Premieres NewTrack “Designer,” KILT 2 Deluxe Edition Available Now
The FADER Premieres New Song “The Realest” Ft. Problem
Rolling Stone Premieres Iamsu! Video “Father God”
Complex Premieres First Leaked Single From KILT 2 Mixtape
New Iamsu! Mixtape Out Now For Free Download Via LiveMixtapes
Pitchfork Premieres First Leaked Track From The Upcoming KILT 2 Mixtape, To Be Released June 6
Iamsu! Announces New Mixtape, KILT 2, Releases Final Video From Previous $uzy 6 $peed Mixtape
VICE Premieres New Iamsu! And Problem Video FT. Wiz Khalifa, Million Dollar Afro Tour Rolls On With Upcoming LA & NY Shows
Billboard Premieres New Video “Losin'” Ft. CJ; Rapper Kicks Off Million Dollar Afro Tour With Co-Headliner Problem
Stereogum Premieres Latest Video “Don’t Stop” In Preparation For National Tour
Iamsu! & Co-Headliner Problem Announce Million Dollar Afro Tour With Stops Along The West Coast & New York City
Fader Premieres Video “Mobbin” & Features Iamsu! In Issue #84
Rapper Sells Out Debut Headline Mixtape Release Show In San Francisco
VICE Premieres Video “On My Mind” Ft. Mike Dash-E; Iamsu! Sits Down For Interview With FADER
In-Store Events For Collaboration With Streetwear Brand Pink Dolphin Draws Over A Thousand Fans
Rapper Releases $uzy 6 $peed Mixtape Featuring Wiz Khalifa & Juvenile, Presented By Pink Dolphin & LiveMixtapes
Iamsu! Teams Up With Streetwear Brand Pink Dolphin For Clothing Collaboration
SPIN Premieres First Single “Mobbin” From New $uzy 6 $peed Mixtape
Jay Ant & Iamsu! Team Up For Mixtape Collaboration “Stoopid”
Iamsu! Partners With Karmaloop To Re-Release Breakout Mixtape “Kilt” & Video For Fan Favorite Track “Over”
SPIN Names Iamsu! Best New Artist For June 2012 & Releases New Visual For Track “2 Milli”
Rapper Releases New Mixtape “Kilt” & Appears On 106th & Park
Iamsu! Releases Single “Cancelled Plans” To Promote New Mixtape & Upcoming 106th & Park Appearance
Rising West Coast Rap Star Releases Video For “HBKJoe Beat” Ft. P-Lo

Press Photos

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