Fridayy
{{Short description|American singer-songwriter and record producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Fridayy
| image = Fridayy 2023.png
| caption = Fridayy in 2023
| birth_name = Francis Leblanc{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/performer/FRIDAYY|title=Information on Fridayy's songs in ASCAP ACE database|website=ASCAP|access-date=2022-11-07}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/fridayy-first-billboard-chart-hit-dj-khaled-collab-god-did-1235135405/|title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Fridayy Scores First Chart Hit With DJ Khaled Collab 'God Did'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2022-11-07}}
| birth_date = April 15,1997
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.{{Cite web|title=The Break Presents: Fridayy |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/fridayy-interview-the-break/|access-date=2022-11-07|website=XXL|date=November 7, 2022 |language=en}}
| discography = {{hlist|Recording|production}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer}}
| children =
| awards =
| website =
| genre = {{hlist|R&B{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/business/management/fridayy-manager-edgar-cutino-management-company-1235524293/ | title=Fridayy's Manager Edgar Cutino Launches New Management Company | magazine=Billboard }}}}
| label = Def Jam Lost In Melody
| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Fridayy sig.svg
}}
}}
Francis Leblanc, known professionally as Fridayy, is a Haitian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2022, he signed with Def Jam Recordings and guest performed on the hit songs "Forever" by Lil Baby and the title track of DJ Khaled's album God Did (2022). Both songs peaked within the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100, while the latter was nominated for three Grammy Awards.
His 2023 single, "When It Comes to You", marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-02-03/|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of February 3, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=30 January 2024}}
Early life
Growing up with his parents Leblanc started playing instruments including piano, bass, and guitar at the age of 6. His father is a pastor and he credits his passion for music to his days in the church sanctuary. Leblanc is of Haitian descent.
Career
Leblanc recognized his vocal abilities at a very young age: "I used to sing in church — probably at like, 9 or 10. I used to play instruments too, so everybody knew early on I was talented. But I started taking music seriously when I was 14, when my cousin Marco introduced me to producing. He gave me my first laptop so being the [type of] musician I was in church, it was very easy for me to produce and record myself."{{Cite magazine |last=Lee |first=Cydney |date=2023-09-21 |title=Why Baritone R&B Singer Fridayy Is One Of a Kind |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/fridayy-singer-september-rookie-of-the-month-1235410303/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Leblanc chose "Fridayy" as his stage name being inspired by the stage names of singers The Weeknd and PartyNextDoor. Fridayy mentioned Boyz II Men, Drake and Kanye West as his early influences.{{Cite web |last=High |first=Kemet|date=2023-06-20 |title=Fridayy Feels Like a Young Legend, But He's Got More to Prove |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/fridayy-interview-hip-hop/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}
In June 2022, he was credited on Chris Brown's album, Breezy, as a songwriter and producer on the record's opening track "Till the Wheels Fall Off". In October 2022, Fridayy released his debut single, "Don't Give Up On Me", anticipating his first official EP titled "Lost in Melody".{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/439296-fridayy-releases-debut-single-dont-give-up-on-me|title=Fridayy Releases Debut Single "Don't Give Up On Me"|website=HotNewHipHop|date=October 8, 2022 |access-date=November 7, 2022}} That same month, he guest appeared on Lil Baby's album It's Only Me on the track "Forever", which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2022-10-29/|title=Billboard 100 Week of October 29, 2022|website=Billboard|access-date=November 7, 2022}} Also that same month, he released his debut extended play, Lost in Melody, which contained a guest appearance from frequent collaborator, American singer Vory.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/442853-fridayy-delivers-debut-ep-lost-in-melody-ft-vory|title=Fridayy Delivers Debut EP "Lost In Melody" Ft. Vory|website=HotNewHipHop|date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=November 7, 2022}} In November 2022, Fridayy received three Grammy Award nominations as a featured artist alongside Jay-Z, John Legend, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne on DJ Khaled's song "God Did" at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. By the end of that year, he signed with Def Jam Recordings.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-12-08 |title=Fridayy Talks New Album & Signing To Def Jam Records |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/12/08/new-noise-fridayy/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Wonderland |language=en-GB}}
In June 2023, his song "Don't Give It Away", featuring Chris Brown, was released as the lead single from Fridayy's self-titled debut studio album. Fridayy was released on August 25, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dont-give-it-away-single/1689444074|title=Don't Give It Away - Apple Music|website=Apple Music}} The album spawned the single "When It Comes to You", that marked the singer's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-02-03/|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of February 3, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=30 January 2024}}
In 2024, he began touring as the opening act for dancehall artist Buju Banton's "The Overcomer Tour".
In February 2025, Fridayy released his second studio album, Some Days I'm Good, Some Days I'm Not. It contains the Billboard Hot 100-charting song "Proud of Me", a collaboration with Meek Mill. The album peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard 200.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2025-03-15/|title=Billboard 200: Week of March 15, 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 11, 2025}}
Artistry
Fridayy sings in a baritone voice, mostly performing over self-produced instrumentals, as well as mixing R&B with hip-hop, gospel, and Afrobeats.{{Cite web |title=Fridayy Unveils Captivating Music Video to "When It Comes to You" |url=http://stylemagazine.com/news/2023/jul/21/fridayy-unveils-captivating-music-video-when-it-co/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=stylemagazine.com}} According to American Songwriter, "Fridayy brought a more R&B, gospel-inspired sound to a crop of acts mostly involved with rap".{{Cite web |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=2023-07-21 |title=Fridayy Releases New Single "When It Comes To You," Speaks on Upcoming Album |url=https://americansongwriter.com/fridayy-releases-new-single-when-it-comes-to-you-speaks-on-upcoming-album/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}
Discography
{{Main|Fridayy discography}}
- Fridayy (2023)
- Some Days I'm Good, Some Days I'm Not (2025)
Tours
Supporting
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|Philadelphia|United States}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:American hip-hop singers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:American musicians of Haitian descent
Category:Def Jam Recordings artists