Huey (rapper)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Huey

| image = File:Huey_(rapper).jpeg

| caption =

| birth_name = Lawrence Franks Jr.

| alias = Baby Huey

| birth_date = {{birth date|1987|09|12}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|6|26|1987|09|12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/huey-rapper-dead.html|title="Pop, Lock, and Drop It" Rapper Huey Killed In Double Shooting|first=Zoe|last=Haylock|date=June 26, 2020|website=Vulture}}

| death_place = Kinloch, Missouri, U.S.

| genre = Hip hop

| occupation = Rapper

| years_active = 2006–2020

| label = {{flatlist|

Bricksquad Monopoly (2013){{Cite web|url=http://atrilli.net/2013/03/bricksquad-monopoly-signs-huey/|title=atrilli.net|website=atrilli.net}}
Hitz Committee
Jive
Que
EMI

}}

Lawrence Franks Jr. (September 12, 1987 – June 26, 2020),[https://www.laynemortuary.com/obituary/Lawrence-Franks Obituary - Lawrence Franks]. Austin A. Layne Mortuary. Retrieved January 14, 2022. better known by his stage name Huey, was an American rapper from St. Louis, Missouri. Originally signed to Jive Records, Huey was best known for his 2006 single, "Pop, Lock & Drop It".

Early life

Huey was born as Lawrence Franks Jr. on September 12, 1987, in Kinloch, Missouri, where he was raised. He moved to the Walnut Park neighborhood of St. Louis when he was five and returned to St. Louis County as a teenager. In an interview, he remembered his community as having "a lot of drugs going on and, of course, a little bit of violence" and said that his experiences growing up in a tough area inspired his rap lyrics.{{cite web|last=Hamilton|first=Keegan|title=Rapper Huey looks to shake off the past with a mature outlook and a new album|url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/content/printVersion/1055284/|work=Riverfront Times|access-date=January 19, 2011|date=August 18, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123533/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/content/printVersion/1055284/|archive-date=June 29, 2011}} Franks, the youngest of four children, recalled his childhood being "really rough" and stated "My mama and daddy were on drugs. My brother was in and out of jail. The foster people were chasing me. It was crazy".

Career

=Music beginnings=

At age 15, Huey began creating hip hop beats.{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve|title=Huey: Someone new from 'the Lou'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-06-20-huey_N.htm|work=USA Today|date=June 21, 2007|access-date=December 17, 2010}} His older brother referred Franks to producer Angela Richardson, who was creating a rap group. Franks began performing as Huey, and his songs "Oh" and "Pop, Lock & Drop It" became local favorites among DJs and promoters. Huey was featured on a series of mixtapes, one of which, Unsigned Hype, sold out of its run of 8,000 copies and was noticed by producer TJ Chapman, who introduced the rapper to Vice President of A&R at Jive Records, Mickey "MeMpHiTz" Wright, in 2006.{{cite web|last=Wilson|first=MacKenzie|title=Huey Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p884636/biography|work=allmusic|access-date=December 17, 2010}}

=2006–2007: ''Notebook Paper''=

Huey's debut album for the label, Notebook Paper, was released in mid-2007, described by AllMusic as sounding like a mixture of Nelly, Chingy, and Ludacris.{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1069882/review|pure_url=yes}}|title=Notebook Paper review|work= Allmusic|publisher=Macrovision Corporation}} The album reached number 26 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.{{cite web|title=Huey: Billboard Albums|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/huey-p884636/charts-awards|work=allmusic|access-date=December 17, 2010}} "Pop, Lock & Drop It", its lead single, peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his biggest hit to date. Nelly's refusal to work with Huey on his debut album prompted two diss tracks "Down, Down, Baby" featuring Tha Camp Boyz and "Back at Cha'".{{cite web|last=Starbury|first=Allen|title=Beef In St. Louis: Rising Rapper Huey Takes On Nelly|url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2007/07/03/beef-in-st-louis-rising-rapper-huey-takes-on-nelly/|work=BallerStatus|access-date=December 17, 2010|date=July 3, 2007}} Notebook Paper's next single was "When I Hustle" featuring singer Lloyd. In 2007, Huey was featured on the song "Hook it Up" on R Kelly's album Double Up.

=2010: ''Redemption''=

Huey's second album, Redemption, was released on September 14, 2010, after many delays. The first official single from the album was "Smile and Wave", which features Dorrough and was released on June 15, 2010. In "Smile and Wave", Huey criticizes his critics.

=2013–2020: ''Project H''=

In 2013 Huey announced that he had officially signed with Waka Flocka Flame's label Brick Squad Monopoly and was working on his third album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/st-louis-rapper-huey-signs-with-waka-flocka-flame-s/article_9a6a5960-0219-5dbf-b518-e58d9672f1d9.html|title=St. Louis rapper Huey signs with Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad|first=Kevin C.|last=Johnson|website=Stltoday.com|access-date=March 6, 2020}} On May 14, 2014, Huey released his mixtape entitled Project H.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.28765/title.huey-project-h-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-mixtape-stream|title=Huey "Project H" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Mixtape Stream | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales|website=HipHopdx.com|date=May 15, 2014 |access-date=March 6, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.datpiff.com/Huey-Project-H-mixtape.602324.html|title=Project H Mixtape by Huey|website=Datpiff.com|access-date=March 6, 2020}} However, not much materialized from his signing to Brick Squad and Huey had been relatively quiet on the music scene in recent years.{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-rapper-huey-killed-in-double-shooting-in-kinloch/article_95232db6-2a93-5f53-87ab-4a9d61f1cc04.amp.html|title=St. Louis rapper Huey killed in double shooting in Kinloch|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|last=Bell|first=Kim|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}} According to music executive William "Quayshaun" Carter, who worked with Huey in the 2010s, prior to his death, Huey had just started a business in upscale clothing, "and it was working out, and he was happy".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/huey-st-louis-rapper-of-pop-lock-and-drop-it-shot-dead/amp/|title=Huey, "Pop, Lock & Drop It" Rapper, Shot Dead at 31|work= Pitchfork|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

Death

On June 25, 2020, Franks and an unidentified 21-year old male companion were shot in front of Franks' home in Kinloch, Missouri. Both men were hospitalized, but the following day Franks died from his wounds at age 32.{{cite web|url=https://fox2now.com/news/st-louis-rapper-baby-huey-dead-at-31-after-being-shot-in-kinloch/|title=St. Louis rapper Huey killed after double shooting in Kinloch|date=June 26, 2020|publisher=FOX2now|access-date=June 26, 2020|author=Aprylete Russell, Blair Ledet|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626150143/https://fox2now.com/news/st-louis-rapper-baby-huey-dead-at-31-after-being-shot-in-kinloch/|url-status=dead}}

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" \| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="3" \| Peak chart positions
style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|US {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/tlp/ \|title=Huey Chart History: Billboard 200 \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=June 26, 2020}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|US R&B /HH {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/blp/ \|title=Huey Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=June 26, 2020}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|US Rap {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/rlp/ \|title=Huey Chart History: Rap Albums \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=June 26, 2020}}
scope="row"\|Notebook Paper \| Released: June 19, 2007 Label: Hitz Committee, Jive Format: CD, digital download \| 26 \|\| 10 \|\| 4
scope="row"\|Redemption \| Released: September 14, 2010 Label: EMI Format: CD, digital download \| — \|\| — \|\| —

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details

! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions

style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Huey Chart History: Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
R&B
/HH
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/blp/ |title=Huey Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
Rap
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/rlp/ |title=Huey Chart History: Rap Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

scope="row"|Notebook Paper

Released: June 19, 2007
Label: Hitz Committee, Jive
Format: CD, digital download

| 26 || 10 || 4

scope="row"|Redemption

Released: September 14, 2010
Label: EMI
Format: CD, digital download

| — || — || —

=Mixtapes=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ Huey's mixtapes and details ! scope="col" style="width:11em;"\| Title ! scope="col" \| Mixtape details
scope="row"\|Who the Fck Is Huey?* \| Released: January 5, 2011
scope="row"\|Project H \| Released: May 14, 2014

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Huey's mixtapes and details

! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title

! scope="col" | Mixtape details

scope="row"|Who the F*ck Is Huey?

Released: January 5, 2011

scope="row"|Project H

Released: May 14, 2014

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Year ! scope="col" colspan="4" \| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" \| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Album
style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|US {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/hsi/ \|title=Huey Chart History: Hot 100 \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=June 26, 2020}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|US R&B /HH {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/bsi/ \|title=Huey Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=June 26, 2020}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|US Rap {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/rap/ \|title=Huey Chart History: Rap Songs \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=June 26, 2020}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"\|NZ {{cite web \|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Huey \|title=Discography Huey \|website=charts.nz \|access-date=June 26, 2020}}
scope="row"\|"Pop, Lock & Drop It" \| 2006 \| 6 \|\| 6 \|\| 2 \|\| 10 \| RIAA: 2× Platinum{{cite certification\|region=United States\|artist=Huey\|title=Pop, Lock\|type=single\|access-date=May 20, 2012}} \|rowspan="3"\|Notebook Paper
scope="row"\|"When I Hustle" (featuring Lloyd) \| 2007 \| — \|\| 80 \|\| — \|\| — \|
scope="row"\|"Tell Me This (G-5) [Tha Remix]"{{cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/tell-me-this-g-5-tha-remix-feat-memphitz-t-pain-single/273853468\|title=Tell Me This (G-5) [Tha Remix] (featuring MeMpHiTz & T-Pain) - Single by Huey on Apple Music\|via=Apple Music\|date=June 26, 2020\|access-date=June 26, 2020}} (featuring MeMpHiTz and T-Pain) \| rowspan="2" \| 2008 \| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|
scope="row"\|"24/7 - 365" (featuring Maino and Glasses Malone){{cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/24-7-365-feat-maino-glasses-malone-single/294459303\|title=24/7 - 365 (feat. Maino & Glasses Malone) - Single by Huey on Apple Music\|via=Apple Music\|access-date=June 26, 2020}} \| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \| \| rowspan="2" {{n/a\|Non-album singles}}
scope="row"\|"Payow!" (featuring Juelz Santana and Bobby V) \| 2009 \| — \|\| 88 \|\| — \|\| —
scope="row"\|"Smile & Wave" (featuring Dorrough) \| 2010 \| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \| \| Redemption
scope="row"\|"Pulled Away"{{cite web\|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/huey-shot-killed/\|title=Huey Shot And Killed At 32: Report\|work=XXL\|last=Woods\|first=Aleia\|date=June 26, 2020\|access-date=June 26, 2020}} \|2020 \| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \| \| {{n/a\|Non-album single}}
colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"\| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year

! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Certifications

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album

style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Huey Chart History: Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
R&B
/HH
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/bsi/ |title=Huey Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
Rap
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/huey/chart-history/rap/ |title=Huey Chart History: Rap Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|NZ
{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Huey |title=Discography Huey |website=charts.nz |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

scope="row"|"Pop, Lock & Drop It"

| 2006

| 6 || 6 || 2 || 10

RIAA: 2× Platinum{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Huey|title=Pop, Lock|type=single|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

|rowspan="3"|Notebook Paper

scope="row"|"When I Hustle"
(featuring Lloyd)

| 2007

| — || 80 || — || —

scope="row"|"Tell Me This (G-5) [Tha Remix]"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/tell-me-this-g-5-tha-remix-feat-memphitz-t-pain-single/273853468|title=Tell Me This (G-5) [Tha Remix] (featuring MeMpHiTz & T-Pain) - Single by Huey on Apple Music|via=Apple Music|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}
(featuring MeMpHiTz and T-Pain)

| rowspan="2" | 2008

| — || — || — || —

scope="row"|"24/7 - 365"
(featuring Maino and Glasses Malone){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/24-7-365-feat-maino-glasses-malone-single/294459303|title=24/7 - 365 (feat. Maino & Glasses Malone) - Single by Huey on Apple Music|via=Apple Music|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

| — || — || — || —

| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album singles}}

scope="row"|"Payow!"
(featuring Juelz Santana and Bobby V)

| 2009

| — || 88 || — || —

scope="row"|"Smile & Wave"
(featuring Dorrough)

| 2010

| — || — || — || —

| Redemption

scope="row"|"Pulled Away"{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/huey-shot-killed/|title=Huey Shot And Killed At 32: Report|work=XXL|last=Woods|first=Aleia|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

|2020

| — || — || — || —

| {{n/a|Non-album single}}

colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.