Icewear Vezzo
{{Short description|American rapper (born 1989)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Icewear Vezzo
| image = Icewear Vezzo detroit mi.jpg
| alt = Vezzo grabbing his necklaces and smiling
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|10|31}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, MN, U.S.
| occupations = Rapper
| genre = Hip hop
| label = {{hlist|Motown|Quality Control (Before)|Iced Up Records}}
| website = {{URL|www.icewearvezzo.com}}
}}
Chivez Smith{{cite web|title=Ahead of festival, Icewear Vezzo trailblazes Detroit rap's movement|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/05/25/ahead-festival-icewear-vezzo-trailblazes-detroit-raps-movement/9898789002/|publisher=The Detroit News|date=May 26, 2022}} (born October 31, 1989), known professionally as Icewear Vezzo, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is the founder of the label Iced Up Records. He is best known for his Clarity mixtape series and his Rich Off Pints mixtape trilogy, with the latter entering the Heatseekers Albums chart. He is noted as a prominent figure of the Detroit hip hop scene.{{Cite web|title=The Promise & Perseverance of Detroit Rap's Rising Stars|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/icewear-vezzo-babyface-ray-baby-money-detroit-rap-interview-1235153685/|access-date=2022-11-07|website=Billboard|language=en}}
Early life
Chivez Smith was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in the Gratiot-Findlay neighborhood on the east side of Detroit, Michigan.
Career beginnings
Smith began his career as a member of the rap group Green Guyz, founded in Minnesota by his close relatives and siblings.{{cite web |title=Icewear Vezzo Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/icewear-vezzo-mn0003311506/biography |website=Allmusic |access-date=2022-11-05}}
Solo career
= 2012–2018: ''The Clarity'' series and Motown =
In 2012, he started gaining traction with the release of his debut solo mixtape The Clarity. In 2013, he released his second mixtape The Clarity 2: Can't Stop the Count the sequel to The Clarity. In 2014, he released his third Clarity mixtape The Clarity 3: Fully Blown, which reached number 48 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. In 2015, he released his fourth Clarity mixtape Clarity 4: I Can't Fall Off which featured the single "Moon Walken". In 2016, he released the full-length mixtape Moon Walken. In November 2018, Vezzo was signed to the record label Motown.{{Cite web|title=Motown Signs Icewear Vezzo, Loyola Launches Hip-Hop Degree & Hendrix Exhibit Bows at NAAM: R&B/Hip-Hop Briefs|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/motown-icewear-vezzo-loyola-launches-hip-hop-degree-program-8482880/|access-date=2022-11-07|website=Billboard|language=en}} In December 2018, he released his Clarity 6 under Motown, featuring Kash Doll. In February 2019, Vezzo released his debut single under Motown, "Balance" featuring rapper Big Sean.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/icewear-vezzo-balance-big-sean-video-8508759/
|title=Icewear Vezzo & Big Sean Find ‘Balance’ in New Video: Watch|website=Billboard|access-date=2022-09-07}}
= 2021–2022: ''Rich Off Pints'' series and Quality Control =
In April 2021, he released his single "Up the Sco" with a feature from Lil Durk.{{Cite web|title=Icewear Vezzo Recruits Lil Durk for Off-Kilter Heater "Up The Sco'"|url=https://respect-mag.com/2021/04/icewear-vezzo-recruits-lil-durk-for-off-kilter-heater-up-the-sco/|access-date=2022-12-06|website=Respect|language=en}} In May 2021, he released his project Rich Off Pints featuring guest appearances by Rio da Yung OG, Peezy, Louie Ray, Trippie Redd, Lil Yachty, EST Gee, Dreezy, BIG 30, and others.{{Cite web|title=Icewear Vezzo Stands Up For Detroit, Shares Rich Off Pints|url=https://audibletreats.com/icewear-vezzo_pr3/|access-date=2022-12-14|website=Audible Treats|language=en}} In June 2021, the album debuted at number seven on the Heatseekers Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2021-06-05/|title=Heatseekers Albums Chart Week of June 5, 2021|website=Billboard|access-date=2022-09-07}} In September 2021, Vezzo released his project Rich Off Pints 2 the sequel to Rich Off Pints with appearances from Rio da Yung OG, Antt Beatz, Babyface Ray, Future, Moneybagg Yo, and RMR.{{Cite web|title=Icewear Vezzo drops ‘Rich Off Pints 2’ mixtape f/ Future, RMR, and More |url=https://www.complex.com/music/icewear-vezzo-rich-off-pints-2|access-date=2022-11-05|website=Complex|language=en}} Rich Off Pints 2 debuted atop the Heatseekers Albums chart and peaked at number 34 on the Independent Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2021-10-16/|title=Heatseekers Albums Chart Week of October 16, 2021|website=Billboard|access-date=2022-09-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2021-10-16/|title=Independent Albums Chart Week of October 16, 2021|website=Billboard|access-date=2022-09-07}} In July 2022, Vezzo released Rich Off Pints 3, which is the third and final installment in his Rich Off Pints mixtape trilogy. The mixtape includes performances by Lil Durk, Lil Baby, G Herbo, E-40, Key Glock, Baby Money and Antt Beatz.{{Cite web|title=Icewear Vezzo Drops ‘Rich Off Pints 3’ f/ Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and More|url=https://www.complex.com/music/icewear-vezzo-rich-off-pints-3|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Complex|language=en}} In August 2022, debuted at number three on the Heatseekers Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2022-08-06/|title=Heatseekers Albums Chart Week of August 6, 2022|website=Billboard|access-date=2022-09-07}} Also in August 2022, Vezzo signed a deal with Quality Control Music and released his track "It's All On U" with rapper Kodak Black.{{Cite web|title=Icewear Vezzo Signs to Quality Control, Drops "It's All On U" With Kodak Black|url=https://news.yahoo.com/icewear-vezzo-signs-quality-control-200302168.html/|access-date=2022-11-05|language=en}}
= 2022–present: ''Paint the City'' =
In December 2022, he released his song "One Time" featuring rapper Jeezy.{{Cite web|title=Icewear Vezzo Recruits Jeezy For ‘One Time’|url=https://news.yahoo.com/icewear-vezzo-recruits-jeezy-one-215216196.html|access-date=2022-11-05|website=UDiscoverMusic|language=en}} On December 8, 2022, Vezzo released his Gangsta Grillz mixtape Paint the City with appearances from Kodak Black, Jeezy, Future, 2 Chainz, Peezy, and G.T.{{Cite web|title=Album: Icewear Vezzo ‘Paint the City’
|url=https://rapradar.com/2022/12/08/album-icewear-vezzo-paint-the-city/|access-date=2022-11-05|website=Rap Radar|language=en}}
Other ventures
= Iced Up =
= Chicken Talk =
In July 2015, Vezzo opened a restaurant called Chicken Talk.{{Cite web|title=Rapper Icewear Vezzo makes good in Neighborhood, opens Chicken Talk
|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/food-drink/rapper-icewear-vezzo-makes-good-in-neighborhood-opens-chicken-talk-2357574|access-date=2022-11-05|website=Rap Radar|language=en}}
Personal life
Smith supported Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Bryson |date=October 3, 2024 |title=Rap Sheet: The Hip-Hop Stars Endorsing Trump or Harris |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/hip-hop-stars-endorsing-donald-trump-and-kamala-harris-for-president-20731341 |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}
Discography
- The Clarity (2012)
- The Clarity 2 (2013)
- The City Is Mine (2013)
- The Clarity 3: Fully Blown (2014)
- ''Solitaires: Drank God (2014)
- Clarity 4: I Can't Fall Off (2015)
- Moon Walking (2016)
- Purple City with Antt Beatz (2016)
- Price Goin Up (2017)
- Clarity 6 (2018)
- Robbin Season (2019)
- Drank Baby (2020)
- Robbin Season 2 (2020)
- Rich Off Pints (2021)
- Rich Off Pints 2 (2021)
- Rich Off Pints 3 (2022)
- Paint the City with DJ Drama (2022)
- Live from the 6 (2024)
- Live from the 6 (Part Two) (2024)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic|id=icewear-vezzo-mn0003311506}}
- {{Discogs artist|Icewear Vezzo}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|Michigan|United States}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vezzo, Icewear}}
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century African-American male rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:Businesspeople from Detroit
Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists
Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians