Lakeyah
{{short description|American rapper}}
{{unreliable sources|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Lakeyah
| image = Lakeyah in an interview.png
| caption = Lakeyah in 2022
| birth_name = Lakeyah Danaee Robinson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|02|28}}
| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
| years_active = 2020–present
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|television personality}}
| label = {{hlist|Quality Control}}
| past_member_of = BTM (2017–2020)
| partner = Khiante Hardy (2020–present)
| website =
}}
Lakeyah Danaee Robinson (born February 28, 2001), known mononymously as Lakeyah, is an American rapper, singer, and television personality. Born and raised in Milwaukee, she began rapping at the age of 15. At 18, she moved to Atlanta and was signed to Quality Control Music. In 2021, she was announced as part of the XXL magazine freshman class, the first from Milwaukee.
Early life
Lakeyah Danaee Robinson{{Cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=Lakeyah|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lakeyah-mn0003984007/biography|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en-US}} was born on February 28, 2001, in Milwaukee, where she was also raised. In high school, she began on the slam poetry team before she was convinced by friends at the age of 15 to rap for the #SoGoneChallenge where people submit performances of rap verses to the instrumental of the song "So Gone" by Monica.{{cite web|last=Seabrook III|first=Robby|date=December 16, 2020|title=The Break Presents: Lakeyah|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lakeyah-interview-the-break/#google_vignette|access-date=July 29, 2021|publisher=XXL}}
In 2017, she joined the music duo "BTM" (Beyond the Music) and they achieved over one million YouTube views.
In 2019, she went on a birthday trip for her 18th birthday to Atlanta, Georgia and visited rapper T.I.'s Trap Museum and its exhibit on Quality Control Music. Inspired to move to Atlanta, she enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta for college but dropped out after two months.
Career
Lakeyah stayed in Atlanta after dropping out of college and went viral for the #FirstDayOutChallenge, a rap challenge celebrating rapper JT from the female rap group City Girls being released from prison. After that challenge and going viral from a freestyle over the song "We Paid" by 42 Dugg and Lil Baby, she was signed to Quality Control Music. On October 9, 2020, Lakeyah released her first single, "Big FlexHER", featuring 42 Dugg.{{Cite web|last=Evgenivna|first=Daniela|date=October 14, 2020|title=QUALITY CONTROL'S LAKEYAH DANAEE EXPLAINS THE MAKING OF 42 DUGG-FEATURED "BIG FLEXHER" SINGLE|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.58458/title.quality-controls-lakeyah-danaee-explains-the-making-of-42-dugg-featured-big-flexher-single|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=HipHopDX}} It amassed over 400,000 views in five days and currently has over six million views.{{cite web|title=Lakeyah – Big FlexHer ft 42 Dugg (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQYPH2wxQsM&ab_channel=Lakeyah|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=YouTube|publisher=Lakeyah}}
On December 11, 2020, Lakeyah released her debut album, Time's Up.{{Cite web|last=Halas|first=Allen|date=December 22, 2020|title=Audio: Lakeyah – "Time's Up"|url=https://breakingandentering.net/2020/12/22/audio-lakeyah-times-up/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Breaking & Entering Milwaukee|language=en-US}} It included the singles "Female Goat" featuring City Girls and "Worst Thing".{{Cite web|last=Rytlewski|first=Evan|date=December 11, 2020|title=Lakeyah teams with City Girls for 'Female Goat' video, shares her 'Times Up' mixtape|url=https://radiomilwaukee.org/discover-music/milwaukee-music/lakeyah-teams-with-city-girls-for-female-goat-video-shares-her-times-up-mixtape/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=88.9 Radio Milwaukee|language=en-US}} "Female Goat" is Lakeyah's most popular track on YouTube, with over 25 million views.{{cite web|title=Lakeyah – Female Goat ft City Girls (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnZn-ci3ImM&ab_channel=Lakeyah|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=YouTube|publisher=Lakeyah}}
In the spring of 2021, Lakeyah was named a brand ambassador for Rihanna's lingerie line, Savage X Fenty.{{Cite web|last=Levy|first=Piet|date=April 22, 2021|title=Quality Control Music found Lil Baby and Migo stars. Their next bet: Lakeyah|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/04/08/milwaukee-rapper-lakeyah-destined-stardom-working-gucci-mane-in-due-time/7082430002/|access-date=August 12, 2021|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}}
On April 9, 2021, Lakeyah released her second project, In Due Time. The album included features from Gucci Mane and Yung Bleu.{{Cite web|last=Callas|first=Brad|date=April 9, 2021|title=Lakeyah Drops New Project 'In Due Time' f/ Gucci Mane and Yung Bleu|url=https://www.complex.com/music/lakeyah-in-due-time-gucci-mane-yung-bleu|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Complex Magazine|language=en-US}} After the album's release, Lakeyah was 4th on Rolling Stone{{'}}s Breakthrough 25 charts, which ranks the fastest rising new artists, behind Cico P.{{Cite magazine|last=Blake|first=Emily|date=May 5, 2021|title=Big Scarr, Cico P, and Lakeyah lead Breakthrough 25 Chart|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/big-scarr-cico-p-lakeyah-breakthrough-1165280/|access-date=August 12, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
On June 16, 2021, XXL magazine named Lakeyah to the 2021 XXL Freshman Class, a spotlight for up and coming rappers that previously featured Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Chance the Rapper, and Megan thee Stallion. She was the first Milwaukee rapper named an XXL freshman in its 14 year history.{{Cite web|last=Levy|first=Piet|date=June 16, 2021|title=Lakeyah makes XXL's Freshman Class. She's the first Milwaukee rapper to join the list|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/06/16/lakeyah-first-milwaukee-rapper-make-xxls-freshman-class/7718191002/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}} The same year she also released a mixtape entitled My Time with the single "313-414" featuring Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley. The mixtape is part of the Gangsta Grillz series hosted by DJ Drama. The artwork depicts Lakeyah holding a championship trophy dressed in a Milwaukee Bucks jersey which is a tribute to her hometown and winners of the NBA Championship that same year.
In 2022 Lakeyah was cast as a regular on the BET reality show The Impact: Atlanta season 1 and season 2. She also released two more projects No Pressure Part 1 and No Pressure Part 2 with the singles "Mind Yo Business" featuring Latto and "Real Bitch" featuring Gloss Up. The projects also featured collaborations with Lucky Daye, Flo Milli and Layton Greene.
On November 18, 2024 Lakeyah released a new single entitled "F.Y.T." featuring Rnb singer Jacquees a remake of the Notorious Big and R Kelly collaboration which is featured on her mixtape Keymix lll a tribute to her fans that have been loyal since the beginning of her career.
Notable artist Lakeyah has collaborated with include: 42 Dugg, City Girls, Layton Greene, Yung Bleu, Gucci Mane, Tee Grizzley, DJ Drama, Latto, Gloss Up, Nardo Wick, Kash Doll, Flo Milli, Lucky Daye, Icewear Vezzo, Moneybagg Yo and Jacquees.
Discography
= Mixtapes =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of mixtapes, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:9.5em;" |Title ! scope="col" style="width:21.5em;" |Mixtape details |
| scope="row" |Time's Up
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |In Due Time
|
|
| scope= "row" | Keymix lll
|
|
= EPs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of extended plays, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:9.5em;" |Title ! scope="col" style="width:21.5em;" |Details |
| scope="row" |No Pressure (Pt. 1)
| |
|---|
| scope="row" |No Pressure (Pt. 2)
|
|