Lil Duke
{{Infobox musical artist
| birth_name = Arnold Martinez
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|03|29}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2012-present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| module =
}}
Arnold Martinez (born March 29, 1985), known professionally as Lil Duke, is an American rapper and singer from Atlanta, Georgia. Duke is a member of Young Thug's "Young Stoner Life Records". He started out as Yung Duke in the late 2000's before joining PeeWee Longway's music group label MPA BandCamp. In 2015 after MPA disbanded, after that he stuck with YSL as Lil Duke, which is the moniker under which he has released all of his music. However he is often credited on his features simply as Duke, his official stage name goes back and forth.{{Cite web |title=Lil Duke |url=https://genius.com/artists/Lil-duke |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Genius |language=en}}
Duke has made appearances on songs for artists such as Trippie Redd, Chris Brown, Machine Gun Kelly, and NAV along with the projects of his label mates such as Lil Keed and Gunna. Duke is most known for the verses he’s contributed to on Young Thug’s projects including Barter 6, I’m Up, Slime Season 3, Slime Language, and most notably So Much Fun.{{Cite web |title=Young Stoner Life Records |url=https://www.youngstonerliferecords.com/lil_duke.php |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=youngstonerliferecords.com |language=en}}
Duke has made 19 singles, 10 mixtapes, and one studio album.
Career
On August 16, 2015, Martinez released a self titled mixtape "Lil Duke" in which Young Thug, PeeWee Longway, Travis Scott, Offset and others appeared.{{Cite web |last=Beamon |first=Willie |date=2015-08-17 |title=MPA Duke – Lil Duke (Mixtape) |url=https://1stdayfresh.com/2015/08/16/streamdownload-mpadukes-new-mixtape-lil-duke/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=1stDayFresh.com |language=en}} Notable song, "On My Vibe", featuring Travis Scott was leaked earlier in the summer and Martinez managed to officially claim it.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-16 |title=MPA Duke & Travi$ Scott - On My Vibe (Produced By Travi$ Scott) |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/8/mpa-duke-travi-scott-on-my-vibe-produced-by-travi-scott |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Hypebeast}}
On April 14, 2016, Martinez was announced to be in a group member of Bankroll Mafia for their debut album releasing on April 22.{{Cite web |last=Ivey |first=Justin|date=2016-04-15 |title=Bankroll Mafia Announce Release Date for Mixtape - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/bankroll-mafia-release-date-mixtape/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}
On April 22, 2016, Martinez was part of Atlanta-based hip-hop supergroup, Bankroll Mafia and released their debut studio album which was self titled "Bankroll Mafia".{{Cite web |date=2016-04-22 |title=T.I.'s Bankroll Mafia Drop Self-Titled Debut Project |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/4/ti-young-thug-bankroll-mafia-debut-self-titled-project-mixtape-stream |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web |title=Listen To Bankroll Mafia's Debut Album |url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/04/22/bankroll-mafia-debut-album |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=The FADER |language=en}} The group was composed of Lil Duke himself, TI, Young Thug, PeeWee Roscoe, Shad Da God, and London Jae.{{Cite magazine |last=Diep |first=Eric |date=2016-04-26 |title=Meet Bankroll Mafia, Atlanta's New Rap Supergroup Including T.I., Young Thug & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/bankroll-mafia-ti-young-thug-members-7341883/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The group was short lived and didn't release another album.
On May 1, 2016, Martinez released a solo mixtape called "Uber", the mixtape features artists including Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Lil Durk, 21 Savage and Anthony Hamilton.{{Cite web |last=Ivey |first=Justin|date=2016-05-02 |title=Lil Duke Drops 'Uber' Mixtape - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lil-duke-uber-mixtape/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}
On November 16, 2016, Martinez became the first member to be part of Young Thugs YSL Records. Young Thug signed a label deal with 300 Entertainment for his own YSL Records imprint.{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Sidney|date=2016-11-16 |title=Young Thug Launches YSL Records - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/young-thug-ysl-records/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}} Young Thug made a promise with Duke to sign him to the record label.{{Cite web |date=2016-11-17 |title=Young Thug Launches His Own Record Label, But What Does the Future Hold? |url=https://djbooth.net/features/2016-11-17-young-thug-launches-ysl-records/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=DJBooth |language=en-US}}
On April 20, 2017, Martinez released his debut project, "Life in the Hills", under YSL Records. The mixtape features collaborations with artists such as Gunna, Young Thug, Don Q, Dave East, and Wiz Khalifa.{{Cite web |last=Lilah |first=Rose |date=2017-04-20 |title=Life In The Hills |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/56158-lil-duke-life-in-the-hills-new-mixtape? |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}
On June 5, 2017, Martinez joined Young Thug, Quavo, and Rich The Kid on the single "WTF You Doin"{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Peter A. BerryPeter A. |date=2017-06-05 |title=Young Thug, Quavo and Rich The Kid Get Together for 'WTF You Doin' - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/young-thug-quavo-duke-rich-the-kid-get-together-wtf-you-doin/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Young Thug, Quavo, Duke, & Rich The Kid Team Up For New Single "WTF You Doin" |url=https://genius.com/a/young-thug-quavo-duke-rich-the-kid-team-up-for-new-single-wtf-you-doin |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Genius |language=en}}
On July 23, 2021, Martinez released his debut studio album, "Duke Hefner", the 20-track project features collaborations with Young Thug, Gunna, Davido, Lil Keed, Unfoonk, Yak Gotti, and Stunna4Vegas.{{Cite web |title=YSL Artist Lil Duke Releases Explosive Mixtape "Duke Hefner" • WithGuitars |url=https://www.withguitars.com/291027-2/?utm |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.withguitars.com |language=en-GB}}
Musical style
Lil Duke's musical style is characterized by a blend of melodic rap and trap influences, reflecting his Atlanta roots. Duke's work often features atmospheric beats layered with heavy 808s, complementing his dynamic vocal delivery. AllMusic said, Lil Duke is known for his laid-back trap style. his discography includes projects like Blue Devil 2 and Duke Hefner, which showcase his melodic rap and trap influences.{{Cite web |title=Lil Duke Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More {{!}} ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-duke-mn0000277178 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Details ! colspan="3" | Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US R&B/HH ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US Rap |
|---|
| scope="row" | Duke Hefner{{Citation |title=Duke Hefner by Lil Duke & Young Stoner Life on Apple Music |date=2021-07-23 |url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/duke-hefner/1577159274 |access-date=2025-01-28 |language=en-CA}}
|
| - || - || - |
= Mixtapes =
= Group 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 |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US |
|---|
| scope="row" | Bankroll Mafia {{small|(with T.I., Young Thug, PeeWee Roscoe, Shad Da God, and London Jae.)}}
|
| — || — || — |
| colspan="7" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. |
References
{{reflist}}
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:African-American record producers
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:American hip-hop singers
Category:Bankroll Mafia members
Category:Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)