Toosii
{{Short description|American rapper (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Toosii
| image = Toosii 2023.png
| caption = Toosii in 2023
| birth_name = Nau'Jour Grainger
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|1|9}}
| birth_place = Syracuse, New York, U.S.
| origin = Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2017–present
| website = {{URL|http://toosii2x.com/}}
| label = {{hlist|South Coast Music Group|Capitol}}
}}
Nau'Jour Lazier Grainger (born January 9, 2000),{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/toosii2x/status/1612469850164666368?s=46|title=x.com}} better known by his stage name Toosii, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Beginning his career in 2017, he rose to mainstream prominence following the release of his 2023 single "Favorite Song", which first gained virality on the social media platform TikTok. The song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and preceded the release of his second studio album, Naujour (2023). The album peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200, although his debut album, Poetic Pain (2020), reached number 17 on the chart.
Early life
Nau'Jour Grainger was born and grew up in Syracuse, New York,{{cite news |last1=Feldstein |first1=Josh |title=Artist Spotlight: Syracuse-born rapper Toosii brings new sounds to melodic rap |url=https://dailyorange.com/2022/10/artist-spotlight-syracuse-born-rapper-toosii-brings-new-sounds-melodic-rap/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Daily Orange |date=11 October 2022}} but later relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina at the age of 13. It was in Raleigh, North Carolina where he began to seriously pursue his musical career.{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/platform/amp/new-music/2021/5/7/22423290/toosii-thank-you-for-believing-album|title=Toosii wants to 'Thank You For Believing' on new album|work=Revolt|author=DJ First Class|date=May 7, 2021|accessdate=May 7, 2021}}{{Cite web|date=October 1, 2020|title=DaBaby's SCMG Labelmate Toosii Inks Capitol Records Deal|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.58213/title.dababys-scmg-labelmate-toosii-inks-capitol-records-deal|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=HipHopDX}} Rap was an escape route from his issues as a youth. He started recording music at age 16, while playing high school football and figuring out his life path.
Career
= 2017–2020: Career beginnings, ''Who Dat'' and ''Poetic Pain'' =
Toosii's stage name derived from his childhood nickname of "Toota", and changed it to Toosii after his football teammates said it as a joke, adding the two I's because "You need two eyes to see the vision".{{Citation|title=Toosii's ABCs| date=June 24, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK2PibiPH_Q|language=en|access-date=June 24, 2021}} Toosii was discovered by the South Coast Music Group. He signed with the record label in 2019.{{Cite magazine|title=South Coast Music Group Star Toosii Signs With Capitol Records: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/record-labels/9457774/toosii-signs-capitol-records|access-date=January 28, 2021|magazine=Billboard}} Toosii was inspired to try music by both his brother and father and spent a period of time homeless before his career began to further develop.{{Cite web|title=Toosii {{!}} A True 'Platinum Heart'|url=https://flaunt.com/content/toosii-has-a-true-platinum-heart|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=Flaunt Magazine}}
Toosii released several mixtapes during the roots of his career such as Label Me Diverse, Hell on Earth, and Why Not Now. He got his big break in 2019 with the release of the track "Red Lights", which went on to accrue millions of streams. He then released his Who Dat mixtape on April 30, 2019, which was followed by the six-track mixtape, My Shit Now on January 3, 2020, consisting solely of remixes of popular tracks. On February 7, 2020, he released the 13-track Platinum Heart mixtape. Platinum Heart reached number-one on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart upon its initial release.{{Cite magazine |last= |date=September 19, 2020 |title=Heatseekers Albums |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2020-09-19/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The mixtape was later reissued as a 20-track deluxe version. On September 18, 2020, his third South Coast Music Group-affiliated album Poetic Pain was released as his first project on Capitol Records.{{Cite web|title=Toosii And South Coast Music Group Partner With Capitol Records|url=https://www.capitolrecords.com/toosii-and-south-coast-music-group-partner-with-capitol-records/|access-date=January 28, 2021|publisher=Capitol Records}} His signing to Capitol was made on September 30, by Chris Turner (A&R) following the release of his official video for "Love Cycle" with Summer Walker.{{Cite web|title=Toosii and Summer Walker share "Love Cycle" video|url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/09/30/toosii-and-summer-walker-share-love-cycle-video|access-date=February 17, 2021|website=The Fader}} Toosii was credited with 50,000 US adjusted sales and over 250 million combined global streams in 2020 at the time of this release. "Love Cycle" was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 11, 2021. His project Poetic Pain debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 chart in September 2020 and features the RIAA-certified gold single "Love Cycle" with Summer Walker.{{Cite web|title=Gold & Platinum|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=RIAA}}{{Cite web|date=January 10, 2021|title=Toosii Celebrates 1st-Ever RIAA Plaque 2-Years After Signing Deal With DaBaby's Label|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.59989/title.toosii-celebrates-1st-ever-riaa-plaque-2-years-after-signing-deal-with-dababys-label|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=HipHopDX}}
\\
= 2021–2022: ''Thank You for Believing'', ''Pretty Girls Love Toosii'' and ''Boys Don't Cry'' =
Ahead of releasing his Thank You For Believing mixtape, Toosii was named "Up Now" by music streaming service Audiomack.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-19 |title=Announcing Toosii as Audiomack's #UpNow Artist |url=https://audiomack.com/world/post/toosii-is-upnow |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Audiomack World |language=en}} “I feel like I am the GOAT,” Toosii said. “Thank you Audiomack for the opportunity to be your next #UpNow artist.”
On May 7, 2021, Toosii released his seventh mixtape, Thank You for Believing. The tape's title shows "gratitude to those that had faith in him and helped get him where he is today". It contains 13 tracks, and features Mulatto, Key Glock, and DaBaby. In 2021, he was featured on the XXL Freshman Class. On December 3, 2021, Toosii released a 3-track EP titled Pretty Girls Love Toosii which was assisted by a feature from Jacquees.{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2021-12-03/130443/pretty-girls-love-toosii-ep/|title=Toosii drops new 'Pretty Girls Love Toosii' trio|website=Revolt|last=Cho|first=Regina|date=December 3, 2021|accessdate=November 6, 2023}} Just under a year later, on October 7, 2022, Toosii released his fourth EP, Boys Don't Cry which featured his TikTok viral, "Love Is..." alongside "Heartaches" which also gained traction on social media.{{cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2022/10/10/toosii-drops-new-ep-boys-dont-cry/|title=TOOSII DROPS NEW EP 'BOYS DON'T CRY'|website=The Source|last=Jones|first=Jiggy|date=October 10, 2022|accessdate=November 6, 2023}} On November 11, 2022, Toosii released a deluxe to his EP titled, Boys Don't Cry: Men Do.{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2022-11-11/252877/toosii-delivers-new-boys-dont-cry-men-do-deluxe-album/|title=Toosii delivers new 'Boys Don't Cry: Men Do' deluxe album|website=Revolt|last=Class|first=DJ First|date=November 11, 2022|accessdate=November 6, 2023}} Just a week later, he released a visual to the intro of the deluxe EP, "Frozen Below Zero".{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2022-11-25/257056/toosii-frozen-below-zero-video/|title=Toosii drops new "Frozen Below Zero" visual|website=Revolt|last=Cho|first=Regina|date=November 25, 2022|accessdate=November 6, 2023}}
= 2023–present: ''Naujour'' and ''Jaded'' =
Beginning 2023, Toosii released his first single of the year, "Magic Potion" on January 27, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/toosii-magic-potion/|title=Toosii Returns With New Single 'Magic Potion'|last=Schube|first=Will|work=uDiscover Music |date=January 27, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}} Just weeks later, Toosii released his Valentine's Day special, "Favorite Song".{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-17/274062/toosii-favorite-song/|title=Toosii drops off new "Favorite Song" track|last=Cho|first=Regina|work=Revolt|date=February 17, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}} The track marked Toosii's debut on the Billboard Hot 100 after debuting at #51.{{Cite magazine |first=Xander |last=Zellner |date=February 27, 2023 |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Toosii Arrives With a New 'Favorite Song' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/toosii-favorite-song-hot-100-first-timers-1235264119/ |access-date=November 6, 2023 |magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} The track received remixes from Khalid and Future released on May 5 and May 19. The remixes assisted the song's commercial performance as the track peaked at #5 in the US during the week ending June 3, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/insanulahmed/toosii-favorite-song-top-10-interview-fanbase|title=Toosii on How "Favorite Song" Became a Top 10 Hit, Says 'It's 90 Percent Female at My Shows'|last=Ahmed|first=Insanul|work=Complex|date=June 9, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/toosii-favorite-song-tatiana-manaois-adelso-summer-song-hitmakers-1235645677/|title=Hitmakers of the Month: Toosii, Tatiana Manaois and Producer Adelso Tell How They Joined Forces for This Summer's 'Favorite Song'|last=Amorosi|first=A.D.|magazine=Variety|date=June 15, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}} The track also peaked at #25 on the Billboard Global 200. The track was certified platinum just three months after its release and 2× platinum in August 2023. The hit track served as the lead single (alongside "Love Is...") for Toosii's sophomore, self-titled studio album, Naujour.{{cite web|url=https://www.livenationentertainment.com/2023/05/toosii-announces-u-s-headline-tour-in-support-of-his-debut-album-naujour-set-for-june-2-release/|title=TOOSII ANNOUNCES U.S. HEADLINE TOUR IN SUPPORT OF HIS DEBUT ALBUM, NAUJOUR, SET FOR JUNE 2 RELEASE |work=Live Nation Entertainment|date=May 10, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}}{{Cite magazine |last1=Werthman |first1=Kyle Denis,Carl Lamarre,Jason Lipshutz,Andrew Unterberger,Heran |last2=Mamo |first2=Kyle |last3=Denis |first3=Carl |last4=Lipshutz |first4=Jason |last5=Unterberger |first5=Andrew |last6=Werthman |first6=Christine |date=2023-05-31 |title=How Did Toosii's 'Favorite Song' Become One of the Biggest Rap Breakout Hits of the Year?|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/toosii-favorite-song-rap-hit-2023-five-burning-questions-1235343484/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The album peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200, marking Toosii's second highest-charting album.
Continuing off of his success, on November 3, 2023, Toosii released "Suffice", the lead single to his upcoming eighth mixtape, Jaded, which includes a guest appearance from the American pop rock band, LANY.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/731849-toosii-new-single-suffice|title=Toosii Drops Emotional New Single "Suffice"|last=Fisher|first=Caroline|work=HotNewHipHop|date=November 4, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
= Mixtapes =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of mixtapes, with select chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Mixtape details ! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row"| Label Me Diverse
|
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Hell on Earth
|
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Why Not Now
|
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Who Dat
|
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| My Shit Now
|
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Platinum Heart
|
| 196 || — || — |
| scope="row"| Thank You for Believing
|
| 25 |
| scope="row"| Jaded
|
| 50 || — || — |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
= Extended plays =
= Singles =
= Other charted and certified songs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of other charted and certified songs, with select chart positions and certifications ! rowspan="2"| Title ! rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications ! rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Bub. {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/21-savage/chart-history/hbu/|title=21 Savage Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 13, 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row" |"Reminiscing"
| rowspan="2" |2020 |— |— | |Platinum Heart |
| scope="row" | "Sapiosexual"
| — || — | | Poetic Pain |
| scope="row"| "Pull Up" {{small|(featuring 21 Savage)}} | 2023 | 17 || 49 | | Naujour |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
= Guest appearances =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artists ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row" | "Hero"
| rowspan="11" | 2020 | Neno Calvin, Lil Poppa | Magnolia Manson |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Flight to China |
| scope="row" | "Last Time"
| JxHines | Love Stories |
| scope="row" | "One Time" |
| scope="row" | "Traumatized"
| Phora |
| scope="row" | "Bidness"
| DaBaby |
| scope="row" | "Chicken"
| Aminé |
| scope="row" | "Murda" |
| scope="row" | "All of Your Love"
| Hotboii | Double O Baby |
| scope="row" | "Interact"
| Smoove'L | Ice Cups and Shootouts |
| scope="row" | "Beneficial"
| Mud Baby |
| scope="row" | "Feel Better"
| rowspan="11" | 2021 | BRS Kash |
| scope="row" | "No Love Too"
| 100k Track, YNW Melly, FCG Heem, DKE AUTHOR | Mercury |
| scope="row" | "WYTD"
| Tokyo Jetz | Cancel Culture |
| scope="row" | "Gone Too Soon"
| Nuski2Squad | Lil Nuski |
| scope="row" | "Love Hurts"
| Lil Tjay |
| scope="row" | "A.M. Flights"
| Lil Poppa | Blessed, I Guess |
| scope="row" | "More Pain"
| FCG Heem | Neighborhood Poetry |
| scope="row" | "Finally Made It"
| YBT | Tryna Win |
| scope="row" | "2 Pills"
| Rico Cartel | Legendary Nightz |
| scope="row" | "Soul Fly"
| Dee Gomes | Undrafted |
| scope="row" | "Rich Today"
| CFL Billions | LONG LIVE BOOGIE |
| scope="row" | "One Time"
| rowspan="4" | 2022 | Luh Dino | Prayer Heals Pain The Aftermath |
| scope="row" | "Dead Roses"
| All On Me |
| scope="row" | "Take Care"
| Lil Gotit, Millie Go Lightly |
| scope="row" | "Starfall"
| DaeDalTm | Prouda Myself |
| scope="row" | "W Hotel"
| rowspan="1" | 2024 | Pressa | rowspan="1" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:21st-century African-American male singers
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:Alternative R&B musicians
Category:Capitol Records artists
Category:Musicians from Syracuse, New York
Category:Rappers from New York (state)