Vado (rapper)
{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Vado
| image =
| alias = {{hlist|Movado|Bank Sinatra|Slime Rawsteen{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/Vado/profile/|title=Vado|website=HNHH|date=3 April 2018 }}}}
| birth_name = Teyon Isiah Winfree
| birth_place =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1985|3|13}}
| origin = Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| years_active = 2000–present
| label = {{hlist|LongRun|Diplomatic Man|
Sony|Beautiful Life|gamma.|E1|We the Best|Cash Money|Republic|Interscope|DD172|BluRoc}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|actor}}
| current_member_of = {{hlist|U.N.}}
}}
Teyon Isiah Winfree{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/886790073|title=ACE Repertory|website=www.ascap.com}} (born March 13, 1985), better known by his stage name Vado (backronym for Violence And Drugs Only),{{cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/music/2010/06/vado-talks-large-in-the-streets-and-the-diplomats-reunion | title=Vado Talks "Large in the Streets" and the Diplomats Reunion | website=Complex Networks }} is an American rapper. He formed the East Coast hip hop duo U.N. (Us Now) with hometown native Cam'ron in 2009; the duo has released two collaborative albums—Heat in Here Vol. 1 (2010) and Gunz n' Butta (2011)—as well as the Boss of All Bosses mixtape series.
As a solo act, Vado signed with DJ Khaled's We the Best Music Group, an imprint of Cash Money and Republic Records in 2013 to release his debut commercial single, "My Bae" (featuring Jeremih) the following year. Despite failing to chart, Vado guest appeared on Khaled's studio albums We the Best Forever (2011), Suffering from Success (2013), and I Changed a Lot (2015); he continued releasing mixtapes for We the Best until parting ways with the label in 2017.{{cite web | url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-09-14/70294/vado-drops-new-video-for-drill-track-this-thing-of-ours/ | title=Vado drops new video for drill track "This Thing of Ours" }}{{Cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2014/03/10/vado-drops-first-single-from-his-studio-album-vado-x-jeremih-my-bae/|title=Vado Drops First Single from Debut Album, "My Bae"|date=11 March 2014 }}
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Early life
Teyon Winfree was born on March 13, 1985. He was raised in Harlem and grew up on 144th and Lenox. His mother is of Ghanaian, while his father is of African American descent. Winfree first started writing at 16 and was influenced by Ma$e, Cam'ron, and Big L. At age 19, Vado appeared on the public access television show Mad Ciphas. In 2008, he recorded songs with childhood friend Jae Millz. Winfree's first stage name was MOVADO, later shortened to VADO, an acronym which stands for "Violence And Drugs Only."{{Citation | last = Blanco | first = Alvin| title = Show & Prove: Vado | publisher = XXL Magazine|date=October 2009| page = 52 }}
Career
In March 2009, a mutual friend linked Vado with New York rapper and Dipset leader Cam'ron, who subsequently invited Vado to a recording session they soon-after formed the hip hop duo U.N., which stands for "Us Now".{{Citation | last = Blanco | first = Alvin| title = Show & Prove: Vado | publisher = XXL Magazine|date=October 2009| page = 52}} In August of that year, U.N. released their first mixtape Bosses of All Bosses to positive reception.{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16416/title.vado-discusses-slime-flu-2-killa-season-2-boss-of-all-bosses-3 |title=Vado Discusses "Slime Flu 2," "Killa Season 2" & "Boss Of All Bosses 3 |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2011-08-12 |access-date=2013-03-05}} The following year, U.N. released their debut album, Heat in Here Vol. 1 in May through Asylum Records, an imprint of Warner Records. Vado then released his debut solo project, a mixtape titled Slime Flu in October 2010 through Cam'ron's Diplomat Records label, with distribution from independent label E1 Music. That same year, Cam'ron introduced Vado to Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash, as Cam'ron and Dash were in talks of U.N. signing to the newly re-launched Roc-A-Fella. Vado signed with Dash's subsidiary record label, BluRoc. The U.N. recording outfit also signed to BluRoc, although they would only release the five-song extended play Blu Tops under the label in February 2012.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16423-camronski-beatzvado-blu-tops/ | title=Cam'ron / Vado / McKenzie Eddy: Blu Tops EP | website=Pitchfork }} During this time, many outlets described Vado as a "protégé" or "hype man" of Cam'ron.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/vados-a-rising/|title=Vado's a 'rising star', playing MHOW, releasing LP w/ Cam'ron}}
In March 2011, Vado signed a solo contract with Interscope Records. However, he released no projects under the label.{{cite web | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/h28i83/vado-camron-interscope-signing | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107204204/https://www.mtv.com/news/h28i83/vado-camron-interscope-signing | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 7, 2023 | title=Vado Signs with Interscope Records | website=MTV }} In the following month of April, U.N. independently released their second album, Gunz n' Butta, which saw a commercial improvement from its predecessor at number 78 on the Billboard 200, also spawning the singles "Speaking in Tungs" and "Hey Muma." In the same month, Vado made a guest appearance on fellow New York rapper Fabolous' mixtape, The S.O.U.L. Tape. In July, Vado made his first mainstream appearance on DJ Khaled's song "Future" alongside Ace Hood, Wale, and Meek Mill, which was included in Khaled's fifth studio album We the Best Forever. In November 2011, he released the sequel to his Slime Flu mixtape.{{cite web|url=http://www.datpiff.com/Vado-Slime-Flu-2-mixtape.287724.html |title=Vado - Slime Flu 2 // Free Mixtape @ |publisher=Datpiff.com |date=2011-11-25 |access-date=2013-03-05}} In 2012, Vado announced his departure from Interscope as he felt more comfortable recording music for a regional audience.{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22468/title.vado-explains-why-he-left-interscope-records |title=Vado Explains Why He Left Interscope Records |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-01-08 |access-date=2013-03-05}}
On January 22, 2013, Vado released the third installment to his Slime Flu mixtape series.{{cite web|last=Iandoli |first=Kathy |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22510/title.mixtape-release-dates-consequence-big-krit-b-real-wiz-khalifa-and-curreny |title=Mixtape Release Dates: Consequence, Big K.R.I.T., B-Real, Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2013-03-05}} On January 30, 2013, Vado confirmed he signed with DJ Khaled's We the Best Music Group label, an imprint of Republic Records and Cash Money Records. His first major label mixtape, V-Day was released the following month.{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22737/title.vado-confirms-signing-to-dj-khaled-s-we-the-best-imprint |title=Vado Confirms Signing To DJ Khaled's We The Best Imprint |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-01-30 |access-date=2013-03-05}} During the rest of 2013, Vado made guest appearances on the VH1 shows Love & Hip Hop and Black Ink Crew, and was a guest artist on Lil Wayne's Dedication 5 and DJ Khaled's Suffering from Success.
In March 2014, released his debut commercial single, "My Bae" featuring frequent Khaled collaborator Jeremih, produced by the labels in-house producer, Lee on the Beats. In December, he released his follow up commercial single "Look Me In My Eyes" featuring Rick Ross and French Montana and produced by Scott Storch. The single was from his sixth solo mixtape Sinatra, which was released earlier that year in February 2014. Both singles failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/vado-rick-ross-french-montana-look-me-in-my-eyes|title=Listen To Vado's New Single "Look Me In My Eyes" Featuring Rick Ross & French Montana|publisher=complex.com|access-date=11 July 2016}} In 2015, he appeared on Khaled's album I Changed a Lot. After eleven mixtapes with We the Best and a two-year hiatus, he released his mixtape, LongRun: Vol. 2 independently through his own label LongRun in January 2022.{{cite web | url=https://thesource.com/2014/02/14/vado-says-camron-is-traumatized-over-relationship-with-juelz-santana/ | title=Vado Says Cam'Ron is Traumatized over Relationship with Juelz Santana - the Source | date=14 February 2014 }}
In October 2023, Vado was featured on "Still Believe In Love", a single by American singer Mary J. Blige.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/4GrOIIi1EJqOmISTAlfFve?si=dcbd8c7edfc844e9|title=Still Believe In Love|website=Spotify|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=November 7, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/gallery/new-music-mary-j-blige-baby-tate-brent-faiyaz/|title=Best New Music This Week: Mary J. Blige, Baby Tate, Brent Faiyaz And More|website=Essence|last=Jones|first=Okla|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=November 7, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/10/mary-j-blige-shares-new-song-still-believe-in-love-featuring-vado/|title=Mary J. Blige Shares New Song 'Still Believe in Love' Featuring Vado|website=Rated R&B|last=Folk|first=Antwane|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=November 7, 2023}} On May 1, 2024, Vado confirmed that he signed to Blige's new record label, Beautiful Life Records, in a distribution deal with Larry Jackson's digital distribution imprint, gamma.{{Cite web |title=Mary J. Blige Talks New Beats, New Boo, And New Boots |url=https://www.bet.com/article/cz4wfd/mary-j-blige-talks-new-beats-new-boo-and-new-boots |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=BET |language=en}} The singer also confirmed the signage in an interview with radio personality and television show host, Big Tigger.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKj5U3XuS7A |title=💎Mary J Blige On Signing Vado To Her Label. #bigtigga |language=en |access-date=2024-05-01 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/fKj5U3XuS7A |archive-date=2024-05-01 |via=www.youtube.com}}
On April 29, 2025, Vado's close friend, fashion stylist and businesswoman Misa Hylton filed a $5 million lawsuit against Mary J. Blige, for breach of contract and interferences, involving a business deal which regarded him. Hylton claims in the lawsuit that she launched a management company in February 2023 to represent for Vado, who would later sign a contract with Blige's imprint, Beautiful Life Records. Blige later used tactics to coerce the rapper to terminate his management contract with Hylton's company.{{Cite web |title=Mary J. Blige Sued For $5 Million By Her Former Stylist Misa Hylton |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-04-29-mary-j-blige-sued-for-5-million-by-her-former-stylist-misa-hylton/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=iHeart |language=en}} She furthermore added that Vado completed the recording sessions for a planned album which Blige scrapped, due to him not firing Hylton.
Discography
=Collaborative albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"|Title
! rowspan="2" |Album details !colspan="3"|Chart positions |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; width:35px;"|US
! style="text-align:center; width:35px;"|US R&B ! style="text-align:center; width:35px;"|US Rap |
| Heat In Here Vol. 1
{{Small|(with U.N.)}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|146 | style="text-align:center;"|30 | style="text-align:center;"|16 |
| Gunz n' Butta
{{Small|(with Cam'ron)}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|78 | style="text-align:center;"|15 | style="text-align:center;"|7 |
=Mixtapes=
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" | Title
! rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="3"| Chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|US
! style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|US ! style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|US |
| align="left" |"Speaking in Tungs" (with Cam'ron as U.N.) |2010 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|82 | style="text-align:center;"|— |align="left"|Slime Flu and Gunz n' Butta |
| align"left" |"Hey Muma" (with Cam'ron as U.N.) |2011 | style="text-align:center;|— | style="text-align:center;|84 | style="text-align:center;|— |align="left"| Gunz n' Butta |
| align="left" |"My Bae" (featuring Jeremih) |rowspan="2"| 2014 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |align="left"|Non-album single |
| align="left"|"Look Me In My Eyes" (featuring Rick Ross and French Montana) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |align="left"| Sinatra |
| align="left" |"Talk To Me" (featuring DreamDoll) |rowspan="1"| 2019 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |align="left"|V-Day 3 |
| align="left" |"Respect My Jux" (featuring Lloyd Banks and Dave East) |rowspan="1"| 2021 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |align="left"|Non-album single |
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Christmas in Harlem" (Kanye West featuring CyHi the Prynce, Teyana Taylor, Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Vado, Pusha T, Musiq Soulchild, & Big Sean) | rowspan="1"| 2010 | — || — | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row" | "Livin' Dreams" (Akini Blake featuring Maino, Vado & Fred the Godson) | rowspan="1"| 2012 | — || — | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row" | "Walk In New York" (Grafh featuring Raekwon and Vado) | rowspan="1"|2014 | — || — | 88 Crack Era |
| scope="row" | "Blue Bandana"{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} Ms.Choppa featuring Vado) | rowspan="1"| 2020 | — || — | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row" | "Still Believe In Love" Mary J. Blige featuring Vado) | rowspan="1"| 2023 | — || — | {{n/a}} |
=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" style="width:19em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "That Work"
| rowspan="1"| 2010 | DJ Suss One, Uncle Murda, Cassidy, Joell Ortiz, French Montana | The Feature Presentation Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Mo Brooklyn, Mo Harlem, Mo Southside"
| rowspan="2"| 2011 |
| scope="row"| "Future" |
| scope="row"| "We Run The Town"
| rowspan="9"| 2012 | Lloyd Banks |
| scope="row"| "Shut The City Down"
| CashFlow | The Enterprise |
| scope="row"| "Clap, Clap, Clap" (Remix)
| {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Something Else"
| Fred The Godson, Face49 | Gordo Frederico |
| scope="row"| "Excuse Me"
| DJ Kay Slay, Gunplay, Uncle Murda, Sauce Money | The Return Of The Gatekeeper |
| scope="row"| "Make It Back"
| Bizzy Crook | P.S. I'm Sorry 2 |
| scope="row"| "Out Here"
| Smoke DZA, ASAP Twelvy | K.O.N.Y. |
| scope="row"| "5:46 A.M."
| Al-Doe, Boldy James | Nose Candy. |
| scope="row"| "Violent Music"
| DJ Kay Slay, Busta Rhymes, DJ Paul | Grown Man Hip-Hop |
| scope="row"| "Count Your Blessings"{{cite web|url=http://www.datpiff.com/Dj-Kay-Slay-Grown-Man-Hip-Hop-Part-2-Sleepin-With-The-Enemy-mixtape.446516.html |title=DJ Kay Slay - Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy) // Free Mixtape @ |publisher=Datpiff.com |date=2013-01-23 |access-date=2013-03-05}}
| rowspan="9"| 2013 |DJ Kay Slay, Torch, Uncle Murda |Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy) |
| scope="row"| "I Gotta Eat"
|Jae Millz, Fred The Godson |Dead Presidents 2 |
| scope="row"| "I Came"{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/new-mixtape-funkmaster-flex-who-you-mad-me-or-yourself |title=New Mixtape: Funkmaster Flex 'Who You Mad At? Me Or Yourself?' |publisher=Vibe |date=April 13, 2013 |access-date=April 13, 2013}}
|Funkmaster Flex, Reek da Villian | Who You Mad At? Me Or Yourself? |
| scope="row"| "The Sound Of NYC"
|DJ Kay Slay, Sheek Louch, Styles P |The Last Champion |
| scope="row"| "New York City"
|Uncle Murda, Waka Flocka Flame | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Levels" |
| scope="row"| "Black Ghost"{{cite web|last=Ryon |first=Sean |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22588/title.dj-khaled-suffering-from-success-release-date-cover-art-tracklisting |title=DJ Khaled "Suffering From Success" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklisting |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-10-06 |access-date=2013-10-11}}
| rowspan="2"| Suffering from Success |
| scope="row"| "Take That Off"
| DJ Khaled, Jeremih |
| scope="row"| "Paint The Sky"
|Lloyd Banks |A.O.N. (All Or Nothing) Series Vol. 1: F.N.O. (Failure's No Option) |
| scope="row" | "Home Invasion"{{cite web|url=http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/25959/ace-hood-starvation-3.html |publisher=LiveMixtapes |title=Ace Hood - Starvation 3|access-date=2014-01-18}}
| rowspan=4 | 2014 | Ace Hood | Starvation 3 |
| scope="row" | "Fire"{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2014/01/23/new-mixtape-dj-kay-slay-the-rise-of-the-city/ |publisher=RapRadar |title=New Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay The Rise Of The City |date=January 24, 2014| access-date=January 24, 2014 |author=Big Homie}}
| DJ Kay Slay, Young Chris, Papoose, Nathaniel | The Rise of a City |
| scope="row" | "Real Hip Hop"{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/dj-kay-slay-the-last-hip-hop-disciple-new-mixtape.112221.html? |publisher=HowNewHipHop |title=DJ Kay Slay - The Last Hip-Hop Disciple |date=May 8, 2014 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |author=Rose Lilah}}
| DJ Kay Slay, Papoose, Ransom | The Last Hip Hop Disciple |
| scope="row" | "American Dream"
| Boogz Boogetz | C.O.O.L. 2 |
| scope="row" | "MMM (Remix)"{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2015/06/18/new-music-cassidy-ft-fred-money-vado-jr-writer-red-cafe-papoose-maino-uncle-murda-fat-trel-fred-the-godson-chubby-jag-drag-on-dave-east-compton-menace-mmm-remix/|title=New Music: Cassidy Ft. Fred Money, Vado, JR Writer, Red Cafe, Papoose, Maino, Uncle Murda, Fat Trel, Fred The Godson, Chubby Jag, Drag-On, Dave East & Compton Menace "MMM (Remix)"|date=18 June 2015 |publisher=rapradar.com|access-date=11 July 2016}}
| rowspan="3"| 2015 | Cassidy, Fred Money, J.R. Writer, Red Café, Papoose, Maino, Uncle Murda, Fat Trel, Fred the Godson, Chubby Jag, Drag-On, Dave East, Compton Menace | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row" | "Every Time We Come Around"
| DJ Khaled, French Montana, Jadakiss, Ace Hood |
| scope="row" | "Love My Niggas"
| Maino, Uncle Murda | K.O.B. 3 |
| scope="row"| "Seniorities"
| rowspan="1"| 2016 | All or Nothing: Live It Up |
| scope="row"| "It's Harlem"
| rowspan="3"| 2017 | DJ Kay Slay, Dave East, Ms Hussle | rowspan="2"| The Big Brother |
| scope="row"| "A Million Bucks"
| DJ Kay Slay, Fatman Scoop, Nipsey Hussle, Troy Ave, Rocko |
| scope="row"| "Different Scenario"
| Fred The Godson, Jim Jones, Jaquae | Gordo |
| scope="row"| "God Bless The Summer"
| rowspan="6"| 2018 | Dave East | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Da Hated"
| Dave East | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Blue Hundreds"
| Dave East | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Nice For What"
| Dave East | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Once Upon A Time"
| Dave East | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Boo'd Up"
| Dave East | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Back To The Bars"
| rowspan="1"| 2019 | DJ Kay Slay, Ninoman, Mysonne, Fred The Godson, Locksmith, Jon Connor, Joell Ortiz | Hip-Hop Frontline |
| scope="row"| "Back To The Bars Pt. 2"
| rowspan="1"| 2020 | DJ Kay Slay, Ninoman, RJ Payne, Sauce Money, Sheek Louch, Jon Connor, Styles P | Living Legend |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Vado}}
{{Cash Money Records}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vado}}
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:MNRK Music Group artists
Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians
Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent
Category:Rappers from Manhattan
Category:Cash Money Records artists
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male musicians