Artists

Compton native Tyga grew up listening to Michael Jackson, but as he came of age, he realized hip-hop was his calling after studying the rap skills and flow of Tupac, Nas, and Cash Money?s Big Tymers (Baby and Mannie Fresh). As fate would have it, one day while hawking his mix-tape on the streets of Hollywood, he happened to sell one to Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, who liked the mix-tape so much he took the young rapper under his wing by inviting him into the studio and on tour with the band. Tyga met Lil Wayne through Travis McCoy during the making of Fall Out Boy?s ?Arms Race? remix, featuring Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Gym Class Heroes, and Lil Wayne. Not long after, Lil Wayne invited Tyga to visit him in the studio in Atlanta and the rest, as they say, is history. But don?t be fooled by Tyga?s Compton roots and the tattoos on his neck, there?s a lot more to him than meets the eye. ?My music is from the standpoint of a 19-year-old guy,? he says. ?I deliver everything from funny to serious.?