Rae Sremmurd

Rae Sremmurd Rae Sremmurd is an American hip hop duo consisting of brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi, known for high-energy singles and contributions to contemporary hip hop trends. Formed in the early 2010s, the duo achieved mainstream success with charting songs and collaborations across pop music, R&B, and trap music, influencing artists across Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City. Their work intersects with producers and performers from labels such as Republic Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Young Money Entertainment.

Early life and formation

The brothers were born in Inglewood, California and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi before relocating to Jonesboro, Georgia and later Birmingham, Alabama and Los Angeles, California, where they encountered local scenes including Compton and South Central Los Angeles. Influences from family ties and regional hip hop cultures placed them in proximity to artists like OutKast, UGK, Three 6 Mafia, T.I., and Ludacris, and they attended parties featuring music from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, Eminem, and Lil Wayne. The duo began performing under earlier names and participated in shows alongside acts such as Travis Scott, Future, Young Thug, 2 Chainz, and Rick Ross in venues in Atlanta, Houston, and Miami. Their connection to producer Mike Will Made It led to signing with EarDrummers and collaborations with engineers who worked with Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Nicki Minaj.

Musical career

Their debut single climbed charts following airplay on stations in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas, facilitated by tastemakers at outlets like MTV, BET, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Billboard. Albums released under Interscope Records and promoted by teams with histories at Atlantic Records, Sony Music, and Universal Music Group featured production from Mike Will Made It, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Metro Boomin, and sessions with musicians linked to The Weeknd, Post Malone, Cardi B, A$AP Rocky, and Camila Cabello. Tours included stints on bills with Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and festival appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Wireless Festival, and SXSW. Singles charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and were playlisted on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud, while their catalog received placements in films distributed by Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures as well as television series on HBO, Netflix, FX, ABC, and NBC.

Artistry and influences

The duo’s sound blends elements reminiscent of crews and solo acts such as Migos, A$AP Mob, Three 6 Mafia, OutKast, UGK, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A, Public Enemy, and solo performers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar. Vocal styles reflect approaches used by Chris Brown, Usher, Miguel, The Weeknd, and Frank Ocean in melodic hooks, while production techniques echo work by Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Madlib, Metro Boomin, DJ Mustard, and Just Blaze. They have cited inspirations from crossover collaborators including Rihanna, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and Lady Gaga, and their video aesthetics reference directors linked to Hype Williams, Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Sergio Leone, and Wes Anderson. The duo’s songwriting intersects with publishers and writers associated with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Group, and Universal Music Publishing Group.

Public image and controversies

Their public profile involved media coverage by outlets such as TMZ, The New York Times, The Guardian, Vulture, Complex, XXL, and Pitchfork, and they were subjects of interviews on programs like The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Good Morning America, and BBC Radio 1. Controversies included disputes over tour incidents and public altercations reported by TMZ and Page Six, disagreements with industry figures from Interscope Records and management teams linked to Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents, and debates about lyrical content raised in commentary by The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Slate. Legal matters involved counsel and courts in jurisdictions such as Los Angeles County Superior Court, New York County Supreme Court, and claims often covered by CNN, Fox News, and NBC News.

Awards and recognition

The duo earned nominations and wins from institutions including the Grammy Awards, BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and BET Hip Hop Awards, and received chart accolades from Billboard, RIAA, Nielsen SoundScan, and international organizations such as the BRIT Awards and ARIA Awards. Their certified singles and albums appear on lists curated by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Complex, Vibe, and NME, and they have been profiled in legacy publications including Time, Forbes, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Los Angeles Times.

Category:American hip hop duos Category:Musical groups from Mississippi