Kamaiyah

Last updated

Kamaiyah
Birth nameKamaiyah Jamesha Johnson [1]
Born (1992-03-13) March 13, 1992 (age 32) [2] [3]
Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
Years active2015–present
Labels

Kamaiyah Jamesha Johnson (born March 13, 1992) [4] [5] is an American rapper and singer from Oakland, California. Her debut mixtape, A Good Night in the Ghetto , was released in 2016 to critical acclaim. In 2017, Kamaiyah was named as one of the ten of XXL 's 2017 Freshman Class. She released her second mixtape, Before I Wake, in 2017. In 2020, she launched her own label, GRND.WRK, releasing her third mixtape, Got It Made, through the label. [6]

Contents

Career

Kamaiyah Johnson was born in Oakland, California. She is inspired by her favorite childhood 1990s artists such as TLC, Missy Elliott, and Aaliyah. [4] [7] [8] Her debut single "How Does It Feel", premiered late in 2015, was ranked one of the year's best songs by Pitchfork and NPR. [9] [10]

She released her debut mixtape, A Good Night in the Ghetto , in March 2016 to critical acclaim. [11] [12] [13] [14] Complex placed it at number 21 on the "50 Best Albums of 2016" list. [15] Pitchfork placed it at number 47 on the "50 Best Albums of 2016" list. [16] Rolling Stone placed it at number 17 on the "40 Best Rap Albums of 2016" list. [17] The Guardian named it one of the 15 best mixtapes of 2016. [18] Music videos were created for "Out the Bottle", [19] "How Does It Feel", [20] "For My Dawg", [21] "F*ck It Up", [22] "Mo Money Mo Problems", [23] "I'm On", [24] and "Freaky Freaks". [25]

After releasing her debut mixtape, Kamaiyah performed at South by Southwest that month in Austin, Texas. That year she was also featured, along with Drake, on YG's "Why You Always Hatin?", a single from his 2016 Still Brazy . [26] Later that year, Kamaiyah performed as an opener for YG on his Fuck Donald Trump Tour. [27] Kamaiyah signed to Interscope Records in 2016. [28]

On June 13, 2017, Kamaiyah was named as one of the ten of XXL's "2017 Freshman Class" along with A Boogie wit da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Kyle, Aminé, MadeinTYO, Kap G, and XXXTentacion. [29] Kamaiyah announced a mixtape, Don't Ever Get It Twisted, which was delayed and eventually shelved, due to sample clearance issues and problems with her major label contract. [30] [31] She instead self-released a second mixtape, Before I Wake, in 2017. [32]

Kamaiyah appeared in a Sprite commercial alongside LeBron James, in early 2018. [33] Kamaiyah left Interscope Records and 4Hunnid Records after her project Something to Ride To, was delayed multiple times. [34] Kamaiyah launched her own label GRND.WRK and released her third mixtape, Got It Made, in 2020. [34] The project was preceded by the single "1-800-IM-HORNY".

On September 18, 2020, Kamaiyah released Oakland Nights, a collaborative EP with fellow Bay Area artist, Capolow. The 10-track EP marks Kamaiyah's second project released under her label, GRND.WRK. [35]

In March 2022 a music documentary about the Hyphy movement We Were Hyphy, was released. It featured Kamaiyah and other musicians that were inspired by Hyphy including G-Eazy, and P-Lo. [36]

Discography

EPs

List of extended plays (EPs)
TitleAlbum details
Oakland Nights [35]
  • Released: September 18, 2020
  • Label: GRND.WRK
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Divine Time [37]
  • Released: May 27, 2022
  • Label: Keep It Lit Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Keep It Lit [38]
  • Released: December 9, 2022
  • Label: Keep It Lit Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes
TitleAlbum details
A Good Night in the Ghetto [39]
  • Released: March 14, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Before I Wake [40]
  • Released: November 7, 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Got It Made [41] -
  • Released: February 21, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Another Summer Night
  • Released: November 24, 2023
  • Label: Keep It Lit Records
  • Format: Digital Download

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"How Does It Feel"2015A Good Night in the Ghetto
"Break You Down"2016
"Nxggas"
"Windows"2019Got It Made
"Set It Up"2020
TitleYearPeak chart positions Certifications Album
US US
R&B/HH 		US
Rap
"Why You Always Hatin?"
(YG featuring Drake and Kamaiyah)		2016621813 Still Brazy
"Petty"
(E-40 featuring Kamaiyah)		———The D-Boy Diary (deluxe edition)

Guest appearances

List of non-single album appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Money Like This"2016Stunna JuneOTR 930
"All Around Me"2017 Lil Yachty, YG Teenage Emotions
"Ride" Keyshia Cole 11:11 Reset
"Do Not Disturb"2019 G-Eazy, YG 4Real 4Real
"Do Yo Dance"Mitch, RJ, Ty Dolla $ign, YG
"Bullshit"2020Cardo, Jay Worthy TBA

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References

  1. ↑ "How Does It Feel – Kamaiyah".
  2. ↑ "Kamaiyah Johnson Birth Records – MooseRoots". Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Meet Kamaiyah, Oakland's Newest Rap Queen – The Hundreds".
  4. 1 2 Wallace, Carvell (January 20, 2016). "Supa Dupa Fly: Kamaiyah Bosses Up". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Instagram photo by CTBeats RealMusic • May 21, 2016 at 11:11 pm UTC". Archived from the original on November 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Joshi, Tara (February 22, 2020). "One to watch: Kamaiyah". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  7. ↑ Garvey, Meaghan (March 16, 2016). "Meet Kamaiyah, Oakland's Best New Rapper". MTV. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ Dorn, Anna (June 14, 2006). "Meet Kamaiyah, Oakland's Newest Rap Queen". The Hundreds . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  9. ↑ "The 100 Best Tracks of 2015". Pitchfork . December 13, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Complete List: NPR Music's Favorite Songs Of 2015". NPR. December 15, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  11. ↑ Twells, John; Kelly, Chris; Lobenfeld, Claire (March 26, 2016). "The Rap Round-up: Kamaiyah puts the bounce back into the Bay". Fact . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  12. ↑ Walsh, Peter (March 14, 2016). "Kamaiyah Drops 'A Good Night in the Ghetto' Mixtape". XXL . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  13. ↑ Wilt, James (March 22, 2016). "Kamaiyah – A Good Night in the Ghetto". Exclaim! . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  14. ↑ Greene, Jayson (March 24, 2016). "Kamaiyah: A Good Night in the Ghetto". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  15. ↑ Tharpe, Frazier (December 5, 2016). "The 50 Best Albums of 2016 – 21. Kamaiyah, 'A Good Night in the Ghetto'". Complex . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  16. ↑ Ramirez, Matthew (December 13, 2016). "The 50 Best Albums of 2016 (1/5)". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  17. ↑ Leight, Elias (December 22, 2016). "40 Best Rap Albums of 2016 – 17. Kamaiyah, 'A Good Night in the Ghetto'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  18. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (December 19, 2016). "The year of the mixtape: the 15 greatest releases of 2016". The Guardian . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  19. ↑ Ortiz, Yesi (September 8, 2016). "Kamaiyah's Independent Video 'Out The Bottle' Reaches Over 1 Million Views". Power 106 . Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  20. ↑ Garvey, Meaghan (March 16, 2016). "Meet Kamaiyah, Oakland's Best New Rapper". MTV. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  21. ↑ Johnson, James (May 6, 2016). "Kamaiyah 'For My Dawg' Video". Mass Appeal . Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  22. ↑ Braboy, Mark (October 12, 2016). "Kamaiyah and YG Bring The Hood Out in The "F*ck It Up" Video". Vibe . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  23. ↑ Josephs, Brian (November 29, 2016). "Video: Kamaiyah – "Mo Money Mo Problems"". Spin . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  24. ↑ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (December 5, 2016). "Kamaiyah Celebrates Her Success in The "I'm On" Video". The Fader . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  25. ↑ Warwick, Oli (January 1, 2017). "Kamaiyah sees in 2017 with a pyjama party in her 'Freaky Freaks' video". Fact . Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  26. ↑ Platon, Adelle (May 23, 2016). "YG Recruits Drake & Kamaiyah For 'Why You Always Hatin?'". Billboard . Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  27. ↑ "YG, Kamaiyah and More Continue Anti-Trump Protests on F—k Donald Trump Tour Stop in Oregon". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Kamaiyah: Got It Made". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  29. ↑ "XXL Freshman 2017 Cover Revealed". XXL. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Kamaiyah's Don't Ever Get It Twisted mixtape delayed due to sample clearance issues". FACT Magazine. April 20, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  31. ↑ Lefebvre, Sam (November 22, 2017). "Kamaiyah's Major-Label Blues". East Bay Express. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Kamaiyah exclusively speaks to The Face on her new album Got it Made". The Face. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Kamaiyah Talks Sprite 'Big Taste Cuts Through' Commercial With LeBron James, Bringing Creativity Back to Hip-Hop". Billboard.com. January 21, 2018.
  34. 1 2 "Kamaiyah On Long-Awaited Debut 'Got It Made,' Independent Status". Vibe. February 21, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  35. 1 2 Rashed, Ayana (September 17, 2020). "Kamaiyah Announces New Music, "Oakland Nights"". Respect . Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  36. ↑ "'We Were Hyphy' Explores Glory of Mid-2000s Bay Area Hip-Hop". April 2, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Kamaiyah - Divine Time". Apple Music . Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Kamaiyah - Keep It Lit". Apple Music . Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Kamaiyah Releases Debut Mixtape, 'A Good Night in the Ghetto'". The Fader . March 14, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Listen to Kamaiyah's new mixtape Before I Wake". The Fader . November 8, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Stream Kamaiyah's New Mixtape 'Got It Made'". Complex . February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 5, 2017.
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