Lil Tracy
Lil Tracy | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
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| Born | Jazz Ishmael Butler October 3, 1995 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.[1] |
| Origin | Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
| Label | Virgin Music[3][4] |
| Member of | GothBoiClique |
| Website | liltracyworld |
| Parents | |
Jazz Ishmael Butler (born October 3, 1995), known professionally as Lil Tracy and formerly as Yung Bruh, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He emerged from the underground hip-hop scene associated with SoundCloud in the mid-2010s, developing a style that incorporates cloud rap, emo rap, trap and influences from punk rock and electronic music.[5][6]
Butler was associated with the Thraxxhouse and GothBoiClique collectives and gained wider recognition through his collaborations with rapper Lil Peep. Their recordings include "White Tee", "White Wine", "Witchblades" and "Awful Things", the last of which reached number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017.[7]
His solo albums include Anarchy (2019), Designer Talk 2 (2020), Saturn Child (2022) and Babyvamp (2025).[8][9][10] He is the son of rapper and producer Ishmael Butler, of Digable Planets and Shabazz Palaces, and singer Coko, of the R&B group SWV.[11]
Early life
[edit]Butler was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, on October 3, 1995, to musicians Ishmael Butler and Cheryl "Coko" Gamble. His parents separated when he was young, and he grew up primarily in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with periods spent living in Seattle with his father.[6][11]
Growing up in a musical family, Butler was exposed to the professional music industry from an early age. His mother dedicated her solo single "Sunshine" to him. Butler later said that he had not fully appreciated his parents' prominence as a child.[11]
During his adolescence, Butler developed interests in skateboarding, graffiti, video games and punk rock. He encountered punk music partly through the soundtracks of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video games and subsequently became interested in Southern hip-hop, witch house and experimental internet rap. He participated in online music communities, particularly on Tumblr, where he adopted the name Souljahwitch.[6]
Butler had difficulties at school and, at the age of 16, left his family home to live with friends in a tent in Virginia Beach. During this period, he began recording music using a laptop and inexpensive equipment, sometimes working at friends' houses or at local restaurants where he could charge his computer. He began releasing music online under the name Yung Bruh.[6][11]
Career
[edit]Early recordings, Thraxxhouse and GothBoiClique (2012–2016)
[edit]Butler began recording music in his teens under several pseudonyms, including Souljahwitch, Yung Bruh, Yunng Karma and Eblis the Persian Dolphin. His early releases circulated primarily online and combined atmospheric hip-hop production with influences from witch house and experimental electronic music.[6]
In 2014, producer Nedarb contacted Butler and invited him to Los Angeles, where members of the underground collective Thraxxhouse were living and recording. Butler relocated to the city and became involved with the collective, which had originated in Seattle and included rapper Mackned. The musicians lived and recorded together, with their work circulating through SoundCloud and other internet platforms.[6]
Butler subsequently became associated with GothBoiClique, a collective whose members included Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Cold Hart and Horse Head. The group's music combined hip-hop with influences from emo, punk and internet subcultures. Its members developed a following through online releases and performances.[11][5]
During this period, Butler began using the name Lil Tracy, inspired by a Tracy McGrady basketball jersey given to him by Nedarb. By 2016, Lil Tracy had become his principal recording name.[6] Butler subsequently left GothBoiClique in 2017, although he continued to be associated with musicians from the collective.[11]
Collaborations with Lil Peep and early recognition (2016–2017)
[edit]Butler met rapper Lil Peep in Los Angeles in 2016 through their mutual association with Nedarb and GothBoiClique. The two recorded "White Tee" on the day they met, also filming its music video. The song circulated widely online and helped establish their musical partnership.[6]
They released the collaborative EP Castles on July 4, 2016, followed by Castles II on February 6, 2017. The recordings combined melodic, often guitar-based production with hip-hop rhythms and lyrics addressing relationships, isolation and emotional distress. Songs including "White Wine", "Witchblades" and "Your Favorite Dress" became closely associated with their work together.[12]
In 2017, Butler released several solo projects, including Tracy's Manga, XOXO and Life of a Popstar. He also appeared on "Awful Things", a single from Lil Peep's album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1. The song reached number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100 following Peep's death in November 2017, becoming Butler's first appearance on the chart.[7]
Although the two artists became closely identified with one another, their relationship experienced tensions during 2017. Lil Peep died on November 15 of that year. Butler subsequently discussed the impact of his friend's death on his personal life and musical career in interviews with The Fader and Pitchfork.[6][5]
Solo development and Anarchy (2018–2019)
[edit]During 2018, Butler continued developing his solo career and experimenting with musical styles outside the emo rap sound associated with his earlier collaborations.
His country-influenced single "Like a Farmer", released in 2018, attracted attention online and was subsequently remixed with a guest verse from Lil Uzi Vert. Its humorous combination of country imagery and trap production represented a departure from his earlier work.[6]
Butler released the EPs Designer Talk and Sinner in October and November 2018, respectively. Sinner returned to more overtly emotional songwriting and guitar-influenced production. In interviews published during this period, Butler discussed his efforts to recover from personal difficulties and to develop a musical identity beyond his collaborations with Lil Peep.[11][5]
In September 2019, Butler released Anarchy, an eight-track album including the singles "Bad for You" and "Beautiful Nightmare". The album drew on emo and pop-punk influences and was dedicated to Lil Peep.[8]
Designer Talk 2 and Saturn Child (2020–2022)
[edit]Butler released Designer Talk 2 on November 13, 2020. The album moved towards a more conventional contemporary trap sound, with guest appearances from artists including Chief Keef, Lil Keed and Pi'erre Bourne. Its production and vocal approach differed from the guitar-based material of Sinner and Anarchy.[13][9]
In June 2022, Butler released Saturn Child. The album incorporated elements of electronic dance music, melodic rap and synthesizer-driven production. Reviewing the record for Pitchfork, Nadine Smith described its combination of emo rap, electronic dance music and pop-oriented vocal melodies as another change in Butler's musical direction. Unlike several of his earlier projects, the album featured no guest vocalists.[9]
Later releases and collaborations (2023–present)
[edit]In 2023, Butler appeared on "Woke Up in a Dream", a track from Shabazz Palaces' album Robed in Rareness. The song marked a recorded collaboration with his father, Ishmael Butler. The elder Butler described his son's music as an influence on his own recent work and explained that the recording developed informally during a visit from Tracy.[14]
Butler also released collaborative EPs in 2023, including Pray with Drippin So Pretty and Under Your Spell with Horse Head and Nedarb.[15][16]
On February 28, 2025, Butler released Babyvamp, a twelve-track album issued through Toreshi. Later that year, he released the six-track EP Villain, which appeared on streaming platforms in November.[10][17]
In September 2025, Castles I & II, a compilation of Butler's early collaborative EPs with Lil Peep, received a physical release, bringing the previously issued recordings together on one album.[18]
Butler continued releasing music in 2026, including ICONIC, a two-song collaboration with rapper 645AR.[19]
Musical style and influences
[edit]Lil Tracy's music has been described as cloud rap, emo rap and alternative hip-hop. His early recordings drew on underground hip-hop, witch house and the internet music culture of the early 2010s.[6][5]
His work has frequently combined melodic, electronically processed vocals with trap rhythms, atmospheric synthesizer arrangements and elements drawn from rock and emo music. His singing and rapping often move between melodic hooks and more conventional rhythmic delivery.[9]
Butler has experimented with a variety of musical approaches. Sinner and Anarchy placed greater emphasis on emo and pop-punk influences, while Designer Talk 2 explored contemporary trap production and Saturn Child incorporated electronic dance music and synthesizer-based pop.[11][9]
His stylistic experimentation has extended to country music, most notably on "Like a Farmer", and has been accompanied by changes in his visual presentation and recording aliases.[6]
Although frequently classified as an emo rapper, Butler has expressed reservations about the term, arguing that it inadequately describes the range of his music. In interviews, he has also discussed his experiences as a Black musician within the largely white audience associated with GothBoiClique and emo rap, including instances of racism from listeners.[11][6]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| e m o c e a n (as lil Tracy) |
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| Anarchy |
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| Designer Talk 2 |
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| Saturn Child |
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| Babyvamp |
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Mixtapes
[edit]| Title | Mixtape details |
|---|---|
| Cascadia Vibes (as Persian Dolphin) |
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| Information (as 1995 REBEL) |
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| Indigo Soul (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Asaku's Forest (as asakufox) |
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| Elegantangel (as Yung Bruh) |
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| When Angels Cry (Death Has Wings) (as Yung Bruh) |
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| u,_u (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Heaven's Witch *eternal spells* |
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| Baeboyy (as Yung Bruh) |
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| 757 Virginia Hood Nightmares (The Unknown Story) |
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| Moonstones (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Tracy's Manga |
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| XOXO |
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| Life of a Popstar |
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Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Extended play details |
|---|---|
| Depression (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Icy Robitussin (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Gucci Chastity Belt (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Kim K & Kanye |
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| Tracy World EP (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Vampire Spending Money |
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| Desire (as Sicko Tracy) |
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| Castles (with Lil Peep) |
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| Castles II (with Lil Peep) |
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| Fly Away (with Lil Raven) |
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| Hollywood High (with Mackned) |
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| Designer Talk |
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| Sinner |
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| Pray (with Drippin So Pretty) |
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| Under Your Spell (with Horse Head and Nedarb Nagrom) |
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| Villain |
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Compilation albums
[edit]| Title | Compilation album details |
|---|---|
| S Q U A R E P A N D A S |
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| Angels Get High Too |
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| Vintage LSD Compilation (as Yung Bruh) |
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| Free Tracy! Campaign |
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| ATS001 |
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| Tracy's World |
|
Charted singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [22] |
CAN [23] |
CZE [24] | ||||
| "Awful Things" (Lil Peep featuring Lil Tracy) |
2017 | 79 | 58 | 28 | Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1 | |
Other charted and certified songs
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [29][30] | ||||
| "White Tee" (Lil Peep featuring Lil Tracy) |
2016 | — | Crybaby | |
| "Witchblades" (with Lil Peep) |
2019 | 18 | Castles II and Everybody's Everything | |
| "Your Favorite Dress" (with Lil Peep) |
2021 | 39 | Castles II |
Guest appearances
[edit]| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "white tee" | 2016 | Lil Peep | Crybaby |
| "Now or Later" | Kemet Dank, Kirb La Goop, Slug † Christ | Back on My Dick 3 | |
| "Sitboi" | Kemet Dank | Yung Post Office 2: Woozy Edition | |
| "the song they played (when i crashed into the wall)" | Lil Peep | Hellboy | |
| "cobain" | |||
| "walk away as the door slams" | |||
| "Never Cry" | 2017 | Key Nyata | No Way |
| "Untitled" | CHXPO, Horse Head | Emo Savage | |
| "Why Dey Lie" | KirbLaGoop | Where You Been | |
| "Foever 100" | Angel Wing'z | ||
| "Reality" | |||
| "She Just Love Me for My Wrist" | KirbLaGoop, DJ Smokey | Kirb Vs. Kirby | |
| "Man Down" | KirbLaGoop, Money Posse, Lil Peep, Big Head | Goop | |
| "Clean" | KirbLaGoop, Elijah Made It | ||
| "So Concieted" | Chris Travis | WATERSZN | |
| "Still" | Diego Money | Diego & Friends | |
| "Easy" | Lil House Phone, Pollari | (310)973-XXXX EP | |
| "Tie My Shoes" | Eddy Baker | Healthy Boy | |
| "Smokin Glue" | 2018 | KirbLaGoop | Concrete |
| "Make Believe" | Bandmanfari | April Fools | |
| "Never Letting Go" | Fish Narc, Swan Lingo, YAWNS | Night Angels | |
| "Once Was" | |||
| "Not My Type" | Mackned | DeadBeat | |
| "22" | |||
| "Foreign Land" | Riff Raff | Tangerine Tiger | |
| "Vices" | The Khan | Khanner | |
| "Peta" | Detas, Neave | Nightmares or Anxiety | |
| "Head Over Heels" | 2019 | Nedarb, YAWNS, Mackned, Fantasy Camp, Zubin | Amity |
| "Hold On" | Buku Bandz, Lil Raven | Buku & Friends, Vol. 1 | |
| "Foreign Land (Chopnotslop)" | Riff Raff, OG Ron C | Tangerine Tiger (Chopped Not Slopped) | |
| "Till the End" | Brennan Savage | Tragedy | |
| "Bad Memories" | Lil Gnar | FIRE HAZARD | |
| "GRIM REAPER" | phem | VACUMHEAD | |
| "Go for a Ride" | Drippin So Pretty | Die for You | |
| "Barbwire Smile" | SinceWhen, Jaxxon D. Silva, Flossy | Safe For Now | |
| "RATCHETS" | Lil Peep, Diplo | Everybody's Everything | |
| "walk away as the door slams - acoustic" | Lil Peep | ||
| "As Above So Below" | 2020 | Goldfacemoneywatch, Ariel Pink | Gfmw4 |
| "Pictures 2" | Mackned, Lil Peep | Hollywood Dropout | |
| "Show Off" | Lil Candy Paint | EVERYTHANG PURPLE (Deluxe) | |
| "YSL Cologne" | 2021 | Mackned | Hollywood Dropout 3 |
| "Call My Phone" | Drippin So Pretty | Rest In Peace | |
| "In My Dreams" | Brennan Savage | DARKROOM | |
| "Dogz" | Buku Bandz, Sig.Carlito, CHXPO | Summer Knights | |
| "TrapHorseShorti<3" | Buku Bandz, CHXPO, Sig.Carlito, MaybeTomorrow | ||
| "I Like Stars" | BBY Goyard, David Shawty | Guardian Ghosts | |
| "Desolate" | 2022 | Maybe Tomorrow | What's Wrong With Me |
| "love! won'tLAST! / crash! pt I" | Freshie | dirtyBOY! | |
| "Hotel" | Rawska | FREAK | |
| "PRESS A BUTTON" | SosMula | 2 HIGH 2 DIE | |
| "TOXIC" | Chris Miles, Lil Xan | have a nice day | |
| "Feel Alive" | Brennan Savage | Till Death Do Us Part | |
| "Must Not Say" | Teddy, Brennan Savage | Tales of Euphoria | |
| "Tatted Everywhere" | 2023 | KILLKODY | SLITTERMODE |
| "Illuminati Ties" | KILLKODY, Rage | ||
| "LAST LONGER" | Fijimacintosh | NOCTURNAL | |
| "Blood Tonight" | Drippin So Pretty | Flirt With Death | |
| "Woke Up In A Dream" | Shabazz Palaces | Robed in Rareness | |
| "XOXO" | TheHxliday | LUVVERVILLE | |
| "Fighting For You" | Brennan Savage | Tragedy II | |
| "Hello There" | 2024 | Lyrical Lemonade, Corbin, Black Kray | All Is Yellow |
| "Cant Stop Wont Stop" | SinceWhen, Brennan Savage, ILoveMakonnen | Begin, Again | |
| "Run Away" | Lil Xan | Diego | |
| "OTV" | Lil Yawh | #1 Pretty Boy The Mixtape | |
| "inHELL.exHELL" | Bad Neighbours, Chris Miles | TVPE! | |
| "Desire" | GothBoiClique | Yeah It's True | |
| "Los Angeles" | GothBoiClique, Horse Head | ||
| "She Fell Asleep" | GothBoiClique, Cold Hart | ||
| "i just think" | 2025 | BABY BUMP, Chris Miles, Bamby H2O | BABY BUMP |
| "Vamps In London" | Cartier God | Vartier | |
| "I'll Be There" | SinceWhen, Damazein | Why Is Life Like This | |
| "no brain waves" | 2026 | Chris Miles | boywhodiedwolf |
References
[edit]- ↑ Marcus, Ezra (Spring 2019). "Lil Tracy's Third Life". Retrieved April 30, 2020.
Lil Tracy was born Jazz Butler in Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1995, the son of hip-hop and R&B royalty.
- ↑ Matson, Andrew (July 17, 2017). "When Will Lil Tracy Break Out Of SoundCloud Purgatory?". Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
Tracy has been (..) While his style only partly conforms to genre conventions, he has become a leader in the Gen Z category of "SoundCloud rap,"
- ↑ "Listen To Lil Tracy's New Song 'Hey'". Masked Gorilla. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ↑ "New Music Friday // 9.20.19". Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Facebook.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Greeley, Shakeil (November 27, 2018). "Lil Tracy Will Not Be Erased". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Marcus, Ezra (March 7, 2019). "Lil Tracy's Third Life". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Darville, Jordan (November 29, 2017). "Lil Peep is on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time with "Awful Things"". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Renshaw, David (September 20, 2019). "Lil Tracy shares new album Anarchy". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Smith, Nadine (June 22, 2022). "Lil Tracy: Saturn Child Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- 1 2 "Babyvamp by Lil Tracy". Apple Music. February 28, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Angell, Jack (September 13, 2018). "Lil Tracy is getting better". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "CASTLES I & II". Official Website of the Estate of Gustav Ahr / Lil Peep. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Designer Talk 2 by Lil Tracy". Apple Music. November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ Renshaw, David (September 6, 2023). "Shabazz Palaces and Lil Tracy's "Woke Up In A Dream" is a family affair". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Pray - EP by Drippin So Pretty & Lil Tracy". Apple Music. January 20, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Under Your Spell - EP by Horse Head, Lil Tracy & Nedarb". Apple Music. June 9, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "VILLAIN - EP by Lil Tracy". Apple Music. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Castles I & II". AllMusic. September 19, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "ICONIC - Single by 645AR & Lil Tracy". Apple Music. June 26, 2026. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Hollywood High EP - Mackned X Lil Tracy".
- ↑ "Drippin So Pretty & Lil Tracy - Pray - EP". Apple Music. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Lil Peep Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ↑ "Lil Peep Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ↑ "Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální (Týden – 201846)". ČNS IFPI (in Czech). Retrieved December 2, 2018.
- ↑ "American certifications – Lil Peep". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ↑ "British certifications – Lil Peep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 29, 2026. Type Lil Peep in the "Search:" field.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Lil Peep". Radioscope. Retrieved January 25, 2026. Type Lil Peep in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
NZ November 19was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑
"NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- "Witchblades" and "Your Favorite Dress": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ↑ "American certifications – Lil Peep". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ↑ "British certifications – Lil Peep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 29, 2026. Type Lil Peep in the "Search:" field.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Lil Peep". Radioscope. Retrieved January 25, 2026. Type Lil Peep in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ↑ "American certifications – Lil Peep". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ↑ "British certifications – Lil Peep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 29, 2026. Type Lil Peep in the "Search:" field.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Lil Peep". Radioscope. Retrieved January 25, 2026. Type Lil Peep in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
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