GET TO KNOW GUNNA
Gunna is an American rapper and performer. His real name is Sergio Giavanni Kitchens (born June 14, 1993). He is signed to YSL Records, which is owned by Young Thug, as well as 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records.
In 2019, he released his debut studio album, Drip or Drown 2, and in 2020, he published his second studio album, Wunna, which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. In 2022, he released his third album, DS4Ever, which became his second straight number-one album.
Early life :
Gunna was born in Georgia, the town of College Park. His mother raised him, and there are four older siblings. He began producing music when he was fifteen years old. He grew up listening to artists such as Cameron, Chingy, and Outkast. Gunna went to Langston Hughes High School and North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences. Gunna released the mixtape Hard Body as Yung Serg in 2013.
Career :
Keith "King" Troup, a close friend and community member who died in December 2015, introduced Gunna to fellow rapper Young Thug. He was then featured on Thug's song "Floyd Mayweather" off his promotional mixtape Jeffery, with Travis Scott and Gucci Mane.
Gunna's debut mixtape Drip Season was released on October 14, 2016, by YSL Records. It included YSL members such as Young Thug, Lil Duke, and Nechie. On May 11, 2017, he released the mixtape Drip Season 2. It included a number of well-known Atlanta and YSL musicians, including Young Thug, Playboi Carti, and Offset.
"YSL," starring Playboi Carti, appeared on a "Grand Theft Auto" radio station. On November 30, 2017, he released his debut extended play Drip or Drown, which was fully produced by his record producer and close buddy Wheezy, with a single cameo appearance from Young Thug.
On February 2, 2018, he released Drip Season 3, a promotional mixtape. Hoodrich Pablo Juan, Lil Durk, Nav, Metro Boomin, and Lil Yachty had prominent cameos, while Lil Uzi Vert, Young Jordan, Young Thug, and Lil Baby appeared on the deluxe edition. The normal and deluxe editions were both launched at the same time.
Gunna released a track titled "Sold Out Dates!" on April 17, 2018, featuring Lil Baby, a close friend, and regular collaborator. The song became one of his popular hits, with millions of plays on platforms such as YouTube and SoundCloud. Following leaks, it was finally released as a non-album single.
On August 3, Gunna collaborated with Canadian rapper Nav on Travis Scott's hit "Yosemite," a highlight track off his third studio album, Astroworld, which also occurred to be the year's best-selling album. Scott's part in the song is a parody of Gunna's verse in "Sold Out Dates." Gunna's entrance to the chorus was responsible for the majority of the song's fame.
Gunna and Lil Baby released a collaborative single called "Drip Too Hard" on September 12, 2018, which served as the lead single for their collaborative mixtape Drip Harder. The song reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. On October 5, the mixtape was released. Lil Durk, Nav, Young Thug, and Drake all made appearances. It reached number four on the Billboard 200.
On February 1, 2019, Gunna released the platinum-certified single "One Call," which serves as the lead single from his debut studio album, Drip or Drown 2. He released his second and final single, "Speed it Up," on February 11. The album, which featured guest performances from fellow Atlanta rappers Lil Baby, Young Thug, and Playboi Carti, was released on February 22 and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 list.
He was featured on Young Thug's track "Hot" off the latter's debut studio album, So Much Fun, released August 16, 2019. On Apple Music, the song reached number one. On October 31 (Halloween), the song was remixed with an additional feature on a verse from Travis Scott, and it finally reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gunna also appears on the album's "Surf" and the deluxe version's "Diamonds," both of which were released in December 2019.
Gunna had also been featured in three songs in February 2020. He was featured on Pop Smoke's "Dior" remix, which was released on February 12. He also appeared alongside Roddy Ricch and London on da Track on A Boogie with da Hoodie's song "Numbers" on Marlo's "My Hood," both of which were released on February 14.
Gunna later released a collaborative single with Nav, titled "Turks", featuring Travis Scott. The song debuted on March 27, 2020, as the lead single from Nav's third studio album, Good Intentions (Gunna is also featured on the track "Codeine" from the album). The three musicians cooperated on the same song for the second time, after Scott's song "Yosemite."
Six days later, on April 2, 2020, he released "Quarantine Clean," a collaborative single with producer Turbo and Young Thug that alluded to the COVID-19 pandemic. He released "Skybox," the lead single from his second studio album, Wunna, on March 6, 2020. It was released alongside a music video.
Gunna released the album's title track as the album's second single on May 18, 2020. Gunna released the album four days later, on May 22. It features guest appearances from Young Thug, Nechie, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, and Travis Scott.
His first number one album, album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. On July 24, 2020, he released the deluxe edition, which included eight new tracks and guest performances from Yak Gotti, Future, Nav, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Gunna and hip hop group and record label Internet Money released the track "Lemonade" on August 14, 2020, featuring Don Toliver and Nav. Slime Language 2, Gunna's joint album with Young Thug and their record label Young Stoner Life, was released on April 16, 2021. Gunna released his third studio album, DS4Ever, on January 7, 2022, as the fourth and final edition of his Drip Season series. Future, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Drake, Kodak Black, Chlöe, Lil Baby, G Herbo, Nechie, Chris Brown, Yung Bleu, and Roddy Ricch all make cameos on the album.
Legal issues :
Kitchens and Young Thug were among 28 YSL affiliates accused in a 56-count Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) indictment in May 2022. Kitchens handed himself in on May 11, 2022, and was charged with Conspiracy to Violate a RICO Act.