Who Is Lil Uzi Vert?
Get to Know Lil Uzi Vert, the Rapper Who Gave a Delightfully Unimpressed Grammys Interview
Image Source: Getty / Christopher Polk
You may recognize Lil Uzi Vert's name from his popular hit "Bad and Boujee" alongside Migos, but there's a lot more to this rapper filling up our playlists, and you should absolutely not be sleeping on him. Although the 23-year-old exudes a level of confidence that we typically hear from veteran artists, Uzi only started rapping when he was in high school. It's no coincidence Uzi's name has soared the charts and our social media feeds: he is a force to be reckoned with.
The rapper's incredible energy will have you singing and dancing, but if you saw his red-carpet interview with Giuliana Rancic at the Grammys — you may have been cringing. Get to know Lil Uzi Vert with some facts, ahead.
- His real name is Symere Woods. He was born on July 31, 1994, in Philadelphia, but it wasn't until high school that he started rapping.
- He's obsessed with Marilyn Manson. Yes, Manson is the only person Uzi follows on Instagram, but the rapper has also mentioned the rocker as "his greatest inspiration" during an interview with Billboard last year. He also credits Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, ASAP Rocky, and Pharrell as his influences. It may seem like a random combination of musicians, but you can hear a little bit of each of them in Uzi's "emo rap" style.
- He lost to Alessia Cara for best new artist at the 2018 Grammys. Considering there's somewhat of a curse against those who win in the category, we've got to admit we're a little relieved Uzi didn't take home the award this year. In 2017, his "XO Tour Llif3" hit won the MTV Video Music Award for song of the Summer, and we have a feeling he'll be adding to the trophy collection soon.
- He's sober. After his friend and fellow rapper Lil Peep passed away of an alleged overdose in November 2017, Lil Uzi Vert took to Twitter to let his fans know that he was going to stop his own illicit habits.
- He recently ended a long-term relationship with his stylist-turned-girlfriend Brittany Byrd. During his early mix tape days, Uzi would frequently rap about his on-again-off-again relationship, and Brittany appeared in his music video for "Money Longer." In June 2016, Uzi took to Twitter to let fans know that he was single but that the circulating rumors claiming Brittany cheated were false. He was photographed with a different Brittany — Instagram model Brittany Renner — in August 2017.
- His first studio album was released in August 2017. Although the album was delayed, Luv Is Rage 2 was released this past Summer. It was a sequel to his 2015 mixtape Luv Is Rage and it featured cover art by well-known Off-White designer Virgil Abloh.
