"XO Tour Llif3" acted as the lead single to Lil Uzi Vert's debut studio album Luv Is Rage 2 (2017), which debuted at number one on the Billboard200, and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[10] At the 2018 Grammy Awards, they were nominated for Best New Artist. Their second studio album, Eternal Atake (2020), was among the most anticipated albums in contemporary trapand hip hop when it was finally released following years' worth of delays. Eternal Atake, like Luv Is Rage 2, debuted at number one on the Billboard200.[11] After releasing Pluto × Baby Pluto (2020), a studio album with Future, Lil Uzi Vert spent the next three years teasing the release of their third solo album Pink Tape (2023). It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 upon its release and included the Billboard Hot 100 top-ten single "Just Wanna Rock".
Woods dropped out of school and soon started working at a Bottom Dollar store, but quit after four days and was kicked out of their home by their mother.[16][17] The situation led to Woods getting their first face tattoo, the word "Faith" under their hairline, which provoked them to take their rap career seriously.[6]
Career
2010–2015: Career beginnings
Woods began to rap in 2010[failed verification] after hearing classmate William Aston freestyle over a remade Chris Brown instrumental. Woods referred to themself at that point in their life as a "regular kid, I didn't really wanna rap."[6] Woods, Aston, and another friend created the musical group Steaktown and in what they say was "just for money"[18] under the name "Sealab Vertical".[19]They later changed this name to Lil Uzi Vert inspired by the way someone described their rap "flow" as "Fast, like a machine gun."[20] Woods' first project, an EP titled Purple Thoughtz Vol. 1was released on January 19, 2014.[21][22] The project, which was described as "phonk" and having cloud rap beats from The Guardian due to its psychedelic and "trippy" production[23] and was released with the single "White Shit" which included a video. The track, which was produced by SpaceGhostPurrp, went viral in 2017 within hip-hop circles following Wood's entry into the mainstream.[24] Shortly after the release of Purple Thoughtz Vol. 1, Woods caught the attention of then industry-mainstays like the ASAP Mob.[6]
The project and following features caught the attention of producer and Def Jam A&R Don Cannon after DJ Diamond Kuts played one of Woods' songs on a local radio station,[15][25] who signed Woods to their The Academy imprint and produced their first mixtape, The Real Uzi which was released on August 5, 2014.[12] After the release of The Real Uzi, Woods signed a record deal with Atlantic Records through DJ Drama, Don Cannon's and Leighton Morrison's imprint, Generation Now.[26]
Following their signing to Atlantic Records, Woods was featured alongside Rich the Kid and ASAP Ferg on Carnage's single "WDYW".[27] They also released several songs on SoundCloud including the Metro Boomin produced "No Wait",[28]"Pressure" which is a collaboration with Lil Durk[29] and "Dej Loaf".[30] They were featured on Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa's "Boys of Zummer" tour in August 2015.[31] Woods released their second mixtape, Luv Is Rage on October 30, 2015. The project, which features production from then-bubbling producers Sonny Digital, TM88 and Maaly Raw with features from Billboard charting rappers Wiz Khalifa and Young Thug, was received positively and was featured on numerous music blogs such as The Fader,[32][33]XXL,[15]and Vibe.[34] They were further called a "breakout artist of 2015" by HotNewHipHop.[35]
2016: Breakthrough
Lil Uzi Vert performing at the Hard music festival, July 31, 2016
In January 2016, Woods appeared at an ASAP Mob show in New York City to honor the deceased ASAP Yams,[36] and in February, released the single "Money Longer" on their SoundCloud following a radio debut on Shade 45.[37] Controversy arose in March 2016 after a riot broke out at South by Southwest's final day during Woods caused by fight in the crowd.[38] On April 15, 2016, Woods released their third mixtape and first commercial mixtape Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World. The mixtape debuted at number 37 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Woods' first entry on the chart. The project spent 55 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart, eventually being certified gold.[39] Woods and Kodak Blackembarked on a joint tour in May 2016, titled the "Parental Advisory" tour.[40]
In June 2016, Lil Uzi Vert appeared in XXLmagazine as part of their 2016 Freshman Class. As part of this appearance, Woods performed in a 'freshman cypher', a group of underground rappers, alongside Denzel Curry, Lil Yachty, 21 Savage, and Kodak Black. Riding the wave of recognition the XXL Freshman list gave them,[41]Woods released the video for "Money Longer".[42]The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 the following week at number 92, their first entry on the chart.[43] The song later peaked at number 54 and is currently certified double platinum in the United States.[44] Another single from Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World, Metro Boomin produced "You Was Right", became Woods second entry on the chart, debuting at number 89 and peaking at number 40.
On July 12, 2016, Woods announced their fourth mixtape, The Perfect LUV Tape,[45] which was released on July 31, their 22nd birthday. The mixtape featured the singles "Seven Million", featuring Future,[46] and "Erase Your Social", both of which failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The mixtape debuted at number 55 on the Billboard 200 album chart and is certified gold by the RIAA. In October 2016, Woods was announced to be an additional artist on Canadian singer the Weeknd's tour.[47]
Woods announced a collaboration mixtape with Gucci Mane,1017 vs. the World,[48]which was released on November 23, 2016.[49]Four days later, Woods announcedLuv Is Rage 2[50]which eventually went through a series of delays.[51]
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