Ty Dolla Sign

Ty Dolla Sign
Ty Dolla Sign in 2018
Ty Dolla Sign in 2018
Background information
Birth name Tyrone William Griffin Jr.
Also known as Ty$
Born April 13, 1982
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • bass guitar
Works
Years active 2004–present
Labels
Member of
Children 1
Website dollasignworld.com

Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from Los Angeles, California. He first gained recognition for his feature on fellow Los Angeles rapper YG's 2010 single "Toot It and Boot It." He signed to Atlantic Records in 2012, and Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Entertainment the following year. He has released three studio albums: Free TC (2015), Beach House 3 (2017), and Featuring Ty Dolla Sign (2020), the latter of which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.

Ty Dolla Sign is known for his songs "Paranoid" (featuring B.o.B), "Or Nah" (featuring Wiz Khalifa and DJ Mustard), and "Blasé" (featuring Rae Sremmurd and Future), as well his numerous features on singles such as "Work from Home" by Fifth Harmony, "Swalla" by Jason Derulo, "Hot Girl Summer" by Megan Thee Stallion, and "Psycho" by Post Malone—the latter became his first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, also receiving diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He's released the collaborative albums MihTy (2018) and Cheers to the Best Memories (2021) with Jeremih and Dvsn, respectively. His collaborative album with Kanye West, Vultures is scheduled for release in 2024.

Along with his recording career, Ty Dolla Sign is also a songwriter and record producer for other artists, with credits on singles including "Loyal" by Chris Brown, "Post to Be" by Omarion, and "FourFiveSeconds" by Rihanna, among others.

Early life

Ty Dolla Sign was born Tyrone William Griffin Jr. in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of musician Tyrone Griffin, a member of the band Lakeside. He has said that through his father's involvement in Lakeside, he met singers like Earth, Wind & Fire and Prince as a child, which led to his love and interest for soul music. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Ty Dolla Sign was a gang member, being part of the Bloods, while his brother was in the rival gang of the Crips.

Career

2004–2011: Career beginnings

Ty Dolla Sign began his music career by learning how to play the bass guitar and later learned how to play drums, guitars, keyboards, and the MPC. Ty Dolla Sign and his writing partner Kory began working together after meeting in New York City in 2004, forming the duo Ty & Kory. The duo also made guest appearances on studio albums by other artists such as Sa-Ra Creative Partners and Black Milk. They also performed the song "U", which was featured on the latter's album Popular Demand (2007). They signed a recording contract with Venus Brown's Buddah Brown Entertainment, subsequently releasing their debut mixtape, Raw & Bangin Mixtape Vol 2 (2008). Eventually, Ty & Kory had a falling out related to these ventures.

After the dispute, Ty Dolla Sign would soon after collaborate with fellow Los Angeles-based rapper YG. Ty Dolla Sign's initial claim to fame was with the success of YG's 2010 single "Toot It and Boot It", which he co-performed and produced. He then became affiliated with YG's group Pushaz Ink. In 2011, Ty Dolla Sign released his first solo song, "All Star" (featuring Joe Moses; remixed featuring Kid Ink) and his debut mixtape, House on the Hill (2011). His follow up single, "My Cabana" (featuring Young Jeezy) was ranked on Complex's Best 50 Songs of 2012 list at number 23. Ty Dolla Sign co-founded and was a member of the production team D.R.U.G.$., alongside fellow music producers Chordz (or Chordz 3D) and G Casso, the latter of whom was murdered in 2011. Other producers later joined D.R.U.G.$., including Nate 3D, Buddah Shampoo, Fuego, DJ Mustard, and DJ Dahi.

2012–2014: Beach House mixtapes

Ty Dolla Sign in November 2013

In 2012, Ty Dolla Sign signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records. After signing with Atlantic, he released his first solo mixtape, titled Beach House, on October 1, 2012. He followed with the mixtape's sequel, Beach House 2, on July 1, 2013. Beach House 2 features guest appearances from Too Short, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, and Kirko Bangz, among others. The following day, it was revealed that Ty Dolla Sign signed a deal with Khalifa's Taylor Gang Entertainment. In mid-2013, he toured with Khalifa and ASAP Rocky, among others, on the Under the Influence of Music 2 concert tour.

On September 10, 2013, Ty Dolla Sign released a single, titled "Paranoid", which features a verse from Atlanta rapper B.o.B and production from DJ Mustard. The song was later announced to be the first single off his upcoming extended play (EP). On October 22, 2013, the Ethan Lader-directed music video for "Paranoid", premiered via Diddy's Revolt. The single became highly popular, peaking at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eventually being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

On January 7, 2014, Ty Dolla Sign released his second single for his debut EP, titled "Or Nah" (featuring Wiz Khalifa and DJ Mustard). The song's production was handled by DJ Mustard and it contains a sample of Trillville's "Some Cut". The music video was filmed during January 2014. The single was remixed featuring vocals from Canadian singer the Weeknd and was later certified triple platinum by the RIAA.

On January 21, 2014, Ty Dolla Sign released his major label debut project, Beach House EP. The EP features guest appearances from Casey Veggies, Wiz Khalifa, Twista, Jay Rock, Trey Songz, French Montana, Travis Scott, and Fredo Santana, while the production was primarily handled by Ty Dolla Sign himself, along with DJ Mustard, Cardo, and Young Chop, among others. He stated that the EP would feature a new sound from him, and that it would be on a whole other level compared to his mixtapes. Ty Dolla Sign described the EP as being a preview for his debut studio album, at the time due to be released during 2014. The remix to "Paranoid", featuring Trey Songz, French Montana, and DJ Mustard, was also included on the EP.

2014–2016: Free TC and Campaign

Ty Dolla Sign in November 2014

On February 23, 2014, Ty Dolla Sign revealed that his debut studio album would be titled Free TC, and would be released during the third quarter of 2014. He told Revolt, that he had already completed eight songs for the album and that he would be going on tour, namely Under the Influence 3, with Wiz Khalifa during 2014. He was chosen for the 2014 XXL Freshman Class. In May 2014, Ty Dolla Sign told The Fader, that he would release a mixtape, titled Sign Language, sometime during the next few months, which would then be followed by Free TC. In August 2014, Ty Dolla Sign revealed that Jeremih, Wiz Khalifa, YG, Yo Gotti, and Jay 305, will be appearing on Sign Language. On August 24, 2014, which happens to be the same day he released his mixtape Sign Language, Ty Dolla Sign told HotNewHipHop, that he has worked with Rihanna on a track from her then-upcoming album; the result was him having a songwriting credit on her 2015 hit single "FourFiveSeconds".

While working on his debut album, Ty Dolla Sign appeared on Chris Brown and Tyga's Fan of a Fan: The Album, on the second track "Nothin' Like Me", as well as Big Sean's song "Play No Games" off of Dark Sky Paradise. On May 26, 2015, Ty Dolla Sign released the first single from Free TC, titled "Only Right", which features TeeCee4800, Joe Moses, and YG, and was produced by DJ Mustard. On June 26, 2015, he released the album's second single, titled "Blasé" (featuring Future and Rae Sremmurd), which would go on to receive platinum certification from the RIAA. A pre-order promotional single, "When I See Ya" (featuring Fetty Wap), was released in September 2015 and lead up to album's third single, "Saved" (featuring E-40), went on to be certified gold by the RIAA.

Ty Dolla Sign revealed that on October 13, 2015, exactly one month before his album came out, he would release a new mixtape Airplane Mode. Free TC was released on November 13, 2015, via Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, with 31,000 equivalent album units and first-week sales of 22,000 copies in the United States. In February 2016, Ty Dolla Sign guest featured on Fifth Harmony's hit single "Work from Home" featuring Ty Dolla Sign, which peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. In June 2016, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, and X Ambassadors released the collaboration single "Sucker for Pain" for the motion picture soundtrack for Suicide Squad. In August 2016, Ty Dolla Sign and Nick Jonas performed the song "Bacon" at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, where Ty Dolla Sign also won Best Collaboration for "Work from Home" with Fifth Harmony. On September 23, 2016, Ty Dolla Sign released a project titled Campaign, which peaked at number 28 on the Billboard 200.

Ty Dolla Sign performing at Yonge–Dundas Square in Toronto, 2015

2016–2018: Beach House 3 and MihTy

On June 19, 2016, Ty Dolla Sign announced that his next project following Campaign would be Beach House 3 and that this installment would be an album rather than a mixtape. The lead single "Love U Better" (featuring Lil Wayne and The-Dream) was released July 10, 2017. The second single "So Am I" (featuring Damian Marley and Skrillex) was released on September 1, 2017. The album was released on October 27, 2017, and debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200.

In February 2018, Ty Dolla Sign was featured on Post Malone's single "Psycho", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In May 2018, he was featured on Christina Aguilera's single "Accelerate" along with 2 Chainz, the first single from Aguilera's eighth album Liberation. On June 1, he was featured on "All Mine" by Kanye West on West's album Ye. On June 8, he was featured on "Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)" by Kids See Ghosts, on their self-titled album. On June 14, he was featured on Bhad Bhabie's single "Trust Me". On June 16, he was featured on the song "Boss" from Beyoncé and Jay-Z's joint album Everything Is Love. In 2018, he was featured on Tinashe's single "Me So Bad" with French Montana, which had moderate success in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. He was also featured on Drake's album, Scorpion, on the song "After Dark". He also featured on Lecrae's album All Things Work Together on the song "Blessings".

On October 26, 2018, Ty Dolla Sign and Jeremih released a collaborative album under the joint pseudonym MihTy (a portmanteau of both the artists' names) through Def Jam Recordings and Atlantic Records, their respective labels. The duo's eponymous album (2018) was released to mild critical and commercial reception, and featured guest appearances from French Montana, Chris Brown, and Wiz Khalifa, and executive production from Hitmaka. The duo had released several singles throughout the fall season of 2018 in anticipation of the album's release and performed "The Light" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the week leading up to the album's debut. The project included the singles "The Light" and "Goin Thru Some Thangs".

2019–2022: Featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Cheers to the Best Memories

Ty Dolla Sign released an album preview in February 2019 (via Instagram) featuring a new song produced by D.A. Got That Dope along with a verse from Tyga. On May 20, 2019, Ty Dolla Sign released the single "Purple Emoji" (featuring J. Cole) as the intended first single. On August 9, 2019, he released another single titled "Hottest in the City" (featuring Juicy J and Project Pat). He later announced that his third studio album was originally called Tyrone (named from his birth name) and was set to release fall 2019. However, he stated, "I had a meeting one time with Kanye, and played him the album, and he was like, 'Bro nah, you need to do what you do. Add more bass, add more drums, add more, the real shit, that's what no one else is doing. Be the best you, bring that shit all the way up to the forefront...That conversation definitely inspired me, and made me go back and go crazy with the live instruments".

On July 1, 2020, Ty Dolla Sign released "Ego Death" (featuring Kanye West, FKA Twigs, and Skrillex) as the official lead single to his third studio album. On July 3, 2020, Ty Dolla Sign announced to Big Boy that his third studio album is called Dream House and would be released "sooner than you think". The second single "Expensive" (featuring Nicki Minaj) was released on August 28, 2020. On October 14, Ty Dolla Sign revealed that he changed the album's title to Featuring Ty Dolla Sign, a reference to his work on other artists' projects and songs since his last release. He said the album title came from his gift of collaborating, and features many of his industry friends.

Featuring Ty Dolla Sign was released on October 23, 2020. The album features artists including Kid Cudi, Post Malone, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak, Quavo, Lil Durk, Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, Kehlani, Future, Musiq Soulchild, FKA Twigs, and Skrillex. Ty Dolla Sign was also featured on the song "Safety Net" by Ariana Grande for her sixth studio album, Positions on October 30, 2020.

On August 11, 2021, Ty Dolla Sign and Canadian R&B duo Dvsn posted the artwork from a forthcoming collaborative album titled Cheers to the Best Memories to their respective Instagram pages, captioned with the release date of August 20, 2021. The album featured Rauw Alejandro and Ty Dolla Sign's longtime associate YG, as well as a posthumous guest appearance from Mac Miller, with whom Ty Dolla Sign had collaborated in the past. The release preceded Ty Dolla Sign's appearances in the following two weeks on "Junya pt 2" from Kanye West's Donda and "Get Along Better" from Drake's Certified Lover Boy.

2023–present: Vultures

In October 2023, Ty Dolla Sign announced a collaborative project between him and frequent collaborator Kanye West via social media, accompanied by a "multi-stadium" listening event in the following month. It was reported earlier in the month that he and West were shopping for distributors for the album, as West is an independent artist. The duo, refereed to as "¥$", originally planned for an collaborative project in 2016. The event failed to materialize, although their debut collaborative single under the recording outfit, "Vultures" (featuring Bump J) was released on November 22. The following day, a version of the song with an additional verse from Lil Durk was released. Amidst numerous delays, Vultures is scheduled to release on February 9th 2024.

Artistry

Ty Dolla Sign performing in March 2018

Ty Dolla Sign's sound is a combination of contemporary R&B and hip hop elements. When asked if he was a rapper, he stated, "People would call it rap, but I really don't feel like I rap. There's so many great rappers, like if we had to battle or some shit, they would just cream me. I don't really consider myself a rapper, I just happen to have bars, or something like that. I still sing man, I'm a singer, ya feel me?"

He cited Nate Dogg and Chris Brown as main influences for his musical style. When asked about his influences, Ty Dolla Sign responded, "2Pac is my favorite artist of all time. I liked Slum Village a lot back then, like J Dilla, he's one of my favorite producers and artists. I'm like a hip-hop head type of dude. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, that whole Rawkus Records scene, that's my type of shit." He continued, "I also like cats like Prince. Just like his production, he's kind of like the same thing as me. He sings, he produces, he plays all types of instruments. That's what I'm after. I wouldn't wear that type of clothes or wear my hair like that. [Laughs.] But as far as artistry, that's the same type of dude I am." In an interview he revealed that Kim Burrell was his absolute favorite vocalist, and that Brandy was right there with her.

Personal life

Ty Dolla Sign has a daughter named Jailynn Crystal. He was in a relationship with Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui from 2017 to 2019.

On December 10, 2018, it was revealed that Ty Dolla Sign was facing up to fifteen years in jail in relation to cocaine and marijuana possession charges. These charges resulted from a traffic stop in Atlanta, Georgia, where in a car with multiple people, Ty Dolla Sign was the only one charged with the drugs due to him being in close proximity to them. Later, all charges were dropped upon completion of a drug prevention program.

In 2020, Ty Dolla Sign formally endorsed the presidential campaign of fellow rapper and frequent collaborator Kanye West.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2022 Entergalactic Ky (voice) Television special

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Nominated work Category Result
2016 Premios Juventud "Work from Home" (with Fifth Harmony) Favorite Hit Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer Song Won
MTV Video Music Awards Best Collaboration Won
American Music Awards Collaboration of the Year Won
2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards Best Music Video Won
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Song Won
MTV Video Music Awards "Gone" (with Afrojack) Best Dance Video Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards "Ain't Nothing" Best Featured Verse Nominated
"Blessings" (Lecrae featuring Ty Dolla Sign) Impact Track Nominated
2018 GMA Dove Awards Song of the Year Nominated
iHeartRadio Titanium Awards "Psycho" (with Post Malone) 1 Billion Total Audience Spins on iHeartRadio Stations Won
2019 MTV Video Music Awards "Hot Girl Summer" (with Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj) Best Power Anthem Won
2020 Grammy Awards "Midnight Hour" (with Skrillex and Boys Noize) Best Dance Recording Nominated
2021 "All I Need" (with Jacob Collier and Mahalia) Best R&B Performance Nominated
2022 Back of My Mind (H.E.R.; as featured artist) Album of the Year Nominated
Donda (Kanye West; as featured artist) Nominated
"WusYaName" (with Tyler, the Creator and YoungBoy Never Broke Again) Best Melodic Rap Performance Nominated