A Boogie wit da Hoodie
Artist Julius Dubose, known professionally as A Boogie wit da Hoodie, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is signed to his own label, Highbridge the Label, and Atlantic Records.
He is best known for his singles "Numbers" which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Look Back at It" which peaked at number 27, and "Drowning" which peaked at number 38. His debut studio album, The Bigger Artist, debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. He released his second studio album, Hoodie SZN, which became his first number one album on the Billboard 200. His third studio album, Artist 2.0, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. He is set to release his fourth studio album A Boogie vs. Artist in 2020.
Early life
Artist Julius Dubose was born on December 6, 1995 in the Highbridge, Bronx in New York City. Dubose was raised in Highbridge and began rapping at age twelve after listening to Kanye West and 50 Cent. He attended Eagle Academy, where he expanded upon rapping during his freshman year, performing in cyphers at lunchtime by performing rhymes he had already written and stored in a large notebook he carried with him. Remarking on his time in high school to XXL, he said "I was regular, nobody really noticed me. I was the one in the back of the classroom, quiet."On his unconventional stage name, Dubose told Newsweek, "I used to watch Paid in Full every day when I was like 12, 13, and then I started rapping and everybody would call me A Boogie . And then the hoodie came along because I was wearing hoodies all the time. started saying A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and it stuck. The only other rap name is Artist, and that's my real name. After a while, everybody will know me as Artist."
Growing up, Dubose frequently got into legal trouble, mainly for selling cannabis and narcotics. After finding out when he was sixteen, Dubose's parents sent him to Florida as punishment. He graduated from high school at the Performance-based Preparatory Academy in Fort Pierce, Florida. In Florida, Dubose was kept under house arrest. During this confinement, he began to work on his artistry, starting off by tweaking his self-composed rhymes and gradually leading one thing to another. He even built an amateur studio inside the flat that he lived in. Following his graduation from high school, Dubose continued to focus on his music while working jobs in different sectors including construction and pizza delivery.
Career
2015–16: Career beginnings
Dubose's official discography began with the single "Temporary", which he released on SoundCloud. He was just nineteen at the time of its release. The song lacked good rhythm and flow which is usually required for a good hip-hop number. Myster Whyte, who he met in Florida and the producer of the song hired a trainer and asked A Boogie to work with his trainer until he gets his techniques right, he showed him the inside of his first professional studio. He said "I used to record songs like, play the beat from one phone and have another phone recording me and just rap, moving from that to a studio was like, 'Damn, I never knew I could sound like this'. It was just magic". The training sessions with Myster helped progress his sound, similar to the way that spending time in a gym will make you stronger.In 2015, Dubose moved back to New York in an attempt to start making hip-hop his full-time career. Him, Don Q, Quincy "QP" Acheampong and Bubba then created Highbridge the Label and set up a home studio. A Boogie released his first full-length project, a mixtape titled Artist, in February 2016, which launched his career and was on Forbes list of up-and-coming rappers. The mixtape was recorded during a time where Dubose was dealing with a difficult break-up which helped influence the mixtape and Dubose's future sound all together.
Dubose then released a collaborative project, alongside fellow Highbridge-based rapper Don Q, titled Highbridge the Label: The Takeover Vol.1, on May 18, 2016. Dubose went on to have three opening dates on Drake and Future's Summer Sixteen Tour. Dubose is also co-signed by Drake. In July 2016, A Boogie signed a deal with Atlantic Records. In September 2016, he was featured on the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher alongside Don Q, Russ, Kent Jones and Nick Grant. Later in October 2016, A Boogie released his first extended play, titled TBA, in acronym for "The Bigger Artist". The EP peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard 200 chart and appeared on Rolling Stone magazine's 40 Best Rap Albums of 2016 list.
2017–2018: ''The Bigger Artist'' and ''Hoodie SZN''
On June 13, 2017, Dubose was named as one of the ten of XXLs "2017 Freshman Class". On September 29, 2017, he released his debut studio album, The Bigger Artist, featuring guest appearances from Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Kodak Black, 21 Savage, PnB Rock and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. The album's lead single, "Drowning" featuring Kodak Black, has peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became one of his highest charting singles in the country so far.Dubose was featured on fellow New York rapper 6ix9ine's single, "Keke" on January 14, 2018. The song peaked at 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. Dubose also appeared on the song "Waka" on 6ix9ine's album Dummy Boy released in November 2018.
Dubose's second album Hoodie SZN was released on December 21, 2018 with contributions from 6ix9ine, Juice Wrld, Offset and more. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 90,000 copies in its first week. It reached number one on January 14, 2019. It became one of the most played albums of 2019 and placed number 10 on the Billboard 200 Year-End chart. It also appeared on Billboard’s Decade-End chart at number 69.
2019–present: ''Artist 2.0'' and ''Highbridge The Label: Vol 2''
Dubose featured on over 20 songs in 2019, alongside artists such as Ed Sheeran, Rick Ross, Khalid, Ally Brooke, Liam Payne, Lil Durk and Summer Walker.On September 13, 2019, Dubose released the first single from his album Artist 2.0, "Mood Swings", which debuted at 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
On November 15, 2019, Dubose released the second single from his album Artist 2.0, "Reply" which features rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. Uzi is also featured on the track "Luv is Art" from the album.
He also toured and performed at concerts throughout 2019, not only appearing in the US, but coming to the UK too. He was also due to perform at Wireless 2020 alongside other rappers such as AJ Tracey and A$AP Rocky but this was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On January 31, 2020, Dubose released the third single from his album Artist 2.0 called "King of My City". It debuted and peaked at 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Dubose's third studio album and sequel to his debut mixtape Artist was released on February 14, 2020. Artist 2.0 features contributions by Roddy Ricch, Gunna, DaBaby, Khalid, Summer Walker, Lil Uzi Vert, and more.
Dubose chose to release Artist 2.0 on February 14, 2020, due to the first Artist being released on Valentine's Day in 2016 and also due to the fact it was his daughter's third birthday.
On June 16 2020, Dubose dropped the lead single off his deluxe version of Artist 2.0 which was released on June 19, 2020. It peaked at 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.
On July 1st 2020, Dubose and frequent collaborater Don Q, released 'Flood My Wrist' featuring Lil Uzi Vert, in preparation for their sequel collab album Highbridge The Label: Vol 2
Highbridge The Label
Since 2016, A Boogie has released projects under his own imprint label Highbridge.Roster
Personal life
Dubose has a daughter and son with girlfriend Ella Rodriguez. Melody Valentine Dubose, who was born on Valentine's Day 2017, and their son, Artist Jr, was born on June 27 2020.Discography
Studio albums- The Bigger Artist
- Hoodie SZN
- Artist 2.0
- A Boogie vs. Artist