Karon Malcolm Vantrees (born February 28, 1995), known professionally as Veeze, is an American rapper and singer.[6] He pursued a recording career in 2017 and released his debut single, "Itself," in 2019. His debut mixtape, Navy Wavy, was released in September of that year. He signed with
Warner Records to release his debut studio album, Ganger (2023), which debuted at number 97 on the
Billboard 200.[7] It was supported by the single "GOMD" (remixed featuring
Lil Uzi Vert).[8]
Early life
Karon Vantrees, was born in
Detroit, Michigan.[9] He was raised on the West Side of Detroit, specifically on Seven Mile Road.[10][11] Before pursuing a career in rap, Veeze had aspirations of becoming an NBA guard, but he later turned his attention towards music.[12]
Career
2017–2022: Career beginnings
Veeze launched his music career as a rising talent in Detroit's rap scene.[13] In the summer of 2019, he began rapping, inspired by local groups like Street Lord'z, Doughboyz Cashout, and Team Eastside.[14] On April 10, 2019, he released his breakout single "Itself," produced by Top$ide, which spawned many remixes.[15][16] He followed up with "Rusty" on May 24, 2019, which gained local attention and caught the eye of
Babyface Ray, who funded Veeze's first music video.[17] Encouraged by the success, Veeze took his rap career seriously and released his debut mixtape, Navy Wavy, on September 27, 2019.[18] He went on to release multiple singles, including "4 Kobe," "Wilt," "Law N Order" (2020), and "Kurt Angle" (2021).[19] On June 17, 2022, he appeared on
Lil Baby's song "
U-Digg" alongside
42 Dugg, accompanied by a music video,[20][21][22] which debuted and peaked at number 52 on the
Billboard Hot 100, marking Veeze's first and only Hot 100 appearance.[23]
2023–present: Rise to mainstream popularity with 'Ganger' and feature streak
He received wider recognition in 2023 after his single "GOMD" went viral on social media platforms, leading to a remix with fellow rapper
Lil Uzi Vert.[24][25] On March 17, 2023, he released the music video for "GOMD," directed by Lestyn Park, which has garnered 10 million views on
YouTube as of March 21, 2023.[26]
Following the success of "GOMD" and its remix, Veeze launched his record label Navy Wavy in partnership with
Warner Records in 2023.[27][28]After securing the deal, he released his debut studio album Ganger on June 27, 2023, which debuted at number 97 on the
Billboard 200.[29] Four months later, a deluxe edition was released, featuring five additional tracks.[30]
Musical style
Vantrees is noted for his frequent flows, energetic rapping, and cognizant tones, which he notably employed on his breakout single "GOMD".[31] His sound has also been described as "melodic", albeit with a "mutter-croak" style.[32] Chris Richards of
The Washington Post newspaper stated that Veeze usually has a "wild and nonchalant" delivery in his verses.[33] While pursuing his career, Veeze listened to Street Lord'z and Doughboyz Cashout, two prominent groups from the city of Detroit.[a]
Navy Wavy is an American record label founded by Veeze in 2023. It operates as an imprint of
Warner as of 2024.[4] He released his first music video, "Safe 2", under the label on September 14, 2023.[35]
Discography
Studio albums
List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
^Kemet, High (June 16, 2023).
"The Break Presents– Veeze". XXL Magazine.
Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^Damien, Scott; Gail, Mitchell; Heran, Mamo; Carl, Lamarre; Kyle-Brandon, Denis (December 22, 2023).
"The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard.
Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.