From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how YNW Melly made an impact.
YNW Melly, born Jamell Maurice Demons, is an American rapper and singer who gained prominence in 2018 with his hit song "Murder on My Mind." The song's dark themes and trap sound propelled him to mainstream attention. However, his career took a drastic turn when he was arrested and charged with the double-murder of two fellow rappers in the YNW collective in 2019. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and he remains incarcerated. Before his legal troubles, Melly released the well-received mixtapes 'I Am You' (2018) and 'We All Shine' (2019) after signing with 300 Entertainment. "Murder on My Mind" peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
2016: Adoption of Stage Name
In 2016, Jamell Demons adopted the stage name "YNW Melly" and became part of the hip-hop collective YNW.
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2017: Release of 'Collect Call' EP
In late 2017, YNW Melly, while still incarcerated, released his first project, an EP called 'Collect Call'.
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August 2018: Release of Debut Mixtape
In August 2018, YNW Melly released his debut mixtape, I Am You.
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2018: Singles Released
In 2018, YNW Melly released the singles "Virtual (Blue Balenciagas)", "Melly the Menace", and "Slang That Iron".
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2018: Rise to Fame
In 2018, YNW Melly rose to fame following the release of his single "Murder on My Mind".
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January 10, 2019: 'I Am You' Appears on Billboard 200
On January 10, 2019, YNW Melly's debut mixtape, I Am You, appeared on the Billboard 200 chart at number 192.
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January 2019: YouTube Views
As of January 2019, YNW Melly's "Virtual (Blue Balenciagas)", "Melly the Menace", and "Slang That Iron" music videos amassed 26 million, 16 million and 11 million views on YouTube, respectively.
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January 18, 2019: Release of 'We All Shine'
On January 18, 2019, while incarcerated, YNW Melly released "We All Shine", his second commercial mixtape, featuring collaborations with Kanye West and Fredo Bang.
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March 2019: Spotify Streams
As of March 2019, YNW Melly had amassed over 200 million streams on Spotify with over 10 million monthly listeners; his most-streamed song was "Murder on My Mind".
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November 22, 2019: Release of 'Melly vs. Melvin'
On November 22, 2019, YNW Melly released his debut studio album, Melly vs. Melvin, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200.
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November 29, 2019: Featured on King Von's Single
On November 29, 2019, YNW Melly was featured on "Rollin" by King Von.
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2019: Mixtape and Album Releases
In 2019, YNW Melly's mixtape, "We All Shine," contained the hit song "Mixed Personalities" (featuring Kanye West), and his incarceration began shortly after its release. His album "Melly vs. Melvin" was also released.
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March 13, 2020: Release of 'Suicidal' Remix
On March 13, 2020, YNW Melly released a remix of his track "Suicidal" featuring Juice Wrld, which peaked at number 20 on the Hot 100.
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March 5, 2021: Release of 'Thugged Out'
On March 5, 2021, after a year of not releasing music, YNW Melly released "Thugged Out" with Kodak Black.
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2021: Release of 'Just a Matter of Slime'
In 2021, YNW Melly released his second studio album, "Just a Matter of Slime," which maintained his commercial success despite mixed critical reception.
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2024: Release of 'Young New Wave'
In 2024, YNW Melly's third studio album, "Young New Wave," was released, but it was generally panned by critics and failed to chart.
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