Killy (rapper)

Canadian rapper (born 1997)

Killy

Birth name| Khalil Tatem[1]
Born|  (1997-08-19) August 19, 1997 (age 27)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres|

* Canadian hip hop
* trap
* emo rap

Occupations|

* Rapper
* singer
* songwriter

Years active| 2015–present
Labels|

* Secret Sound Club
* Epic (former)
* Universal (former)[2]

Website| killy.co

Musical artist

Khalil Tatem[1] (born August 19, 1997), better known by his stage name Killy (stylized as KILLY),[3] is a Canadian rapper from Toronto. He is best known for his break-out single "Killamonjaro" which is certified Platinum by Music Canada,[4] and his debut album "Surrender Your Soul" which is certified Gold by Music Canada.[4]

## Early life

[edit]

Khalil Tatem was born August 19, 1997, to a Bajan father and Filipino mother. Killy grew up in Toronto, Ontario before moving to Victoria, British Columbia at 8 years old.[5] Killy attended a majority Francophone school whilst living in Toronto, though he was one of the only children that didn't speak French. After moving to Victoria, Killy began attending a school where he was one of the only minorities, saying that he was "under-represented."[6] Disinterested in school, Killy took up soccer in his free time and discovered rap music while attending Agincourt Collegiate Institute, eventually making it a hobby.[7] Killy moved back to Toronto as a teenager, living in Scarborough, where he began to focus more of his time on creating music.[5][6]

## Career

[edit]

KILLY has been rapping since 2015 and involved himself in the Toronto nightlife, quickly making connections.[5] Killy recorded several songs in one studio session in 2015 and released them all in 2016, the only releases he made that year.[6] He released his first song in 2016, titled Big Bux on SoundCloud[8] and released three more tracks in 2016. The tracks gave Killy local buzz in Toronto which provoked him to record more music.

In February 2017, KILLY released Killamonjaro, which went viral[9] and was certified Platinum in Canada in January 2019.[10] The song's popularity garnered him an interview on Adam22's "No Jumper" podcast[7] and a feature on Drake's OVO Sound Radio.[11][12]

KILLY released his first studio album on March 5, 2018, titled Surrender Your Soul.[13] The album spawned press from Complex and Pitchfork news[14] and "No Sad No Bad" which peaked at number 65 on the Canadian Hot 100 songs.[15]

On September 14, 2018, KILLY released his first EP KILLSTREAK, which includes five songs.

On June 14, 2019, KILLY released his new album LIGHT PATH 8, which includes 13 songs.

On May 28, 2021, KILLY released KILLSTREAK 2, the follow-up to his 2018 EP of the same name. This time delivering a more complete project totaling 14 tracks, as well as a remix.

On September 24, 2021, KILLY released KILLSTREAK 2 (Deluxe), an expanded edition of KILLSTREAK 2 bearing 26 songs, including DEAD FACES (ft. AJ Tracey).

On August 31, 2022, KILLY released CEO which marks the first track released since he left Epic Records.

On December 21, 2022, KILLY released his album "Crazy Life of Sin". The album is made up of 8 songs, consisting features from the names of Smiley, being on the 2nd song of the album, also being a single released before the release of the album, titled "Vince Carter"; and Doe Boy, on the 3rd song on the album, titled "KILLY KILLY".

On September 15, 2023, KILLY released his latest EP, KILLSTREAK 3, also known as K3. This album consists of 7 songs, with each track carrying its own unique significance. However, one particular song, Mind, stands out as it delves into KILLY's profound sense of sorrow after the death of his close friend Shamar Okyere, known as SEGA, which occurred on April 16, 2023.

On September 27th, 2024, KILLY released his long awaited "LIFE I CHOSE", after an almost 2 year hiatus of album releasing. The album consists of 15 songs, 4 of which were singles that he's dropped in early 2024, and late 2023; being his songs "LIFE I CHOSE", "POP 2", ""FR33ZING", and "REAPER". On the single "DOWN FOR ME", KILLY expresses the reasoning for the lack of music releasing and consistency, stating "I was looking just to heal, took some space, and now I'm back", referring to the passing of his best friend and fellow rapper/label signee, SEGA.

## Discography

[edit]

Main article: Killy discography

* Surrender Your Soul (2018)
* KILLSTREAK (2018)
* Light Path 8 (2019)
* KILLSTREAK 2 (2021)
* KILLSTREAK 2 (Deluxe) (2021)
* Crazy Life of Sin (2022)
* KILLSTREAK 3 (2023)
* "LIFE I CHOSE" (2024)

### Singles

[edit]

* 2017: Killamonjaro
* 2017: Distance
* 2017: No Romance (feat. 16yrold)
* 2017: Forecast
* 2018: No Sad No Bad
* 2018: Beautiful 00*
* 2018: Very Scary
* 2019: Swag Flu
* 2019: Triple Helix
* 2019: Drought (feat. 16yrold)
* 2020: Fast Life (feat. Gab3)
* 2020: Vendetta
* 2020: VV's (feat. Houdini & 6ixbuzz)
* 2020: Sailor Moon
* 2020: OH NO (feat. Y2K)
* 2021: PYRO
* 2021: PYRO [Remix] (feat. Scarlxrd)
* 2021: TRUST NOBODY
* 2021: RICK BOOTS
* 2021: EUPHORIC
* 2022: CEO
* 2022: Vince Carter (feat. Smiley)
* 2023: Shinigami Flow (prod. Jaegen)
* 2023: Luv Typhoon (prod. Jaegen)
* 2023: Need Your Love
* 2023: Toronto (feat. SL)
* 2023: Same Energy
* 2023: LOOK AT WHAT WE STARTED (feat. SEGA)
* 2023: Studio Freestyle (feat. SL)
* 2023: "LIFE I CHOSE" (feat. Dom Corleo)
* 2024: "POP 2" (feat. Fourfive)
* 2024: "GLEE"
* 2024: "ALL CAPS"
* 2024: "EMBASSY / AMBASADA" (feat. Bedoes) (prod. młody klakson, kittiesloverage, & francis)
* 2024: "FR33ZING"
* 2024: "REAPER"
* 2024: "NOT LIKE DIS" (feat. Coults)
* 2024: "Lessons" (feat. a4) (prod. 4TheWorld
* 2024: "Jump Off" (feat. Billyracxx)

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

KILLY has been nominated for the Juno Award four times.[16] In 2019, for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Juno Fan Choice Award and Rap Recording of the Year for Surrender Your Soul. In 2020, Light Path 8 was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year.

Gold/Platinum certifications from Music Canada:[4]

Date  | Certification  | Artist / Title

|
|

October 29, 2020  | Platinum Single  | KILLY – Distance
October 29, 2020  | Gold Single  | KILLY – Doomsday
October 29, 2020  | Gold Single  | KILLY – Forecast
October 29, 2020  | Gold Album  | KILLY – Surrender Your Soul
October 26, 2020  | Gold Single  | KILLY – Eye For An Eye
April 21, 2020  | Gold Single  | KILLY – ANTI EVERYBODY
January 22, 2019  | Platinum Single  | KILLY – No Sad No Bad
January 8, 2019  | Platinum Single  | KILLY – Killamonjaro
July 3, 2018  | Gold Single  | KILLY – Distance
March 13, 2018  | Gold Single  | KILLY – Killamonjaro
January 22, 2019  | Gold Single  | KILLY – No Sad No Bad

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Killy | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
2. ^ "KILLY on Apple Music".
3. ^ "KILLY on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
4. ^ a b c "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
5. ^ a b c "KILLY: capturing the energy of the moment – SOCAN Words and Music". SOCAN Words and Music. May 2, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
6. ^ a b c "Killy's Ascent to the Top of Rap Is a Matter of Perfect Timing". Noisey. October 6, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
7. ^ a b No Jumper (August 16, 2017), The KILLY Interview – No Jumper, retrieved August 19, 2018
8. ^ Big Bux ft. SEGA, retrieved August 19, 2018
9. ^ "The Inevitability of Killy". PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
10. ^ "#Killamonjaro, the breakout hit from Toronto rapper KILLY, is now officially certified Platinum in Canada!". GoldPlatCA on Twitter. January 9, 2019.
11. ^ "Toronto's Killy Drops New Song "Forecast" On OVO Sound Radio". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
12. ^ "Killy Continues His Viral Success With "Forecast"". Complex. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
13. ^ "KILLY's debut project Surrender Your Soul goes past the point of no return". The FADER. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
14. ^ "Killy: Killy: Surrender Your Soul Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
15. ^ "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
16. ^ "Past Nominees + Winners". The Juno Awards. Retrieved December 17, 2021.

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

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