Last week, Kanye West made news with the announcement of two new additions to his label, G.O.O.D. Music. Atlanta based trio, The Migos, join the label after cutting ties with Lyor Cohen’s 300 entertainment roughly a year ago. What was more surprising was the addition of Tyga.
Although Tyga has managed to keep his name away from the ether of forgotten mediocre emcees, often times it is because his personal life turns into the day’s biggest headline. From the controversy with his on-again/off-again girlfriend Kylie Jenner to the time his car got repossessed while he was (wait for it) car shopping, recent events have distracted from Tyga’s career as a rapper. Here are eight tracks to remind you that Tyga is more than a cradle-robbing, debtor.
1. Hookah feat. Young Thug
In 2014, Young Thug and London on da Track proved to be a dynamic duo linking on tracks “Lifestyle,” T.I.’s “About the Money” and several cuts off of the critically acclaimed Rich Gang: Tha Tour pt 1. “Hookah” sees Thugger serving up an absurdly simple and catchy hook while Tyga recounts a lavish night with a love interest. Opulence is the theme as the young Cali rapper boasts “Lifestyles like this gon need magnums.”
2. Faded feat. Lil Wayne
When Tyga inked a deal with Young Money Entertainment, it seemed like the perfect career move following the release of his slow moving debut album, No Introduction. Several Birdman handrubs and accusations of unpaid wages later, the business partnership came to an abrupt ending. But 2012 club banger “Faded” featuring Lil Wayne still shines as one of the best entries in Tyga’s catalogue.
3. DJ SpinKing - Adult Swim feat. Tyga, Jeremih & Velous
DJ SpinKing helped construct a solid summer anthem back in 2014. With production help from Vinylz and guest appearances from Tyga, Jeremih and Velous--”Adult Swim” found it’s way onto many beach playlists.
4. The Game - Celebration feat. Tyga, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne
The Game’s Jesus Piece album is the standard mix of top-notch production paired with a who’s who list of guest features. The album’s first single demonstrates this as it features Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Chris Brown. But Tyga kicks things off chanting “get high” in a spot on Bone Thug impersonation that fits perfectly on the beat which samples the classic “1st of tha Month.”
5. Young Money - BedRock feat. Lloyd
Tyga’s first official reps as a Young Money representer came on the compilation album We Are Young Money. Verses from Nicki Minaj, Drake and crooning from Lloyd helped the single shoot up the charts.
6. Chris Brown - Deuces feat. Tyga and Kevin McCall
It’s no secret that some of Tyga’s best work has come alongside Chris Brown. The duo linked for their first collaborative project Fan of Fan in 2010 which ended up spawning this hot single that also landed on Chris Browns F.A.M.E. Kevin McCall worked double duty, providing the beat and a verse for "Dueces," eventually climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
7. Diamond Life feat. Patty Crash
Although Tyga’s debut album, No Introduction, didn’t sell the most units, the Compton upstart was able to start building his core fan base. The album's first single earned Tyga exposure to video game players across the world as it was featured on the soundtracks of Madden 2009 and Need for Speed Undercover.
8. Rack City
It didn’t take Tyga long to distance himself from the squeaky clean, expletive-free persona found on his first album. The second single off of his sophomore album “Rack City,” is his biggest success date. The strip club anthem peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and is four times platinum.
