ILoveMakonnen

Makonnen Kamali Sheran (born April 12, 1989), better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen (often stylized in all caps), is an American rapper and singer. He is best known for his 2014 single "Tuesday", which gained recognition following its remix with Canadian rapper Drake. After its release in August of that year, he signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records that same month; the song was re-released by the label shortly after and subsequently peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Tuesday" was also nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and served as the lead single for his likewise re-issued self-titled debut extended play, which peaked at number 72 on the Billboard 200. He would later release a sequel, alongside two mixtapes (one with Rich the Kid), on the label, before parting ways with OVO in 2016.

Since leaving OVO, less of his releases have garnered similar success. After setting priorities with Warner Records, he release the mixtape Drink More Water 6, which gained decent chart success, peaking at number 25 on the Top Rap Albums chart. He would later go on to write "Falling Down", a collaboration between frequent collaborator Lil Peep and XXXTentacion, with the song peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a worldwide success. The original version with Makonnen, "Sunlight On Your Skin", was also released, with another collaboration, "I've Been Waiting" (with Fall Out Boy), peaking at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. He would eventually release the album Diamonds with Peep in 2023. He has also collaborated with artists such as 21 Savage, Post Malone, Juice Wrld, Lil Yachty, Ty Dolla Sign, Gucci Mane, Wiz Khalifa, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Rae Sremmurd, Mike Will Made It, Metro Boomin, Mustard, Sonny Digital, Skepta, Santigold, Steve Aoki, and Yung Lean.

Early life Makonnen Kamali Sheran was born on April 12, 1989, in South Los Angeles, California, and was named after Makonnen Wolde Mikael, father of Tafari Makonnen who was later crowned as Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. His father is a first generation immigrant from Belize who worked as an electrician and his mother was a nail instructor who worked in the beauty business for over 30 years. In an interview, he described himself as mixed with African American, Indian, Irish, Belgian, German and Chinese heritage. Growing up in Los Angeles, After a period under house arrest following the fatal accidental shooting of a friend, he enrolled in a cosmetology school and became a part of a group called Phantom Posse. In January 2012, Makonnen met Atlanta producer Mike Will Made It and formed a brief professional relationship with him. However, because of Mike Will's busy schedule, the two were not able to meet often, and soon were separated from each other. Makonnen was then featured on Mike Will's mixtape, titled Ransom.

In July 2014, the singer released his self-titled EP iLoveMakonnen, which included the singles "Tuesday" and "I Don't Sell Molly No More". The latter reached pop singer Miley Cyrus, who shared it on her Instagram. The post got over 210,000 likes and counting, that brought a lot of new fans to Makonnen. On August 15, 2014, Vice included his song "Whip It" in their Staff Picks for the Week list, commenting: "Makonnen's voice is incredible! ... How could you not have a good time listening to this song? If there is anyone I trust to teach me how to whip it, it is definitely my friend Makonnen."

In August 2014, after hearing "Tuesday", Drake asked one of the song's producers, Sonny Digital, if he could remix the song. Makonnen agreed to send it to Drake, but didn't think much of it. However, two days later Drake released a remix. Makonnen later commented: "Yeah, I surprised. Shocking. Drake listens to Makonnen. It was great. I was excited. Surprised, shocked. Just overwhelmed." That same month, Makonnen was featured in XXLs The Come Up section, which focuses on new artists.

2015–2016: OVO Sound and iLoveMakonnen 2 In an interview with The Fader in December 2015, more than a year after signing to Drakes OVO Sound, Makonnen said the label delayed tracks from iLoveMakonnen 2 from coming out. The song "Second Chance," for example, was finished in January 2015 and intended for a summer release, but ended up being self-released by Makonnen in November 2015. Makonnen said, "Second Chance was supposed to be that summer banger this summer. That was supposed to be out, touching people and hitting them this summer. By the time next year they'll be ready for something else. It's all late. People are doubting me, doubting what the fuck I said when I made the fucking song. You wait a year later and it's whatever. Hopefully, it's worked right. The song is structured properly. Everything is all there for proper radio play to just spin it over and over to people. Who knows? I don't know what the fuck they want."

2016–2019; 2023: Departure from OVO Sound and Lil Peep collaborations Makonnen has released several posthumous collaborations with Lil Peep (pictured), including the 2023 collaboration album Diamonds, and contributions to the 2018 single "Falling Down" (featuring XXXTentacion). On April 18, 2016, Makonnen parted ways with Drake's label OVO Sound, saying the "choice to be solely on Warner Bros. Records was the right thing for me and for my best interest." On May 7, 2016, Makonnen announced he would be retiring from music to focus on acting but released a new song shortly after, with confirmation of a new project. In the late summer of 2017, Makonnen collaborated on an album with Lil Peep in London. The album was scrapped after Makonnen leaked it online in May 2020. On August 17, 2018, Makonnen announced a single he co-wrote titled "Falling Down", a reworking of "Sunlight On Your Skin" that he recorded with Peep during the sessions in London. The new version features since deceased rapper XXXTentacion, who recorded his verses following Peep's death. The single was officially released on September 19, 2018. The original "Sunlight On Your Skin" version was released on September 27, 2018.

In 2019, Makonnen released "I've Been Waiting", a collaboration with both Peep and Fall Out Boy.

Discography

ILoveMakonnen's discography consists of two studio albums, one collaborative album, fifteen mixtapes, two collaborative mixtapes, nine extended plays, three collaborative extended plays, six singles, four featured singles, and sixty-five guest appearances.

Studio albums +TitleAlbum details My Parade Released: April 16, 2021 Label: Timeless Magic, Cor Tan Format: Digital download, streaming Summer '22 Released: August 29, 2022 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming

Collaborative albums + List of collaborative albums, with selected details Title Album details Diamonds Released: September 8, 2023 Label: AWAL Formats: Digital download

EPs + List of extended plays, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions US USR&B/HH iLoveMakonnen Released: December 15, 2014 Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros. Format: Download 72 48 iLoveMakonnen 2 Released: November 20, 2015 Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros. Format: Download — 40 Fun Summer 17 Vol. 1 Released: June 7, 2017 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming — — iLoveMakonnen X Ronny J(with Ronny J) Released: January 24, 2018 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming — — iLoveAmerica Released: July 4, 2018 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming — — M3 Released: June 21, 2019 Label: Warner Format: Streaming — — Monster in the WoodsReleased: October 29, 2021 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming—— Everything Is Trash(with Yellow Trash Can) Released: January 14, 2022 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming—— Stay Hydrated Released: December 25, 2022 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming — — NOT MY MAKONNEN Released: May 9, 2024 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming—— Inflated Sense of ImportanceReleased: June 6, 2024 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming—— Everything Is Fake(with Yellow Trash Can)Released: March 31, 2026 Label: Self-released Format: Streaming—— "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes + List of mixtapes, with year releasedTitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions USR&B/HH 3D Released: 2011 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— 4G Released: 2011 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— 5 Released: 2011 Label: S.O.D MG Format: Download—— 6 Released: 2011 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— Holiday Special Released: 2011 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— LTE Released: 2012 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— A Trillion Light Years Released: 2012 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— Drink More Water Released: 2012 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— Drink More Water 2 Released: 2013 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— 3 Suns Released: 2013 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— Drink More Water 3 Released: 2014 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— Drink More Water 4 Released: June 30, 2014 Label: Self-released Format: Download—— Drink More Water 5 Released: March 31, 2015 Label: OVO Sound Format: Download—— Whip It Up(with Rich the Kid) Released: November 26, 2015 Label: Rich Forever, OVO Sound Format: Download—— Drink More Water 6 Released: March 18, 2016 Label: Warner Bros. Records Label: Self-Released Format: Download——DMW007 Released: October 6, 2021 Label: Timeless Magic Format: Streaming & Download——

Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B/HH USR&B CAN FRA NZHot "Tuesday"(featuring Drake) 2014 12 1 1 56 86 — RIAA: Platinum RMNZ: Gold RMNZ: Gold iLoveMakonnen "Sellin" 2016 — — — — — — Drink More Water 6 "Side to Side" — — — — — — "Love"(featuring Rae Sremmurd) 2017 — — — — — — "Sunlight On Your Skin"(with Lil Peep) 2018 — — — — — 36 Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2 "I've Been Waiting" (with Lil Peep featuring Fall Out Boy) 2019 62 — — — — 12 RIAA: Gold US Tracks "I Like Tuh" (Carnage featuring iLoveMakonnen) 2015 —29 RIAA: Gold (Steve Aoki featuring iLoveMakonnen and Bok Nero) 2017 —— "No Friends" (Chase Atlantic featuring iLoveMakonnen and K CAMP) —— Part Three

Guest appearances

Filmography Year Title Role 2019 Everybody's EverythingHimself 2021 Juice Wrld: Into the Abyss