Lucki

Lucki Camel Jr. (born May 30, 1996), known professionally as Lucki (stylized as LUCKI, formerly as Lucki Eck$), is an American rapper, record producer, and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He began releasing music as a teenager and attracted attention in the early 2010s through the Chicago music outlet Elevator and his debut mixtape, Alternative Trap. His early music, which he described as "alternative trap", combined sparse electronic-influenced production with a subdued vocal delivery and introspective lyrics.

Lucki developed a dedicated following through a series of independently released mixtapes and extended plays, including Body High (2014), X (2015), Freewave (2015), Son of Sam (2016), Freewave II (2016), and Watch My Back (2017). His 2019 mixtape Freewave 3 received widespread critical attention for its stripped-down production and emotionally introspective writing, while Days B4 III later that year became his first project to appear on the Billboard 200.

After entering a distribution agreement with Empire, Lucki released the EP Almost There in 2020 and the collaborative album Wake Up Lucki with producer F1lthy in 2021. He subsequently released the studio albums Flawless Like Me (2022) and S*x M*ney Dr*gs (2023), which debuted at numbers 12 and 15, respectively, on the Billboard 200.

His third studio album, Gemini!, was released in 2024 and debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200. His fourth studio album, Dr*gs R Bad, was released in May 2026 and debuted at number nine, giving Lucki his first top-ten album on the Billboard 200.

Early life

Lucki Camel Jr. was born on May 30, 1996, in Chicago, Illinois.

Lucki released his debut mixtape, Alternative Trap, on July 25, 2013, at age 17. The project was produced in part by his friend and frequent early collaborator Plu2o Nash. Its sparse, atmospheric production and understated vocal delivery distinguished it from the drill music that was prominent in Chicago at the time. Lucki subsequently used the term "alternative trap" to describe his approach to music.

In December 2014, Lucki collaborated with fellow Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper on the song "Stevie Wonder".

2015–2018: X, Freewave, Son of Sam, Freewave II and Watch My Back

Lucki released his third mixtape, X, on May 30, 2015, his 19th birthday. The project continued the atmospheric approach of his earlier work while expanding his use of melodic vocal phrasing.

Later in 2015, Lucki released a series of tracks that were collected as the Freewave EP. The project was released in October 2015 and was expanded with the song "Rumors" in November.

In January 2016, Lucki announced that he had changed his stage name from Lucki Eck$ to Lucki, explaining that he had outgrown the former name.

Lucki released the EP Almost There on May 29, 2020. The project served as an interim release while he continued working on subsequent music.

In 2021, Lucki collaborated with producer F1lthy, a member of the production collective Working on Dying, on Wake Up Lucki. The album was released on December 3, 2021, following the single "Neptune v.s Industry".

Pitchfork described the album as being built around synth-heavy production and Lucki's diaristic songwriting, emphasizing the contrast between the futuristic production and his emotionally detached delivery.

Lucki released his debut studio album, Flawless Like Me, on September 23, 2022. The album included guest appearances from Future and Babyface Ray and debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200.

The album represented a transition from Lucki's earlier underground releases toward more polished studio production and a wider commercial audience, while maintaining his characteristic melodic and introspective approach.

On April 27, 2023, Lucki released the single "Leave Her".

His second studio album, S*x M*ney Dr*gs, was released on July 7, 2023. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200.

Gemini! debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200, becoming Lucki's third consecutive studio album to reach the top 20.

In October 2025, Empire filed a lawsuit against Lucki in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging that he had breached an exclusive distribution agreement by releasing music through UnitedMasters. Empire claimed that a 2024 agreement gave it options on additional albums and exclusive distribution rights. Lucki's legal team disputed aspects of Empire's interpretation of the agreement.

Lucki released his fourth studio album, Dr*gs R Bad, on May 15, 2026. The album contains 26 tracks and features guest appearances from artists including Veeze, Rylo Rodriguez, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, and Chynna.

Dr*gs R Bad debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200, giving Lucki his first top-ten album on the chart.

In June 2026, Lucki announced that he had signed with Interscope Records. The move followed his dispute with Empire and marked his transition from an independent-distribution arrangement into a major-label relationship.

Artistry

Musical style

Lucki's music has been characterized by sparse and atmospheric production, subdued vocal delivery, melodic phrasing and introspective songwriting. His early work was associated with "alternative trap", a term used to distinguish his music from the drill-oriented sound that dominated much of Chicago hip hop in the early 2010s.

Legacy and influence

Lucki has been associated with the development of the internet-based underground rap scene that expanded during the 2010s. His early releases predated the commercial expansion of SoundCloud rap and established a combination of hazy production, melodic phrasing and deliberately understated delivery that later became common in parts of underground hip hop.

Discography

Studio albums

Flawless Like Me (2022) S*x M*ney Dr*gs (2023) Gemini! (2024) Dr*gs R Bad (2026)

Collaborative albums

Wake Up Lucki (with F1lthy) (2021)

Mixtapes

Alternative Trap (2013) Body High (2014) X (2015) Watch My Back (2017) Freewave 3 (2019)

Extended plays

Freewave (2015) Son of Sam (2016) Freewave II (2016) Days B4 III (2019) Almost There (2020)