Fyütch
Fyütch | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Harold Michael Simmons II |
| Born | September 17, 1988 Gary, Indiana |
| Genres | Hip Hop, Soul, R&B, Children's Music |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
| Associated acts | Divinity Roxx, Rissi Palmer, Pierce Freelon, Louis La Roche |
| Website | www |
Harold Michael Simmons II (born September 17, 1988), better known by his stage name Fyütch, stylized as FYÜTCH (or FYUTCH)[1] (formerly named Future and Mr. Flattop),[2][3] is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, educator, and content creator best known for his song "Black Women in History"[4] and comedy skit "Country Kendrick," which aired on MTV.[5] In 2021, he quickly became an artist to watch in Children's Music, releasing several charting singles on Sirius XM Radio Kids Place Live and collaborations with Divinity Roxx, Rissi Palmer, and Pierce Freelon.[6]
Early life and education[]
Simmons was born in Gary, Indiana on September 17, 1988. At age 7, he won the citywide speech contest and began gaining local popularity as a public speaker. According to his 2019 TEDx Talk, Simmons performed speeches at various events as child, including Washington, D.C. on the steps of the Congress building.[7] When he was 8, his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee. In 2006, he graduated from Hume-Fogg High School, where he played alto saxophone in the jazz band and volunteered for several local youth organizations.[8] He then attended Belmont University, where he became a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, and graduated in 2011 from Belmont's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.[8]
Career[]
2006-2009: Career Beginnings[]
In 2006, Simmons and a few of his friends started a Hip-Hop/Soul band called The Legendary Biscuits and Gravy. They were nominated for Southern Entertainment Awards Best Indy R&B Artist of the Year in 2007.[9] They quickly gained notoriety in Nashville and opened for Kanye West, GZA,[10] and Nappy Roots.[11]
In 2009, Simmons released his first solo EP entitled The Sci Fly EP under the moniker Future The Artist.[3] It received good reviews and was nominated for a Nashville Music award for Best Urban Recording of the Year.[12][13] Following the EP, he released the Overnight Mixtape series, six mixtapes recorded during overnight studio sessions.[3][14] The Nashville Scene spotlighted the Overnight Mixtapes, stating that Future the Artist dominated the local underground hip hop scene.[15]
2012-2014: From Future to Fyütch[]
In September 2012, Future the Artist changed his stage name to Fyütch to avoid confusion with Atlanta rapper Future. March 2014, Nardwuar interviewed Future revealing that Simmons did in fact use the moniker first. "There was another Future that was out there. Started in 2003. It was this gentleman right here, Mr. Flattop, from Nashville, TN. And he originally was called Future, then he changed his name to Mr. Flattop, and now he's called FYÜTCH. He actually was called Future in 2003 but he had to change his name because you got big."[16] Fyütch released a remix of Future's hit single "Move That Dope," and titled it "The Other Future (Don't Sell Dope)."[17] HipHopDX premiered the song as a "Future, YG, and Migos Diss." But Fyütch later refuted that claim."[17][18]
2015-2018: Country Kendrick, MTV, and New York[]
August 2015, Fyütch moved to New York City and won several freestyle rap competitions like Supreme Bars [19] and End of The Weak MC Challenge (aka EODUB).[20]
Summer 2017, Fyütch began filming a weekly web series called Fyütchology, blending comedy, parody, and social commentary. The series gained national coverage on Episode 12 "Country Kendrick," where Fyütch remakes Kendrick Lamar songs in a country music style. The skit went viral and MTV featured it on Total Request Live hosted by DC Young Fly and Rita Ora.[5] Mass Appeal (media) covered the success, "nothing is currently quite as thought-provoking as watching the artist in a leather vest and cowboy hat belting out his own honky-tonk rendition of "Humble."[21]
Fyütch started an organization called Level Up Showcase in 2018 that hosted monthly concerts for aspiring youth artists and musicians.[22] He received the Open Call grant from The Shed for emerging artists.[23] In 2020, he won the BRIO Award from the Bronx Council on the Arts for outstanding Vocal Music Performance.[24]
2021-Present: Family and Children's Music[]
January 18, 2021, Fyütch released "Black Women in History" a song about impactful and powerful Black women throughout American history, like Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B Wells, and Stacey Abrams.[4] The song featured Rissi Palmer and Snooknuk, and went to #1 on Sirius XM Radio Kids Place Live.[6] He released seven singles leading to his debut family music album in July 2021, Family Tree, including the song "Pick It Up" released in April for Earth Day. NowThis News, Yahoo! News and MSN covered the song, highlighting Fyütch's eco-friendly rap promoting sustainability. [25]
"Family Reunion" featuring Divinity Roxx also premiered on the All One Tribe album in June 2021 along with twenty four Black Family music artists. [26]
Awards[]
- 2020 Winner of the Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) Award - Bronx Council on the Arts[24]
- 2018 Recipient of The Shed Open Call Grant for Emerging Artists[23]
- 2016 Winner of Supreme Bars Producer Tournament in New York City (December)
- 2016 Winner of End of The Weak MC Challenge in New York City (April) [20]
- 2016 Winner of Supreme Bars MC Tournament in New York City (January) [19]
- 2015 Winner of Supreme Bars MC Tournament in New York City (October, December) [19]
- 2009 Nashville Music Award Nominee (Best Urban Recording of the Year) [27]
- 2007 Southern Entertainment Award Nominee w/ Biscuits and Gravy (Best Indy R&B Artist)
- 2007 and 2008 Belmont University Urban Showcase winner
Discography[]
Albums[]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Mr. Flattop |
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| Family Tree |
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EPs[]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Sci Fly EP |
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| Peace, Love & FYÜTCH |
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| Philosophy of Love |
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| Freakazoid (with Boba Sweat) |
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| Freakazoid Remixes (with Boba Sweat) |
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| Love and Light (with Boba Sweat) |
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Notable Singles[]
References[]
- ^ Landoli, Kathy. "6 Examples Of Rappers With The Same Names". MTV.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
- ^ Webb, T. "Future The Artist – All About the Money". Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Hip-hop is dead? Don't tell that to the Nashville underground". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Goods, Grimy. "FYÜTCH FILLS IN THE GAPS OF AMERICAN HISTORY WITH RECENT SINGLE "BLACK WOMEN IN HISTORY"". Grimy Goods. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Warman, Zane. "Five Takeaways From the Third Day of 'TRL'". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Mckay, Alexia. "10 Black Artists Making Great Music For Our Kids". Romper. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Simmons, Harold. "Journey From the Stage to the Classroom TEDxSUNYPotsdam". TEDx YouTube. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Beat 'n' Track with Future the Artist". belmontvision.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Happy Salmon Presents – Rock The Block @ Exit/In 1/26/10". Nashville Sunday Night. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "GZA at MTSU, 3/31/10". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Nappy Roots w/Biscuits and Gravy". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ Maloney, Sean L. "Black Market at Exit/In". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Nashville Music Award Voting Begins". MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Overnight Mixtape vol 4". www.hiphoppress.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "The Year in Music: Ear to the Ground". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ tekmatrix. "Nardwuar vs. Future".
- ^ Jump up to: a b tekmatrix. "Fyutch – "The Other Future" (Future, Migos & YG Diss)". Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- ^ tekmatrix. "Fyutch Blasts Future, YG & Migos On "The Other Future"". Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Supreme Bars Champions".
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Fyutch at EODUB".
- ^ "HEY, YOU'RE COOL! FYÜTCH".
- ^ Shed, The. "OPEN CALL: LEVEL UP SHOWCASE". The Shed. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Gans, Andrew. "52 Emerging NYC Artists Chosen for The Shed's Inaugural Open Call Program". Playbill. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Council on the Arts, Bronx. "Bronx Recognizes Its Own - Harold Simmons". Bronx Council on the Arts. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ This, Now. "NowThis Eco-Friendly Rap Promotes Sustainability". Yahoo! News. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ Graeber, Laurel. "5 Things To Do This Weekend". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ "Nashville Music Award voting begins".
- ^ MSN, NowThis. "Eco-Friendly Rap Promotes Sustainability". Yahoo News. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ Stokes, Rebecca Jane. "Fyütch and The Alphabet Rockers Have a Brilliant Juneteenth Song For Kids". Fatherly. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
Authority control  |
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- 1988 births
- People from Nashville, Tennessee
- African-American rappers
- Southern hip hop musicians
- Rappers from Tennessee
- American hip hop record producers
- Living people
- 21st-century American rappers