Whitney Peyton

Whitney Peyton (born June 19, 1993) is an American rapper, songwriter and singer from the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Biography[]

Born June 1993, growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Whitney Peyton looked up to artists who had emerged from the area such as Will Smith, Eve, and P!nk. Whitney started writing poetry and became influenced to pursue a music career after seeing music videos starring Missy Elliott, Eminem, and No Doubt. After years of avoiding record labels, she pulled an unorthodox move in 2017, being the first hip hop artist (and solo artist) to sign with Tragic Hero Records.

Music career[]

2014-2018: Touring[]

After many one-off dates nationally throughout the beginning of her career, Peyton participated in a full 40-date US tour with rap legend R.A. The Rugged Man and Potluck (group) entitled the "Rugged and Raw Tour" from October–December 2013.^[3] Wasting no time in 2014, it was announced that Whitney Peyton would be on the "Triple 6 Sinners Tour" with the remaining members of platinum rap group Three 6 Mafia (now known as "Da Mafia 6ix"). The tour ran from the beginning of March to the end of April 2014 with over 50 show dates across the nation.^[4] With a growing fan base, Peyton was able to then embark on her first co-headlining tour with fellow artist Cryptic Wisdom called the "illien Underdog" Tour which included several US dates and ran throughout May 2014. Doing several large headlining spot dates during summer and fall 2014, in winter 2014 Peyton toured with controversial electronica group Blood on the Dance Floor (duo) on "The Reckoning" Tour which was 20 US dates. In 2015 Peyton headlined many show dates and opened for Fronzilla of Attila along with Palisades on the 20+ date Party Tour. In 2016 Peyton alternated performing as a headliner and supporting act on over 250 shows. The full tours she was on include Kottonmouth Kings, YouTuber Social Repose, Kutt Calhoun (formerly of Strange Music), One-Eyed Doll, JellyRoll, and Jonny Craig. ^[5] Peyton also did a few select spot dates with Tech N9ne, Rittz, Jarren Benton, and more. In 2017, Peyton toured with radio rock band Flaw and appeared on spot dates with Born of Osiris, Volumes (band), and The Dead Rabbitts. In winter/spring of 2018, Whitney Peyton began her first full national headlining tour. In summer/fall of 2018, Whitney toured with fellow female artist Lil Debbie.

2019-present: Keyed Up and Alpha[]

On January 25, 2019, Whitney formed Keyed Up with her friend Gina Fritz. On November 1, 2019, it was announced that Whitney Peyton had signed to Suburban Noize Records and that her fourth studio album Alpha would be released through the label on January 24, 2020.^[6] Keyed Up released their debut album Left on Read… on October 16, 2020. Later on May 28, 2021, it was announced that Whitney had left Suburban Noize to form her own label Alpha Howse distributed by ONErpm.

Discography[]

Studio albums

• Firecracker (2017)
• Iridescent (2018)
• Alpha (2020)

With Keyed Up

• Left on Read (2020)

Performances and collaborations[]

Peyton has performed nationwide with artists and bands including (but not limited to) Kid Ink, Tech N9ne, Big K.R.I.T., Lil Debbie, DMX (rapper), R.A. the Rugged Man, Paul Wall, Hopsin, Juelz Santana, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Jim Jones (rapper), MIMS (rapper), Shop Boyz, Outasight, Potluck (group), Twiztid, Prozak (rapper), Dev (singer), Three 6 Mafia, Rittz, Kottonmouth Kings, Asking Alexandria, The Dead Rabbitts, Born of Osiris, Volumes (band), JellyRoll, Jonny Craig, and more. She has collaborated on songs with Da Mafia 6ix (formerly known as Three 6 Mafia), Chris Webby, Cassidy, Caskey, JellyRoll, Kutt Calhoun, Bizarre from D12, Twiztid, Kung Fu Vampire, R.A. The Rugged Man, Spectacular of Pretty Ricky, Zion I, Mistah F.A.B., Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Spice 1, and more. Producers Whitney has worked with range from Leon Kidd a.k.a. P-nut (credited on Major Figgas album), John V. Johnson (New Kids on the Block), Eddie Galan, Ali "A MAC" McGuire, Ryan Cain O'Donnell Buzz Records Music, AKT Aktion, Gallo, Matt Good of From First to Last and more.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Awards and Billboard Charts[]

Whitney Peyton has received many awards and nominations for her work as a recording artist. She took home multiple wins at the 13th, 14th, and 15th annual Lehigh Valley Music Awards for categories such as "Best Hip Hop Performance", "Outstanding Spoken Word Artist", and "Best Urban Artist".^[12] In 2014 Peyton received a Tri State Indie Music Award for “Emerging Indie Artist of the Year".^[13] As a side project for charity Whitney was asked to write and record vocals on an anti-bullying compilation album entitled "All About Bullies". The album went on to win a Grammy Award at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards for "Best Children's Album" as well as Parent's Choice Gold Award in 2012, though children's music is not the style and genre Peyton is known for.^[14][15] Following the success, and along with recording her own solo projects, Whitney recorded vocals for another spoken-word charity album entitled "Action Moves People United" it was officially released on Sept 21, 2016. The album hit the Top-10 Billboard chart for Compilation Albums.^[16][17] On August 17, 2017, Whitney Peyton announced that she got signed to Tragic Hero Records.^[18] In 2017 Whitney Peyton's "Firecracker" album charted high on Billboard being #9 nationwide on the Rap Charts and #3 on Heatseekers selling over 4,200 copies in its first week.

TV and film[]

During her teenage years, Peyton appeared as an extra or bit parts in several films. One of the motion pictures was Cover, starring Vivica A. Fox and directed by Bill Duke, where she played a small role of a roughed-up female inmate in a jail scene. With a history of appealing to a college-aged demographic, yet producing side projects for several charities, Peyton has earned a reputation of possessing a versatile musical style. In 2010, Peyton, along with four other Philadelphia artists, was cast to be part of the "Unlitter Us" campaign appearing in TV commercials airing on major networks performing spoken-word pieces about the importance of keeping Philadelphia clean.^[19] Together the five artists also appeared in print and transportation ads on buses and billboards, and were seen alongside Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter at anti-litter rallies, inner-city schools, and other community events.^[20] Peyton later appeared in many other works shot in Philadelphia and New York, most of which were never released, including a show that was set to be a Netflix Original Series entitled Voodoo Church.^[21][22][23]

Podcast[]

Whitney is co-hosting the podcast Caffiendz with her girlfriend Gabriella Meghan.

Caffiendz is "a coffee-fueled podcast exploring all things weird" where Peyton and Meghan talk about everything from aliens to true crime cases.

The podcast is currently on hiatus as both are working on other projects.

References[]