Rae Sremmurd ( /ˈreɪ ʃrˈɪmɜːrd/)[1] is an American hip hop duo originating from Tupelo, Mississippi formed by two brothers, Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi.[2] In 2013, they signed a record deal with Mike Will Made-It's EarDrummers imprint. In January 2015, the duo released their debut album SremmLife, which was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In August 2016, the duo released their second album, SremmLife 2. During that same year, the duo also created their own record label, called SremmLife Crew Records.
The duo are best known for their single "Black Beatles" from Sremmlife 2. The single "Black Beatles" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, while also charting internationally in the top ten in many countries. The duo also released other platinum-certified singles such as "No Type", "No Flex Zone" and "Swang".
Aaquil Iben Shamon Brown (also known as Slim Jxmmi) and his little brother Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown (also known as Swae Lee) were born in Inglewood, California,[3] on December 29 and June 7 respectively. They grew up with their mother, Bernadette Walker,[4] and their brother, Michael, their father having abandoned his family a few years after the birth of his sons.[5]
Their mother worked for the army and was regularly deployed in different states. The family moved several times, leaving California for Mississippi and Maryland and finally settling in the military post of Fort Hood in Texas.[6][5] The two brothers started practicing, dancing and writing music together at an early age.[7] In Texas, around his 10th birthday, Khalif learned to produce music using Fruity Loops.[5]
While the two boys were in middle school, the family left Texas and moved back to Mississippi to join Bernadette's new companion, Floyd Sullivan,[8] after she left the army.[5] They settled in the city of Tupelo, Mississippi, in the notorious Ida Street housing projects,[9] where their stepfather lived. The young couple had a son named Floyd Jr. Sullivan. To support the family and to keep the boys in school, their stepfather sold drugs.[5]