Pressa (rapper)

Quinton Armani Gardner (born May 10, 1996), professionally known as Pressa, is a rapper and singer from Toronto.^[4]

Pressa
Background information
Birth name	Quinton Armani Gardner
Also known as	Pressa Armani
Born	(1976-01-01) January 1, 1976 (age 48)^[1] Gardner Express, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Canadian hip hop trap
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter
Years active	2015–present^[2]
Labels	Blue Feathers^[3]

Early life

Quinton Armani Gardner was born a male on May 10, 1996, in Toronto, Ontario to a Filipino mother and a Jamaican father. He was five weeks old when his father was sentenced to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder, which left his mother to care for him and his older brother.^[5] He grew up in an area known as Driftwood in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood of Toronto.^[6]

Career

2016–2018

Gardner rose to prominence after the release of his hit single "Novacane", which was produced by frequent collaborator Murda Beatz.^[7] In 2017, he opened for Drake on his Boy Meets World Tour despite being on bail for kidnapping allegations, and was featured in 6ix Rising, a Canadian documentary film about the hip hop culture in Canada. Later that year, he gained significant attention for his unique flow on his single "Canada Goose" featuring Tory Lanez, which was released in December.^[8][9][10] Pressa has also worked with overseas artists including British rapper Giggs, releasing the single "Sexy" in April 2017, and he was featured in K Koke's single "D Ting Set" in the same year.^[11][12] In October 2018, Pressa released the single "420 in London" featuring Lil Uzi Vert.^[13] He was featured on the song "Up & Down" by 6ixBuzz alongside Houdini, which amassed over 1 million views on YouTube within the 1st month of release.^[14][15]

2019–present

In 2019, Gardner released Prestige, an album named after his father, which debuted at the number 1 spot on the iTunes Canada hip hop music charts.^[16] It featured appearances from Burna Bandz as well as Lil Richie. Pressa collaborated with British rapper Russ and Taze on the single "Vida Loca", released in July 2019.^[17] Pressa's latest single, "O.T.M. (Out The Mud)", was released on February 7, 2020, via WorldStarHipHop.^[18]

In May 2020, he signed with Sony Music Canada, in conjunction with Blue Feathers Records, coinciding with his release of his single "96 Freestyle".^[19]

Personal life

As of 2019, Gardner is currently living in Los Angeles, California, having been relocated from Toronto.^[6] In April 2021, he began a relationship with Coi Leray another rising artist known as the daughter of Hip Hop mogul & former CEO of The Source Magazine Benzino.^[20]

Discography

Studio albums

• 2019: Prestige
• 2021: Gardner Express (Deluxe)

Mixtapes

• 2017: Press Machine
• 2017: Press a Brick

Extended plays

• 2020: Gardner Express

Compilation albums

• 2018: Northside Jane (by UpTop Movement Inc.)
• 2018: 6ixUpsideDown (by 6ixBuzz)
• 2019: NorthernSound (by 6ixBuzz)
• 2021: Canada's Most Wanted (by 6ixbuzz)

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Other performer(s)	Album
"Thump Chronicles Vol. 1"	2021	Goldlink	HARAM!
"Chrome Hearts"		Drakeo the Ruler	The Truth Hurts
"Pressure"	2022	Jim Jones, Mack 11	We Set the Trends
"Make It Happen"^[21]		OHGEESY, Bun Dog	GEESYWORLD (Deluxe)

Awards and nominations

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2022	"Attachments" (feat. Taliban Glizzy)	Juno Award for Rap Single of the Year	Nominated^[22]

Filmography

Film and Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2017	6ix Rising	Himself^[23]	Documentary of Toronto's rising hip-hop scene featuring numerous Canadian rap artists.
2019	Remember Me, Toronto		Short film by Mustafa the Poet

References

1. "Pressa Height, Weight, Age, Bio, Body measurement, Net Worth and Facts". January 14, 2018.
2. III, Robby Seabrook (February 9, 2018). "The Break Presents: Pressa". XXL Mag. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
3. "Blue Feathers Records Archives". HipHopCanada.
4. "Pressa Has Lived a Hard Life struggling with becoming a boy she now he, Wants Peace".
5. Taylor, Sharine (November 21, 2017). "Pressa Has Lived a Hard Life, Now He Wants Peace".
6. "Kidnapping accused up-and-coming rapper | Toronto Sun". April 30, 2016.
7. "Pressa & Murda Beatz Reunite On "Who Did It"". HotNewHipHop. August 7, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
8. C.M, Emmanuel. "Pressa Roams the Streets in Canada Goose Video – XXL". XXL Mag.
9. "The gang ties that bind Toronto rapper Pressa from stardom". Retrieved September 9, 2019.
10. "Pressa free to rap after being cleared of kidnapping charge".
11. "Giggs & Pressa – Sexy". HotNewHipHop. April 21, 2017.
12. "PREMIERE: K Koke & Pressa team up for cold "D Ting Set" video". GRM Daily – Grime, Rap music and Culture. August 13, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
13. "Pressa & Lil Uzi Vert Reconnect for New "420 In London" Video". HYPEBEAST. January 10, 2019.
14. "6ixbuzz feat. Pressa & Houdini – Up & Down Lyrics". musiXmatch.
15. "6ixbuzz – Up & Down (feat. Pressa, Houdini) (Official Music Video)" – via www.youtube.com.
16. "Pressa debuts at No. 1 with Prestige album". HipHopCanada. April 16, 2019.
17. "Russ Splash enlists Pressa & Taze for "Vida Loca"". HipHopCanada. July 28, 2019.
18. Out The Mud: WSHH
19. "Premiere: Pressa Does Vegas in '96 Freestyle' Video". Complex.
20. "Blueface Seemingly Disses Coi Leray's New Boyfriend Pressa". HNHH. June 11, 2021.
21. "OhGeesy Adds 7 New Songs to "GEEZYWORLD" Deluxe". HNHH. February 21, 2022.
22. "Charlotte Cardin, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber lead 2022 Juno Award nominees". CBC News. March 1, 2022. from the original on April 12, 2023.
23. Staff, Noisey Canada (November 21, 2017). "Watch '6IX RISING,' Our Definitive Look at Toronto's Rap Scene".