Sheff G

Michael Kyle Williams (born September 23, 1998), known professionally as Sheff G,^[2] is an American rapper from Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York.^[3] He rose to fame with his single "No Suburban" in 2017 which was a response to the song "Suburban" by 22Gz.^[4] Williams is widely known as one of the vanguards of the Brooklyn drill movement.^[3] On May 16, 2023, Williams was indicted with 31 other purported gang members responsible for several shooting incidents and at least one murder over a two-year span.^[5]

Sheff G
Sheff G in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Michael Kyle Williams
Born	(1998-09-23) September 23, 1998 (age 25) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop Brooklyn drill
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	2017–present
Labels	Winners Circle RCA^[1]
Website	winnerscirclestore.com

Early life

Michael Williams was born on September 23, 1998, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Trinidadian mother and Haitian father.^[3] He was raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. He was influenced and inspired to rap by listening to B.I.G. and Chicago drill rappers like Lil Bibby and Chief Keef.^[6]

Before getting into music, Sheff G joined the 83 (Eight Trey) Gangsta Crips at age 12, and was imprisoned for 2 years for a felony gun charge. In 2015, he went back to prison for robbery for two years. Williams was released from prison in 2017. When asked about his childhood before rap, Williams said: "Growing up, all I was around was violence, in school, or hanging with my niggas, it was rough in the streets. I had to be protected out there, so I rolled with the 83s, we was in Flatbush especially on my block, I was a block baby you heard like niggas kno my body. I would never think rapping would be n my future. I remember in 2014, at 15, we was [sic] growing up watching GS9 the G-Stone Crips get big, and they from the 90s on the East side, and I would be like 'damn, imagine I'm like that.' But it was a dream then."

Music career

Williams was influenced by Chicago Drill rappers Chief Keef, Lil Bibby and G Herbo. In 2017, his single "No Suburban (produced by AXL Beats)" went viral and he was credited as one of the pioneers of the Brooklyn drill music movement.^[7] He made a remix of "No Suburban" with GS9 affiliate rapper Corey Finesse.^[8][9]

Sheff G, Sleepy Hallow and Corey Finesse were previously managed by former NFL football player, Junior Galette’s NuLa Entertainment.^[9][8]

In 2019, he released his mixtape called The Unluccy Luccy Kid.^[6][10] His label Winners Circle Entertainment was founded in the same year.^[11]

In May 2020, he released his debut studio album called One and Only.^[12] His single "No Suburban, Pt. 2" went viral with over 21 million streams.^[13] It was later certified Gold by RIAA in 2022.^[14]

On July 17, 2020, he releases his EP Just 4 Yall, composed by 5 songs which includes songs "Picasso" feat Chicago drill rapper King Von, Jay Critch and Eli Fross; "Say That" ft Rich The Kid; and "Make It Happen" ft Sleepy Hallow.^[15]

In August 2020, Winners Circle Entertainment began a partnership with RCA Records.^{[16][17][18][19]} Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow released the single "Tip Toe" produced by Great John, using a sample of Tiny Tim's version of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips".^[17] It was the second Sheff G single to be certified Gold by RIAA.^[14]

On December 16, 2020, he released the mixtape Proud Of Me Now.^[20] Throughout 2021, a multitude of singles would release including "On Go" featuring Polo G in July^[21] and "Run It Up" featuring Sleepy Hallow and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie in August.^[22]

On July 14, 2022, he released his album called From the Can. It contained 12 songs with features from Sleepy Hallow, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Polo G, Fivio Foreign, Rowdy Rebel, and JAY-Bezzy.^[23]

Legal controversy

In high school, Williams was arrested and went on probation after firing gunshots at Brooklyn’s Kings Plaza.^[24][3] One week before he turned 16, in 2014, he was arrested for the first time and booked in for fighting.

On November 19, 2015, Williams was incarcerated for one year and four months in jail for a felony gun charge and robbery. Williams also stated the last time he was incarcerated was in October 2017 to January 2018, a brief stint which he explains was the reason for his break on music.

On July 15, 2021, Williams was arrested in New York City, New York for second-degree gun possession. His bail was remanded, meaning he sat behind bars until his court hearing on August 18, 2021. He pleaded guilty on October 20, 2021, and was sentenced to two years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence at Bare Hill Correctional Facility.

References

1. "Sleepy Hallow". rcarecords.com. from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
2. "sheff_g". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021.
3. Pierre, Alphonse (May 2019). "Sheff G Made Drill the Sound of Brooklyn". Pitchfork. from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
4. Pierre, Alphonse (May 2019). "Sheff G Made Drill the Sound of Brooklyn". Pitchfork. from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
5. "Rapper Sheff G Among 32 Purported Gang Members Charged In String Of Brooklyn Shootings". ABC7NY. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
6. Seabrook, Robby (February 12, 2020). "The Break Presents: Sheff G". XXL Mag. from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
7. "Sheff G Quietly Ushered In Brooklyn's Drill Movement & Now He's Ready For His Time". HotNewHipHop. from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
8. "#PeepTheVisual: Sheff G & Corey Finesse – "No Suburban Remix"". RESPECT. July 20, 2017. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
9. Romaker, Ian (May 4, 2018). "Shimmy Shimmy Ya - Sheff G climbs from the New York underground". LemonWire. from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
10. "Sheff G: The Unluccy Luccy Kid". Pitchfork. from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
11. "WINNERS CIRCLE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH RCA RECORDS SHEFF G & SLEEPY HALLOW RELEASE NEW RECORD "TIP TOE" – Sony Music Canada". www.sonymusic.ca. from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
12. "Sheff G: One and Only". Pitchfork. from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
13. "Sheff G x Sleepy Hallow Announce RCA Deal and Sample Tiny Tim's Tip Toe". RESPECT. August 13, 2020. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
14. "American certifications – Sheff G". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
15. "Sheff G Unveils New EP 'Just 4 Y'all' f/ Rich The Kid, Lil Tjay, Jay Critch, and More". Complex. July 17, 2020.
16. "Winner Circle Entertainment's Sleepy Hallow & Sheff G Announce Partnership With RCA Records: Exclusive". Billboard. August 12, 2020. from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
17. "Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow Announce RCA Records Partnership, Share New Song "Tip Toe"". Complex. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
18. "NY Drill Stars Sheff G & Sleepy Hallow Ink RCA Deal". HipHopDX. August 12, 2020. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
19. "Sheff G & Sleepy Hallow Drop "Tip Toe" Following RCA Records Announcement". HotNewHipHop. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
20. Powell, Jon (December 16, 2020). "Sheff G returns with new project 'Proud Of Me Now'". REVOLT. from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
21. Sheff G - On Go Featuring Polo G (Official Video Release), from the original on November 25, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
22. Sheff G - Run It Up (Official Video) feat. Sleepy Hallow & A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, from the original on November 25, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
23. Callas, Brad. "Sheff G Shares New Album 'From The Can' f/ Fivio Foreign, Polo G, and More". Complex. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
24. Holmes, Charles (October 20, 2019). "Rolling Loud and the NYPD Pulled 5 Rappers From the Festival. The Repercussions Are Only Beginning". Rolling Stone. from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.