Formation of HGA Īfter high school, Burgess enrolled in Bible college and befriended a group of Christian rappers and together they formed a hip hop group called HGA, short for His Glory Alone. He began struggling at school due to his problems with his personal life, and even contemplated suicide. But despite this opportunity, he struggled with extreme depression and experimented with various drugs to try to relieve it. Petersburg, which according to Burgess is 'probably one of the worst areas in the state.' He did well in school and at age 15 was offered an opportunity to pursue college through a program called St. When he was 8 years old, his parents divorced and he moved back with his mother to the south-side of St. Shortly after his birth his parents moved to Southern Illinois where he was raised for eight years. Petersburg, Florida on July 21, 1988, into a military family. “I’m tryna show my people,” adding, “you don’t need nobody’s approval for your dopeness.” For those that haven’t heard, or just need the reminder, WU2 is here for you.Kevin Elijah Burgess was born in St. It’s why he wants everybody, from the choir to the club, to hear the true Phew throughout WU2 and see his comfort in his own skin. He credits the goodness of God for making it out alive, and the love of his parents with getting his mind right and keeping his heart pure. I’m done, I’m done, I’m done.’ If I kept going, I’d be dead or in jail.” “Something came over me that day,” says Phew. Phew made it out in one piece, but once he stepped out the car he dropped to his knees. Soon, the whole crew ducked their heads as shots whirred past their vehicle. One bullet connected with the car mirror. A weed deal intended to score extra money for college quickly went south, forcing Phew and his crew to flee the scene, speeding down city streets and dodging oncoming traffic as gunshots trailed in the distance. He’s got a word for the church, too, because “sometimes I’m preaching to the choir, but everybody in the choir ain’t all the way there.” Phew himself was that kid - always on time for Sunday service, but caught up trying to chase the approval of a crowd on a destructive path.Īs he crept into adulthood, the young rapper still flirted with disaster. “Making this music helped me discover a whole new world in myself.” “I found myself as an artist, and more importantly as a man through, WU2 ,” says Phew. The project is strapped with explosive features, from emerging trap star the 2-Chainz signed Skooly, who shines on the contemplative, atmospheric, string-laden standout track “Heatwave,” to labelmate Lecrae on their head-bopping “Wild N Out.” WHATUPRG, Jamie Grace, Foggie Raw and more lend their talents to WU2 ’s packed roster, wrapped together by a young artist maturing by leaps and bounds. There’s a sense of transparency that comes through in his music, a refined rawness only be gained through experience and honing your craft, leading up WU2. The young artist was instrumental in connecting contemporary trap legend Zaytoven with Reach Records co-founder Lecrae, leading to their critically acclaimed collaboration, Let the Trap Say Amen.

As evidenced by his mixtapes Sunday Night (2015) and Life (2016) and his last album, What’s Understood, Phew’s got plenty of swag with the wisdom to match, a package that has brought him an incredible platform, including the 2019 season-anthem for his hometown Atlanta Falcons.

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