Swae Lee

Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown, known professionally as Swae Lee, is an American rapper and singer recognized for his wide-ranging, reverb-heavy vocals and genre-blending style. He rose to fame as one half of the Mississippi-based hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, which he formed in 2010 with his older brother Slim Jxmmi. The duo signed with Mike Will Made It's EarDrummer Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, in 2013. Their first three studio albums, SremmLife (2015), SremmLife 2 (2016), and SR3MM (2018), all debuted in the top ten of the Billboard 200 and spawned hits like "No Flex Zone," "No Type," and "Black Beatles" featuring Gucci Mane, the latter of which topped the Billboard Hot 100.

As a solo act, Swae Lee guested on French Montana's 2017 single "Unforgettable," which peaked in the Hot 100's top ten and earned diamond certification from the RIAA. That same year, he received a Grammy nomination for co-writing Beyoncé's "Formation." In 2018, he released his debut solo studio album, Swaecation, as part of Rae Sremmurd's triple album SR3MM. Later that year, his collaboration with Post Malone, "Sunflower," was released for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack. The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, earned two Grammy nominations, and became the highest-certified song in RIAA history, the first to achieve double diamond (20x platinum) status. Also in 2018, he dropped "Close to Me" with Ellie Goulding and Diplo, a top 40 US hit that went double platinum, and made an uncredited appearance on Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode," which also topped the Hot 100 and scored two Grammy nods. His 2020 single "Be Like That" with Kane Brown and Khalid reached the top 20 and went quadruple platinum.

Swae Lee released his second solo album, Same Difference, on April 4, 2026. Across his career, he has appeared on numerous film and television soundtracks, contributing to blockbuster projects and earning a reputation for his melodic hooks and versatile delivery. His work spans multiple genres, from hip-hop to pop to R&B, and he continues to shape the sound of modern radio.[edit]

Swae Lee was born in Inglewood, California, on June 7, 1993, to a musical family. His mother, Angelette Brown, sang gospel in church, and his father, Michael Brown, was a musician and songwriter. The family relocated to Tupelo, Mississippi, when Swae Lee was a child, where he and his older brother, Aaquil Brown (now known as Slim Jxmmi), grew up in a low-income household. Their father was frequently incarcerated, leaving their mother to raise the boys largely on her own. Swae Lee and his brother shared a single bedroom in their grandmother's house in Tupelo. His early interest in music was nurtured by his mother and by listening to artists like Michael Jackson, OutKast, and Lil Wayne.

Swae Lee began writing lyrics and recording songs on a basic computer microphone in his teens. He attended Tupelo High School but dropped out in the 11th grade to pursue music full-time with his brother. The pivotal moment came in 2009 when the brothers formed the duo "Dem Outta St8 Boyz" and later "Rae Sremmurd" (an anagram of "Ear Drummers," their production mentors). They started uploading tracks to MySpace and YouTube, catching the attention of producer Mike Will Made-It, who signed them to his EarDrummer Records label in 2013.[edit]

In 2014, Rae Sremmurd released their debut single "No Flex Zone," which became a viral hit, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up "No Type" reached number 16 and was certified multi-platinum. Their debut album SremmLife (2015) debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and included the hit "Come Get Her."

The single "Black Beatles" featuring Gucci Mane became a cultural phenomenon, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2016. The song was propelled by the viral "Mannequin Challenge" dance trend. The album SremmLife 2 debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200. Swae Lee's feature on French Montana's "Unforgettable" became his first top-10 solo hit, peaking at number 3 on the Hot 100. The song earned a diamond certification from the RIAA (10x platinum) and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance. That same year, Swae Lee received a Grammy nomination for co-writing Beyoncé's "Formation" (Album of the Year).

In 2018, Swae Lee released his debut solo studio album Swaecation as part of Rae Sremmurd's triple album SR3MM. His collaboration with Post Malone, "Sunflower," hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2019 and became the highest-certified song in RIAA history, the first to achieve double diamond (20x platinum) status. It earned two Grammy nominations. Swae Lee also made an uncredited appearance on Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode," which also topped the Hot 100 and earned two Grammy nominations. "Close to Me" with Ellie Goulding and Diplo reached the top 40 and went double platinum. In 2020, his collaboration with Kane Brown and Khalid, "Be Like That," reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 and was certified quadruple platinum. Swae Lee released his second solo studio album, Same Difference, on April 4, 2026, featuring collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign and Jhené Aiko.[edit]

Swae Lee is known for his eclectic fashion sense, often wearing colorful, oversized clothing, designer brands like Gucci and Balenciaga, and signature braids or locs. His music aesthetic is melodic, reverb-heavy, and genre-blending, often described as "trap-pop." The media often portrays him as the "melodic genius" of Rae Sremmurd, highlighting his vocal range and songwriting ability. Fans are informally called "Sremmies" (after Rae Sremmurd) and have created viral dance challenges to his songs, such as the Mannequin Challenge for "Black Beatles." His social media voice is playful, often posting behind-the-scenes studio content and memes. He has appeared on magazine covers including Rolling Stone, Billboard, GQ, and Complex.[edit]

The Mississippi-born vocalist commands a global stage defined by reverb-drenched hooks and genre-defying hits. While his catalog spans chart-topping singles with massive streaming numbers, the iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated his standing in August 2026 and determined he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings. Swae Lee remains a dominant force in hip-hop without a specific numeric rank attached to his profile in the current top-tier lists. His audience engages deeply with his melodic output through viral dance challenges rather than an organized formal fandom structure. No official name exists for his fanbase beyond this collective identifier derived from the group Rae Sremmurd. The lack of documented fan campaigns or ritualistic gatherings distinguishes his following from other artists who mobilize around specific events or hashtags. Instead, the connection thrives on the shared appreciation of his vocal texture and the cultural impact of tracks that dominate radio and playlists worldwide. This organic engagement reflects a fanbase united by musical taste rather than structured activism or branded loyalty programs. Despite the absence of a formal ranking or a singular named legion, his influence permeates modern pop culture through collaborations and solo ventures that consistently resonate across demographics.[edit]

Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown adopted his stage name from a childhood nickname given by his mother. A trained vocalist since his teenage years, he co-wrote Beyoncé's "Formation," transforming it into an anthem for social justice. His gaming hobby sees him occasionally streaming on Twitch, while a tattoo of his son's name, "Khalif Jr.," sits permanently on his chest. He contributed to the Academy Award-winning soundtrack for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, where "Sunflower" secured a Guinness World Record as the highest-certified single in RIAA history. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 165 lbs, he balances a high-energy persona with technical precision. Fans still retell the foundational myth of how he and Slim Jxmmi pooled their McDonald's wages to fund their early music career before rising from Tupelo to stardom. The release of the triple album SR3MM in May 2018 marked a massive industry event featuring collaborations with The Weeknd and Travis Scott. A darker chapter emerged in March 2021 when a family member was charged with first-degree murder regarding their father, adding a layer of tragedy to their public mythology. Long-time followers also cherish moments like Swae sharing his very first SoundCloud upload, bridging his humble beginnings with his current status.[edit]

Swae Lee's mother, Angelette Brown, was a singer, and his father, Michael Brown, was a musician and songwriter who was frequently incarcerated during Swae Lee's childhood. He has one older brother, Aaquil Brown, known professionally as Slim Jxmmi, with whom he formed Rae Sremmurd. Swae Lee has two children: a son, Khalif Jr., born in 2018, and a daughter, born in 2022, with different partners. He co-parents both children and has stated that he is focused on his music career.[edit]

Swae Lee is closely associated with his brother Slim Jxmmi as his Rae Sremmurd partner. He has frequently collaborated with producers Mike Will Made-It and Post Malone, the latter on the record-breaking "Sunflower." Other notable collaborators include French Montana, Travis Scott, Beyoncé (as a co-writer), Kane Brown, Khalid, Ellie Goulding, and Diplo.[edit]

Swae Lee has had three known relationships. Around 2016, he began dating an unnamed woman who gave birth to his son, Khalif Jr., in 2018; the relationship ended shortly after the child's birth. In 2019, tabloids briefly linked him to a model, but this was never confirmed by Swae Lee. From around 2020 to 2022, he was in a relationship with another unnamed partner, who gave birth to his daughter in 2022; they parted amicably and co-parent. As of 2026, Swae Lee is single and has stated in interviews that he is focused on his music career and co-parenting his two children.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Swae Lee's net worth stands at $10 Million. This valuation reflects the financial weight of his extensive discography and solo success. Music streaming royalties drive the majority of his earnings, with "Sunflower" alone accumulating over 2 billion streams globally. Additional revenue flows from hits like "Unforgettable," "Be Like That," and the Rae Sremmurd catalog. During peak touring years between 2016 and 2019, performances with Rae Sremmurd grossed between $10 million and $15 million annually, yielding an estimated $2 million to $3 million per year for Swae Lee individually. Commercial partnerships further bolster his portfolio, including deals with Puma from 2017 to 2019, Beats by Dre from 2015 to 2018, and Sprite in 2016. He maintains a residence in Los Angeles valued at approximately $2.5 million. No public records exist regarding stock or crypto investments within his portfolio.[edit]

As a solo artist, Swae Lee has not won a Grammy, though he has been nominated for his work on "Formation," "Unforgettable," and "Sunflower." His major solo accolades are RIAA certifications: diamond for "Unforgettable," double diamond for "Sunflower," quadruple platinum for "Be Like That," and double platinum for "Close to Me." His group wins with Rae Sremmurd include MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction and BET Awards for Best Group.[edit]