iLoveMakonnen facts for kids

iLoveMakonnen
iLoveMakonnen performing in Chicago, 2015
Background information
Birth name	Makonnen Kamali Sheran
Also known as	Makonnen Danny Morris
Born	(1989-04-12) April 12, 1989 (age 36) Los Angeles, California U.S.
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Alternative hip-hop R&B
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter record producer
Years active	2008–2024
Labels	Warner OVO Sound Too Lost

Makonnen Kamali Sheran (born April 12, 1989), known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen, is an American rapper and singer. He is most famous for his 2014 hit song "Tuesday". The song became very popular after the famous Canadian rapper Drake created a remix of it.

After the remix was released in August 2014, iLoveMakonnen signed with Drake's record label, OVO Sound. The song was released again by the label and reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Tuesday" was also nominated for a Grammy Award. The song was the main single from his first major release, an extended play (EP) with the same name as himself. He left OVO Sound in 2016, and his later music did not reach the same level of chart success.

Early Life

Makonnen Kamali Sheran was born on April 12, 1989, in South Los Angeles, California. His father was an electrician who came to the U.S. from Belize, and his mother was a nail instructor. In interviews, he has said his background is a mix of African American, Indian, Irish, Belgian, German, and Chinese.

When he was 13, he moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area after his parents divorced. During his senior year of high school, he experienced the sad loss of a close friend.

Music Career

How He Got Started

Makonnen began his music career by making songs on his computer. He uploaded them to the website MySpace. On MySpace, he connected with other musicians who were just starting out, like Adele. He also had a blog where he posted interviews with artists like Lil B and Soulja Boy Tell'em.

After a difficult period where he had to stay at home, he went to a school to learn about hair and beauty styling. He also joined a music group called Phantom Posse. In 2012, he met the Atlanta producer Mike Will Made It. They worked together for a short time, but Mike Will was very busy, so they didn't get to make much music together.

Becoming Famous in 2014

In March 2014, Makonnen connected with Mike Will Made It again. Mike Will introduced him to another producer, Metro Boomin. Metro Boomin really liked Makonnen's music and they started working together. They recorded six songs, and Metro introduced Makonnen to more producers like Sonny Digital and 808 Mafia.

Soon after, Makonnen recorded the song "Don't Sell Molly No More" with Sonny Digital. This song helped start his career. He became well-known in the Atlanta area with other songs like "Living on the Southside" and "Sneaky Lady."

In July 2014, he released his EP called iLoveMakonnen. It included his song "Tuesday." Pop singer Miley Cyrus heard one of his songs and shared it on her Instagram. This brought him many new fans.

The biggest moment came in August 2014 when rapper Drake heard "Tuesday." Drake asked if he could make a remix of the song. Makonnen agreed, and two days later, Drake released the remix. The new version of "Tuesday" became a huge hit online. This led to a lot of attention from the media. On September 1, 2014, it was announced that Makonnen had signed with Drake's record label, OVO Sound.

Working with OVO Sound

After signing with OVO Sound, Makonnen planned to release more music. His next EP was called iLoveMakonnen 2. However, in a 2015 interview, he said that the record label was slow to release his new songs. For example, he finished the song "Second Chance" in January 2015 and wanted it to be a summer hit. But it wasn't released until November of that year.

On April 18, 2016, Makonnen officially left OVO Sound. He said that being only on the Warner Bros. label was the best choice for him.

Later Career and Retirement

On May 7, 2016, Makonnen announced he was retiring from music to focus on acting. However, he released a new song shortly after and confirmed he was still working on new projects.

In 2017, Makonnen worked on an album with rapper Lil Peep in London. In 2018, he announced a single he co-wrote called "Falling Down." It was a new version of a song he recorded with Lil Peep called "Sunlight On Your Skin." The new version featured rapper XXXTentacion, who had recorded his part after Lil Peep's death.

On September 5, 2024, iLoveMakonnen announced his retirement from the music industry.

Discography

Studio Albums

• My Parade (2021)
• Summer '22 (2022)

Collaborative Albums

• Diamonds (with Lil Peep) (2023)

EPs (Extended Plays)

• iLoveMakonnen (2014)
• iLoveMakonnen 2 (2015)
• M3 (2019)

Famous Singles

Filmography