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	Hip hop R&B
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter record producer
Years active	2008–2024
Labels	Warner OVO Sound Too Lost
Associated acts	Drake Father Lil Peep Rich the Kid Ronny J Sonny Digital Trinidad James

Makonnen Kamali Sheran (born April 12, 1989), known as iLoveMakonnen, is an American former rapper and singer. He is famous for his 2014 song "Tuesday". This song became very popular after Canadian rapper Drake made a remix.

After the remix came out in August 2014, Makonnen signed with Drake's record label, OVO Sound. The song "Tuesday" then reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was even nominated for a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration award at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. "Tuesday" was the main song from his first album, iLoveMakonnen, which also did well on the music charts. He left OVO Sound in 2016.

Early Life

Makonnen Kamali Sheran was born on April 12, 1989, in South Los Angeles, California. His father came from Belize and worked as an electrician. His mother was a nail instructor. Makonnen has a mixed background, including African American, Indian, Irish, Belgian, German, and Chinese heritage.

When he was 13, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, because his parents divorced. During his last year of high school, he experienced the sad loss of a close friend. His grandmother was an opera singer, which helped inspire his own music career.

Music Journey

Starting Out (2008–2013)

Makonnen began making songs on his computer. He would upload them to Myspace, a popular website at the time. On MySpace, he connected with other rising musicians. He also had a blog where he shared interviews with artists like Lil B and Soulja Boy.

In 2012, Makonnen met Atlanta producer Mike Will Made It. They worked together briefly, but Mike Will was very busy.

Becoming Famous (2014)

In March 2014, Mike Will Made It reconnected with Makonnen. He took Makonnen to a studio where he met producer Metro Boomin. Metro liked Makonnen's music right away. They recorded six songs together.

Metro then introduced Makonnen to other producers like Sonny Digital and 808 Mafia. Everyone was impressed with his talent. Soon after, Makonnen recorded "Don't Sell Molly No More" with Sonny Digital. This song helped kickstart his music career. He started gaining fans in Atlanta with songs like "Living on the Southside" and "Sneaky Lady."

In July 2014, Makonnen released his first album, iLoveMakonnen. It included "Tuesday" and "I Don't Sell Molly No More." Pop singer Miley Cyrus shared "I Don't Sell Molly No More" on Instagram, which brought many new fans to Makonnen.

In August 2014, Drake heard "Tuesday." He asked to remix the song. Makonnen sent it to Drake, not expecting much. But two days later, Drake released his remix! Makonnen was very surprised and excited. The "Tuesday" remix became a huge hit and made iLoveMakonnen widely known.

Later in August 2014, XXL magazine featured Makonnen as a new artist to watch. He said he wasn't eager to sign with a big record label. However, on September 1, 2014, it was announced that he had signed with Drake's label, OVO Sound.

Time with OVO Sound (2015–2016)

Makonnen released his album iLoveMakonnen 2 in November 2015. In 2016, he was part of a fashion campaign called "Wangsquad" with Travis Scott and Vic Mensa.

Leaving OVO Sound and Retirement (2016–2024)

On April 18, 2016, Makonnen decided to leave Drake's label, OVO Sound. He felt it was the best choice for him to work directly with Warner Bros. Records. On May 7, 2016, Makonnen announced he would retire from music to focus on acting. However, he released a new song shortly after, confirming a new music project was coming.

In 2017, Makonnen worked on an album with Lil Peep in London. After Lil Peep's passing, Makonnen helped release a song they co-wrote called "Falling Down" in 2018. This song was a new version of "Sunlight On Your Skin," which they recorded together. The new version also featured rapper XXXTentacion, who added his verses after Peep's death. The original "Sunlight On Your Skin" was released later that year. On September 5, 2024, Makonnen announced he was retiring from the music industry.

Music Releases

Makonnen has released several albums and extended plays (EPs).

Studio Albums

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

Collaborative Albums

• Diamonds (with Lil Peep) (2023)

EPs

• iLoveMakonnen (2014)
• iLoveMakonnen 2 (2015)
• Fun Summer 17 Vol. 1 (2017)
• iLoveMakonnen X Ronny J (with Ronny J) (2018)
• iLoveAmerica (2018)
• M3 (2019)
• Stay Hydrated (2022)

Film and TV

Makonnen has also appeared in a film.