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Stro
Birth name Brian Vaughn Bradley Jr.
Also known as
  • Astro
  • The Astronomical Kid
  • C.K.O
  • Coolest Kid Out
  • Stro the MC
Born (1996-09-27) September 27, 1996 (age 28)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s)
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2006–present
Labels
  • Grade A Tribe
  • Mass Appeal

Brian Vaughn Bradley Jr. (born September 27, 1996) is an American rapper, music producer, and actor. He is better known by his stage name Stro. He has also used the names Astro and The Astronomical Kid.

Stro first became famous in 2011 as a contestant on the American TV show The X Factor USA. During his audition, he impressed the judges with an original song he wrote. His mentor on the show was the famous producer L.A. Reid. Stro finished in the top seven contestants.

After the show, Stro began a successful acting career. He has appeared in TV shows like Person of Interest and Red Band Society. He also starred in major movies, including Earth to Echo and A Walk Among the Tombstones.

Early life

Stro was born Brian Vaughn Bradley Jr. in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up with his Jamaican mother and his younger sister.

He started rapping when he was only ten years old. His mother told him she would pay for studio time if he improved his grades in school. This encouraged him to work hard. Soon after, he released his first song and created his first mixtape, called B.O.A. (Birth of Astro). He also began making his own beats in the hip hop style.

Music career

The X Factor USA

When he was 14, Bradley auditioned for the first season of The X Factor USA. He performed his own song, "Stop Looking at My Mom," and all four judges voted "yes." This sent him to the next round.

He made it to the live shows and reached the top seven before being eliminated from the competition.

Performances on The X Factor

Here are the songs Stro performed on the show:

Show Theme Song Original artist Order Result
Audition Free Choice "Stop Looking at My Mom" Self-written N/A Through to bootcamp
Bootcamp 1 Group performance 1 Advanced
Bootcamp 2 Group performance 2 "Wishing On a Star" (with Tinuke Oyefule, Jennifay Nichols, Lauren Ashley and Tatiana "Reina" Williams) Jay-Z Advanced
Bootcamp 3 Solo performance Not aired N/A Through to judges' houses
Judges' houses Free choice "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" Puff Daddy feat. Mase Advanced
Live show 1 Free choice "Jump" Kris Kross 1 Safe
Live show 2 Free choice "Hip Hop Hooray", "Get Ur Freak On" Naughty by Nature/Missy Elliott 8 Safe
Live show 3 Songs from Movies "Lose Yourself" Eminem 6 Safe
Live show 4 Rock "I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans and 112 7 Saved by judges' vote
Live show 5 Giving Thanks "Show Me What You Got" Jay-Z 7 Safe
Live show 6 Songs by Michael Jackson "Black or White" Michael Jackson 2 Eliminated

Career After The X Factor

After leaving the show, Stro released a mixtape called Loser, which was about his time on The X Factor. He was nominated for a BET Award in the Young Stars category and presented an award at the NAACP Image Award Show with actress Keke Palmer.

In 2012, Stro took a break from music to find his own unique style. He later returned with new songs like "Deadbeat" and "Methods." These songs were part of his mixtape Deadbeats & Lazy Lyrics, which had a gritty, classic hip-hop sound inspired by his hometown of Brooklyn.

Acting career

Stro's first acting role was as Darren McGrady in the TV series Person of Interest. In 2014, he had major roles in two movies. He played Tucker "Tuck" Simms in the science fiction film Earth to Echo and TJ in A Walk Among the Tombstones alongside Liam Neeson.

That same year, he was a main character named Dash Hosney in the FOX TV series Red Band Society. More recently, he played Calvin Walker in the Netflix movie See You Yesterday (2019). The film, produced by Spike Lee, uses time travel to explore serious social issues.

In 2019, it was reported that Stro was originally cast in the HBO show Euphoria. However, he left the show because it contained a lot of adult content. He was replaced by his Earth to Echo co-star, Algee Smith.

Discography

Albums

  • Grade A Frequencies (2017)
  • Back On Saratoga (2020)
  • Everywhere Your Not (2021) (an instrumental album with Mixsa)

Extended Plays (EPs)

  • The Astronomical Kid - EP (2009)
  • Computer Era (2014)
  • Nice 2 Meet You, Again (2018)
  • Last Friday (2019)

Singles

Year Title Album or EP
2010 "Stop Looking at My Mom" The Astronomical Kid
2014 "Champion" Computer Era
2015 "Mighty Healthy '16" Mighty Healthy '16
2017 "Cut That ... Off" Cut That ... Off
"Apollonia" Apollonia
"From Me" Grade A Frequencies
"Aura"
2018 "Waters" Nice 2 Meet You, Again
2019 "I'm Up" Last Friday
"Mansions"
2020 "Lace Up" Back on Saratoga

Filmography

Film

Year Name Role Notes
2014 Earth to Echo Tucker "Tuck" Simms
A Walk Among the Tombstones TJ as Brian 'Astro' Bradley
2016 Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Lodis
2019 Luce DeShaun Meeks
See You Yesterday Calvin Walker as Brian 'Stro' Bradley

Television

Year Name Role Notes
2011 The X Factor Himself Contestant: seventh place
2012 Person of Interest Darren McGrady Episode, "Wolf and Cub"
2014–2015 Red Band Society Dash Hosney Main role
2019 Bull Darius Lambert Episode: "Forfeiture"; as Brian Bradley
2020 FBI: Most Wanted Anttwon Perry Episode: "Caesar"; as Brian Bradley Jr.

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Notes
2012 Won BET Award BET Young Stars Award
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