Travie McCoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Travie McCoy |
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McCoy in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Travis Lazarus McCoy |
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| Born | August 5, 1981 Geneva, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
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Travis Lazarus "Travie" McCoy (born August 5, 1981) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of the band Gym Class Heroes. He started the band in 1997 with his friend Matt McGinley. They became popular for mixing rap with rock music.
Travie McCoy also has a successful solo career. His song "Billionaire" with Bruno Mars was a huge hit. It reached high spots on music charts in both the U.S. and the UK. He continues to make music and release new albums.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Travie McCoy grew up in Geneva, New York. His dad is from Haiti, and his mom has Native American and Irish roots. When he was a kid, he had a skateboarding accident. This meant he had to use a wheelchair for four months. During this time, he spent a lot of time on art.
When he was 15, Travie started learning how to do tattoos. He even tattooed his friends. As a teenager, he loved different kinds of music. He listened to punk bands and underground rap groups. He often traveled to Manhattan, New York to join rap battles. He didn't want to be known for just one type of music.
In high school, he played the drums. He even had a rap group with his dad and brother. He met Matt McGinley in gym class. They both loved punk rock, indie rock, and hip hop. This shared interest led them to start a band together. After high school, Travie went to art school. But he left at age 20 to focus on tattooing and music. Before Gym Class Heroes became famous, he sold his paintings to make a living.
Starting Gym Class Heroes
Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley became friends in high school. They officially formed Gym Class Heroes in 1997. The band started when Matt and bassist Ryan Geise were playing at a party. They didn't have a singer. Travie was at the party and grabbed the microphone. He started rapping with them. A week later, they decided to form a band.
Later, guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts joined. The band then signed with Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records. These labels helped them release their music.
Their album As Cruel as School Children sold very well. The song "Cupid's Chokehold" became a big hit. It reached number 3 in the UK and number 4 in the U.S. Other songs like "Clothes Off!!" and "Cookie Jar" also did well in the UK. The band often worked with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump. He even produced most of their album The Quilt. In November 2011, Gym Class Heroes released another album, The Papercut Chronicles II.
Solo Music and Big Hits
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Travie McCoy started his solo music career in 2010. He told fans that Gym Class Heroes was not breaking up. He said that all band members had other music projects. This was just another one of his.
He first planned to make a sad, acoustic album. But he changed his mind. He wanted his first solo album to be more positive. He moved to Miami, Florida, to record new songs. This helped him create a more upbeat album. He also decided to use "Travie" as his official name. He said his friends and family always called him that. He felt it made him closer to his fans.
In May 2010, Travie released "Billionaire" with Bruno Mars. This song became a huge success in both Europe and the U.S. His first solo album, Lazarus, came out on June 8, 2010. He said it was the longest he had ever worked on a record. The album featured other artists like Bruno Mars and T-Pain.
Lazarus debuted at number 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. In August 2010, it reached number 69 on the UK Album Charts. Travie also toured with Rihanna and Bruno Mars. He performed "Billionaire" on the TV show Glee. He also appeared on the sitcom Malibu Country.
Travie has worked with many other artists. He was featured on songs by Cheryl Cole, Taio Cruz, and Stooshe. He also performed "Stereo Hearts" with Adam Levine of Maroon 5 on Saturday Night Live. In 2013, he released "Rough Water" with Jason Mraz. In 2014, he released "Keep On Keeping On" with Brendon Urie from Panic! at the Disco. He also featured on Olly Murs' song "Wrapped Up".
Recent Music
After a break from music, Travie McCoy signed with Hopeless Records in 2021. On July 15, 2022, he released his second solo album, Never Slept Better. The album included two singles, "A Spoonful of Cinnamon" and "Loved Me Back to Life." Both songs also had music videos. The album received good reviews.
Discography
- Lazarus (2010)
- Never Slept Better (2022)
