Travie McCoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Travie McCoy |
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McCoy in 2007
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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 a co-founder and lead singer of the rap rock band Gym Class Heroes. He formed the band in 1997 with his classmate Matt McGinley because they both loved East Coast punk rock music.
Gym Class Heroes first recorded music on their own. Later, they signed with Fueled by Ramen to release their second album, The Papercut Chronicles (2005). During this time, the band also worked with Pete Wentz's Decaydance Records. Their third album, As Cruel as School Children (2006), was their first with a major label. It featured popular songs like "Cupid's Chokehold" and "Clothes Off!!."
In 2007, McCoy started his own music label, BatSquad. He signed the rapper Tyga, who was not well-known at the time. After releasing The Quilt (2008), Gym Class Heroes took a break. McCoy then focused on his solo music. He signed with Decaydance and T-Pain's Nappy Boy Entertainment. He released his first solo album, Lazarus (2010). The main song from this album, "Billionaire" (featuring Bruno Mars), became a huge hit. It reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also earned a quadruple Platinum award from the RIAA.
His 2015 song, "Golden" (featuring Sia), also received a Platinum award in Australia. In 2022, McCoy signed with Hopeless Records and released his second solo album, Never Slept Better. Gym Class Heroes was honored in April 2025. They were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
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Travie McCoy's Early Life and Education
McCoy grew up in Geneva, New York. His father is from Haiti, and his mother has Native American and Irish roots. When he was a child, McCoy used a wheelchair for four months. This happened after a skateboarding accident. Because he couldn't move around much, he spent more time on art.
At 15, McCoy started working as an apprentice in a tattoo shop. Soon after, he began tattooing his friends. As a teenager, McCoy enjoyed hardcore punk bands like Snapcase. He also liked underground rap groups such as Company Flow. He once said about his music tastes, "I was never a typical hip-hop kid. I didn't want to be pigeonholed." During high school, McCoy often traveled to Manhattan, New York. He went there to take part in rap battles at the indie rap club Fat Beats.
McCoy played the drums in high school. He even formed a rap group with his father and brother called "True Life Playas." He joked that their music was "so bad!" and hoped the tapes would never be found. In high school, he met Matt McGinley in gym class. They became friends because they both loved punk rock, indie rock, and hip hop music. After finishing high school, McCoy went to art school. He studied fine arts and illustration at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. However, he left school at age 20. He wanted to focus on his tattoo work and his music career.
Travie McCoy's Music Career
Forming Gym Class Heroes (1997–2002)
Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley became friends in ninth grade. They met in gym class at their high school in Geneva, New York. They officially started the band Gym Class Heroes in 1997. The band began when Matt McGinley (drums) and Ryan Geise (bass) were playing at a party. They didn't have a singer. McCoy was at the party and grabbed the microphone. He started rapping with them. A week later, the group officially formed and began making music together.
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At one point, McCoy had three jobs. He worked at a tattoo shop, taught art at a Boys & Girls Club, and worked at a gas station. He decided to quit all his jobs to focus on art full-time. He opened an art show with a friend. He lived off the money he made from selling his paintings before Gym Class Heroes became famous.
McCoy first appeared on MTV in the summer of 2002. He won a national MC battle on the MTV show Direct Effect.
Rising to Fame with Gym Class Heroes (2003–2009)
Fueled by Ramen signed Gym Class Heroes in 2003. This happened after guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts joined the band. They later signed with Pete Wentz's Decaydance Records. This label is part of Fueled by Ramen. The band often worked with Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump. He provided background vocals on their song "Cupid's Chokehold." This song was from their Gold-selling album As Cruel as School Children.
That album produced the hit singles "Cupid's Chokehold" and "Clothes Off!!." "Cupid's Chokehold" reached number 3 in the UK and number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Clothes Off!!" was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom. McCoy's appearance in Cobra Starship's song "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" also helped the band become more popular. Gym Class Heroes won the "Best New Artist" award at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Fans voted for this award.
In 2007, McCoy discovered 17-year-old rapper Tyga. McCoy started his label, BatSquad, to sign Tyga. He released Tyga's first album, No Introduction (2008). Tyga was introduced as McCoy's cousin, but they are not related by blood. McCoy was Tyga's mentor and was featured on his 2008 song "Coconut Juice."
Patrick Stump produced most of their next album, The Quilt. It was released on September 9, 2008. The album reached number 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It also reached number 41 on the UK Albums Chart. The main song, "Cookie Jar," reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. McCoy also worked with his musical hero, Daryl Hall from Hall & Oates. Hall inspired Gym Class Heroes' 2007 "Daryl Hall for President Tour." They collaborated on the song "Live Forever (Fly with Me)." Hall said in 2008 that "Travis has a deep understanding of music and is so creative."
In 2009, McCoy remixed the Bring Me the Horizon song "Chelsea Smile."
Solo Career and Lazarus (2010–2015)
When McCoy started his solo career in 2010, he clarified that Gym Class Heroes had not broken up. He explained that every band member has always had other music projects. This solo work was just another one of those. McCoy first planned to release a mixtape called Forgetting Katy Perry. It had sad songs about his breakup with singer Katy Perry and a difficult personal time. The title was a nod to the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
However, he decided to change direction. He felt the early songs were "too personal" for his first solo album. He moved to Miami, Florida, to record new music and focus on his well-being. This helped him create a more upbeat album, as he wanted to make something positive. McCoy decided to officially use "Travie" instead of Travis. He said friends and family had called him Travie for a long time. He felt this name would help listeners feel closer to him.
In May 2010, McCoy released the hit song "Billionaire" with Bruno Mars. It has been certified 4 times Platinum. McCoy released his first solo album, Lazarus, on June 8, 2010. He said it was the longest he had ever worked on a record. He wanted to keep the number of guest artists on the album small. However, he planned to work with others on remixes. Producers on the album included Bruno Mars, T-Pain, and Josh Abraham. Bruno Mars, T-Pain, and CeeLo Green also sang on some tracks.
The album debuted at number 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It sold 15,000 copies in its first week. Lazarus was released in Europe on August 21, 2010. It reached number 69 on the UK Album Charts. "Need You" was the second single in the U.S., released in September 2010. "We'll Be Alright" was released in the UK on October 25, 2010. It was featured in the movie trailer for Yogi Bear.
In July and August 2010, McCoy joined Rihanna for some of her "Last Girl on Earth Tour" dates in North America. McCoy and Bruno Mars also toured Europe together in October and November. They performed in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and France. McCoy performed at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010. In November 2010, McCoy performed on the Australian Summerbeatz tour. He shared the stage with artists like Flo Rida and Jay Sean. "Billionaire" was performed on the TV show Glee on September 21, 2010. McCoy also guest-starred on the sitcom Malibu Country and sang with Reba McEntire.
McCoy was featured on a remix of Jessica Jarrell's song "Up and Running." He also appeared on Livin's City of Brotherly Love album. In 2010, he worked with producer Starsmith and British singer Cheryl Cole. He was featured on the song "Yeah Yeah" from Cole's album Messy Little Raindrops. In November 2010, McCoy collaborated with English R&B artist Taio Cruz on his single "Higher."
Gym Class Heroes released a new album, The Papercut Chronicles II, in November 2011. The single "Stereo Hearts" reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. McCoy performed this song with Adam Levine of Maroon 5 on Saturday Night Live on November 5, 2011. Gym Class Heroes also performed the song with Levine at the 2011 American Music Awards.
In 2012, McCoy worked with the English girl group Stooshe on their single "Love Me." On April 24, 2012, McCoy's song "I Came to Party" with former Hollywood Undead singer Deuce was released on Deuce's album Nine Lives.
In 2013, McCoy released "Rough Water," a song with Jason Mraz. This song was meant to be the first single from McCoy's second solo album, also called Rough Water. McCoy shared that the album was inspired by a difficult time with his former girlfriend. In March 2014, he released the single "Keep On Keeping On," featuring Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie.
McCoy was featured on Olly Murs' popular song "Wrapped Up," released in October 2014. In 2015, McCoy released the single "Golden" featuring Sia. This song earned a Platinum award from the ARIA.
Recent Music and Achievements (2016–Present)
After a long break, McCoy signed with Hopeless Records in 2021. On July 15, 2022, he released his second solo album, Never Slept Better. Two singles, "A Spoonful of Cinnamon" and "Loved Me Back to Life," were released with music videos to support the album. The album received mostly good reviews, but neither it nor its singles appeared on music charts.
In April 2025, Gym Class Heroes was honored. They were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
Travie McCoy's Personal Life
McCoy is a close friend of Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz. McCoy was signed to Wentz's record label, Decaydance Records. He is also the godfather to Wentz's son, Bronx Mowgli Wentz, whose mother is singer Ashlee Simpson.
McCoy loves collecting sneakers. In 2009, it was reported that he owned over 200 pairs of shoes.
Relationships and Family
McCoy had an on-and-off relationship with singer Katy Perry for several years. Perry ended their relationship in 2009.
McCoy was linked to actress Juliette Lewis in 2012. On November 14, 2022, McCoy married Jessica Phillips McCoy.
Helping Others
In November 2008, McCoy became involved with MTV's Staying Alive Foundation. This group works to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. They fund projects led by young people. After spending time with the founder, McCoy became an ambassador for the foundation in 2009. In June 2009, McCoy traveled to South Africa, India, and the Philippines with the foundation. For World AIDS Day in 2009, MTV networks showed a documentary called The Unbeaten Track. It followed McCoy's journey. McCoy also released a charity song called "One At A Time." All the money from this song went to the Staying Alive Foundation.
In December 2008, McCoy and Pete Wentz held an art exhibition. It was called "Without You I’m Just Me" at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. The artwork sold for $600 to $4,000. The money raised helped Invisible Children.
Travie McCoy's Music Albums
- Lazarus (2010)
- Never Slept Better (2022)
