Rae Sremmurd
Biography
Rae Sremmurd is an American hip hop duo from Tupelo, Mississippi, composed of two brothers, Slim Jxmmi (Aaquil Iben Shamon Brown) and Swae Lee (Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown). The name "Rae Sremmurd" is "Ear Drummers" spelled backwards, which is the name of their producer Mike WiLL Made-It's record label. The brothers were born in Whittier, California, and moved frequently with their mother who worked for the U.S. Army, spending time in Mississippi, Maryland, and Texas before settling in Tupelo. Early in their teens, they were part of a trio called Dem Outta St8 Boyz.
Career Beginnings
In 2013, the duo signed a record deal with Mike WiLL Made-It's label, EarDrummers. They gained initial recognition in December 2013 after being featured on Mike WiLL Made-It's mixtape "#MikeWiLLBeenTriLL" on the track "We". Their breakout single, "No Flex Zone," was released in 2014 and became a viral success, reaching the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and earning them a remix from Nicki Minaj and Pusha T. This was followed by another successful single, "No Type," which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard charts.
Musical Style
Rae Sremmurd is known for their energetic, party-oriented trap anthems. Their music often features a blend of hip hop, trap, and R&B, with Swae Lee's melodic hooks and Slim Jxmmi's high-energy ad-libs and raps. They are recognized for bringing a fun, carefree, and vibrant energy to the hip-hop scene.
Major Success
SremmLife Albums
In January 2015, Rae Sremmurd released their debut album, "SremmLife," which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum. The album spawned several hit singles, including the platinum-certified "No Flex Zone" and "No Type," as well as "Throw Sum Mo" featuring Nicki Minaj and Young Thug. Their second album, "SremmLife 2," was released in August 2016. It featured their biggest hit to date, "Black Beatles," with Gucci Mane. The song became a global phenomenon, partly due to the viral "Mannequin Challenge" trend, and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Black Beatles" was certified Diamond by the RIAA in June 2025. In 2018, they released their third studio album, "SR3MM," as a triple album, which included solo albums from both Swae Lee ("Swaecation") and Slim Jxmmi ("Jxmtroduction") alongside the duo's album. Their fourth album, "Sremm 4 Life," was released in 2023.
Other Ventures
In 2016, the duo established their own record label called SremmLife Crew Records. Both members have also pursued solo endeavors. Swae Lee, in particular, has achieved significant success as a solo artist, notably with the single "Sunflower" with Post Malone from the "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" soundtrack, which also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.