Summer Walker
Biography
Summer Marjani Walker (born April 11, 1996) is an American R&B singer and songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. Before her music career, she ran a small cleaning business and worked as an exotic dancer from 2016 to 2018. During this time, she taught herself to play the guitar by watching tutorials on YouTube and began posting videos of her covers online. In 2017, she was discovered by the studio manager of the Atlanta-based record label Love Renaissance (LVRN), with whom she signed, along with Interscope Records.
Career Beginnings
Walker released her debut commercial mixtape, Last Day of Summer, on October 19, 2018. The project's lead single, "Girls Need Love," became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's popularity led to a remix featuring Canadian rapper Drake, further boosting her profile. Following this success, Apple Music named Walker its newest "Up Next" artist in 2019. In January 2019, she released her first EP, Clear, which consisted of four acoustic tracks.
Rise to Fame
Over It (2019)
On October 4, 2019, Walker released her debut studio album, Over It. It was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The album broke the record for the biggest streaming debut week for a female R&B artist and has since been certified triple platinum by the RIAA. It featured the hit singles "Playing Games," which reached the top 20 of the Hot 100, "Come Thru" with Usher, and "I'll Kill You" featuring Jhené Aiko. In 2020, Walker won the Billboard Music Award for Best Female R&B Artist.
Still Over It (2021)
Her second studio album, Still Over It, was released on November 5, 2021, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. This album broke her previous record for the largest streaming debut week for a female R&B artist and also set a new record for the most streams in a single day by a female artist on Apple Music. With this album, Walker had 18 songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat only previously achieved by Taylor Swift among female artists. The album featured collaborations with artists like Cardi B, SZA, and Ari Lennox.
Musical Style
Summer Walker is known for her contemporary R&B sound that often incorporates minimalist and experimental productions. Her music is characterized by its raw and unapologetic lyrical content, frequently exploring themes of love, heartbreak, doubt, and womanhood. Many of her songs are described as confessional and autobiographical. She has cited Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, and Erykah Badu as musical inspirations.
Personal Life
Walker is a mother to three children. She had her first child, a daughter, with producer London on da Track in March 2021. In December 2022, she gave birth to twin sons with rapper Larry A.K.A. Lvrd Pharaoh. Walker has been open about her struggles with social anxiety, which has sometimes impacted her ability to tour and perform live. She has numerous tattoos, including on her face.