DUCKWRTH

Rapper/songwriter/producer/visual artist Duckwrth was born Jared Lee in Los Angeles in 1989. His childhood was sheltered, and he spent much of his time inside, watching cartoons and drawing. He channeled some of his artistic spirit enrolled in art school in San Francisco, but he ultimately dropped out and made his way back to Los Angeles. In the mid-2010s, he began releasing his own songs online under the Duckwrth moniker and expanded his audience when he did some work with producer Kickdrums. Following their collaborative 2014 single “Supersoaker,” and the album Nowhere that followed the next year, Duckwrth released his first entirely solo collection, 2016′s I’M UUGLY. The album delved into various styles, taking inspiration from both hip-hop sounds Lee enjoyed in his early twenties and the more caustic punk influences that filled his teenage days. With I’M UUGLY establishing Duckwrth’s unique style and free-spirited creativity, he kept the momentum going with the release of 2017’s An XTRA UUGLY Mixtape. The following year, in addition to his own solo output, he also secured a spot on the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack, teaming with Shaboozey on “Start A Riot.” In 2019, he was joined by guests such as Rico Nasty, Kiana Lede, Medasin, and others for his EP, The Falling Man. ~ Fred Thomas