Sonny Digital

A factor in Atlanta’s commercial rap dominance in the 2010s and beyond, producer and MC Sonny Digital broke through with a steely sound suited for street anthems. YC and Future’s “Racks” signaled his emergence in 2011, and was soon followed by contrasting hits for Future, 2 Chainz, and iLoveMakonnen. Since scoring a Top Ten pop hit with Travis Scott’s “Stargazing” — his biggest production yet — Digital has had additional chart success through his collaborations with Don Toliver, and his solo discography has steadily expanded with releases such as Black Goat 2 (2020) and the EPs Vet and Back 2 Back (2022).
Born Sonny Corey Uwaezuoke in Saginaw, Michigan, Sonny Digital got his start by making beats for various Atlanta rappers’ mixtapes, having taught himself to produce tracks on his brother’s MPC and with the digital audio workstation Fruity Loops on his family’s computer. In 2010, he went official when his work on Gorilla Zoe’s “What’s Goin’ On” helped the track earn nationwide radio play, but 2011 was his breakthrough year thanks to YC and Future’s “Racks,” a number six R&B/hip-hop hit (number 42 pop). Future’s “Same Damn Time” and 2 Chainz’s multi-platinum “Birthday Song” were big hits for Digital in 2012. Two years later, Digital and Drake helped iLoveMakonnen launch a career with “Tuesday,” a single that almost topped the R&B/hip-hop chart and scaled the Hot 100 to reach number 12. During the next couple years, Digital was busier than ever, enlisted for projects from the likes of Chief Keef, Juicy J, and Meek Mill, while tracks such as Rae Sremmurd’s “Up Like Trump,” Future’s “Blow a Bag,” 50 Cent’s “I’m the Man,” and 21 Savage’s “Red Opps” earned him more gold and platinum certifications. Additionally, he progressed as an MC with the G.O.A.T. EP, followed in 2017 by the Black Goat tape.
Digital continued to juggle solo activity with production work. He scored his biggest hit yet in 2018 with Travis Scott’s number eight pop single “Stargazing,” and within a couple years helped Don Toliver land Hot 100 singles with “Cardigan” and “After Party.” Meanwhile, his solo discography grew with a steady supply of singles, 2020′s Black Goat 2 (with Black Boe), and the 2022 EPs Vet and Back 2 Back (the latter featuring CEO Trayle). ~ David Jeffries & Andy Kellman