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YNW Melly

US rap artist YNW Melly has garnered a huge amount of media attention since his single “Murder on My Mind” was released in 2018. Unfortunately, the media attention has not been about his music but instead about his previous law-breaking exploits. These, which include imprisonment for shooting charges in 2017 and subsequent arrest for possession of weapons and ammunition and narcotics charges topped off by being charged for a double murder in 2019. He was born Jamell Maurice Demons on May 1, 1999, and grew up in Gifford, Florida, and began promoting his work on streaming platforms when he was 15 years old. His arrest has jeopardized a promising start to his career in music which has seen his videos attract more than 50 million views on video-sharing platforms. Having a colorful past can sometimes be an advantage for young rappers trying to break into the rap and hip-hop market but the consequences of his past could quite possibly bring the end to a very short musical career. Shortly after being arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in 2019, YNW Melly released his studio debut Melly vs. Melvin, which bowed at Number 8 on the Billboard 200. A second full-length titled Just a Matter of Slime saw the light in 2021 and featured guest spots by Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Future, and many more. It peaked at Number 11 on the Billboard 200. The rapper is said to have helped produce the album from jail while awaiting his trial.