Who Is Autumn the Rapper and What Is His Story?

TL;DR

Autumn, whose real name is Benjamin Clarence Phillips Jr., is an underground rapper from Louisiana who rose from a challenging childhood to over a million monthly listeners. He began producing at 11 and switched to rapping in 2017, notably pioneering the 'plug and B' genre. His journey includes various jobs, facing controversies, and maintaining a close relationship with his fanbase.

Transcript

from being fired from a grocery store for stealing chicken wings to 1 million monthly listeners sold out shows and pioneering a sub-genre Autumn has risen to the top of the underground in the past few years but it wasn't always like this in fact he almost quit so how did he get here why do fans love his music and who is he I'm rashafa shear and thi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎼 Autumn's upbringing significantly influenced his musical path, as he turned struggles into artistic inspiration.
• 🥺 The shift from producing to rapping around 2017 marked a transformative phase in his career, leading to unique genre contributions.
• 🎹 Key friendships, such as with Donovan, were vital for Autumn's emotional support and musical progression.
• 👻 Collaborations played a pivotal role in his development, allowing him to hone his craft and expand his listener base.
• 😮 Autumn's rise to fame was characterized by viral success, with "Nina" acting as a major catalyst for his visibility.
• 🎼 Navigating controversies and rivalries through music reflects Autumn's strategic approach to maintaining his brand.
• 🪭 His connection with fans remains a fundamental aspect of his identity, contributing to his relatability and success.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Autumn the rapper's real name?

Autumn's real name is Benjamin Clarence Phillips Jr. He was born in Louisiana and originally produced beats under the name Trap God Benji before adopting the stage name Autumn in May 2017. He also went by the alias twin Uzis ("20 Uzi").

Q: How did Autumn get his stage name?

He chose "Autumn" because it comes after Summers, a close collaborator he started rapping after. Summers was originally a rapper named Louis V D who found Autumn's beats on YouTube. Autumn said the name started as a joke but just stuck.

Q: Why was Autumn fired from the grocery store?

He was fired for stealing chicken wings. He found four wings in the freezer, cooked them and sauced them, and his manager walked in just as he was about to take a bite. He described it as premeditated stealing and went home fired that same day.

Q: What challenges did Autumn face during his childhood?

Autumn grew up poor in a part of Louisiana he described as poor and filled with hate. Until he was five he lived crammed in a house with his grandma, great grandpa, siblings, and cousins, and his family couldn't afford a car. He was an anxious kid who got bullied at 13 for playing video games and for being skinny.

Q: How did Autumn go from producing beats to rapping?

He started producing at 11 using a program called Mixcraft, inspired by his older brother, and posted beats on SoundCloud at 15 in 2013. He took it seriously in 2015 and by 2017 was posting beats on YouTube, where Louis V D (later Summers) found him. He began rapping in 2017 mainly to hear how he sounded on his own beats.

Q: Why did Autumn almost quit music?

As a teenager he lacked confidence, was anxious, and faced discouragement and bullying. During high school orientation only one kid, Donovan, would speak to him, and Donovan pushed him to keep going when Autumn was ready to quit. That friendship kept him motivated to continue.

Q: What was Autumn's breakthrough moment?

His breakthrough came with the song "Nina" from the album Retribution 3, which became his first viral hit. It gained major traction on platforms like TikTok, boosting his visibility and helping him rise to the top of the underground scene with over 1 million monthly listeners.

Q: What jobs did Autumn work before music took off?

After graduating high school in 2015, he took a break from college to work and make money for music. He worked at a grocery store, Subway, a gas station, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Burger King, and finally Walmart. He cycled through so many jobs because he would leave whenever he felt disrespected.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Autumn, born Benjamin Clarence Phillips Jr., faced a challenging childhood in poverty-stricken Louisiana, grappling with family issues and bullying. Music became his passion after experimenting with instruments and producing, inspired by family connections.

• Despite various low-paying jobs, including a controversial firing for stealing food, Autumn pursued music seriously, releasing multiple tapes and collaborating with fellow artists. He embraced the underground scene, gaining a significant following and pioneering the "plug and B" genre.

• Over the years, Autumn experienced both professional successes and personal controversies, including beef with other artists and struggles with fame. He maintained a unique connection with fans, humorously engaging with them while consistently producing well-received music.