Summer Walker

Summer Marjani Walker (born April 11, 1996)[1] is an American R&B singer. In 2017, she was signed to Love Renaissance and Interscope Records. The following year, she released the mixtape Last Day of Summer, which spawned the single "Girls Need Love", that became her first top 40 entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart following a remix featuring Drake.[4] In October 2019, Walker released her debut studio album Over It, which spawned the US top 20 single "Playing Games".[5][6]

Summer Walker
Walker performing in 2019
Background information
Birth nameSummer Marjani Walker[1]
Born (1996-04-11) April 11, 1996
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
EducationNorth Springs High School[2]
Partner(s)London on da Track (2019–2021)
GenresR&B[3]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2017-present
Labels
Associated acts
Children1
Websitesummerwalkermusic.com

Over It was released to universal acclaim from music critics,[7] it also debuted at number-two on the Billboard 200 chart, breaking the record for the biggest streaming debut-week ever for a female R&B artist;[8] while also being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[9]

On November 5, 2021, she released her sophomore studio album Still Over It, which debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200. The album broke the record for most album streams in a single day by a female artist on Apple Music,[10] and broke her previous record for largest streaming debut-week for a female R&B artist; while she also tied with Taylor Swift as the only two female artists that have held 18 songs concurrently on the Billboard Hot 100.[11]

Early life

Walker was born in Atlanta, Georgia. From 2016 to 2018, she had a small cleaning business, and she was also stripping in Atlanta. She taught herself how to play the guitar by watching tutorials on YouTube and posted various videos on the platform performing covers.[12]

Musical career

2018–2019: Career beginnings and Last Day of Summer

Walker was discovered by a woman, who has the same name as them and works as the studio manager of an Atlanta-based label, called Love Renaissance.[12] On October 19, 2018, Walker released her debut commercial mixtape, titled Last Day of Summer, supported by her lead single, "Girls Need Love".[13] Her album contained her thoughts on love, doubt, and womanhood.[14] Towards the end of 2018, she went on tour with 6lack on the From East Atlanta With Love Tour.[15] Following the success of her mixtape, Apple Music named Walker as its newest Up Next artist in 2019, and became the number 8 R&B artist worldwide across Apple Music.[16] On January 25, 2019, she released her first EP titled Clear, consisting of four tracks of acoustic recordings.[17] On February 27, 2019, she released the remix to her song, "Girls Need Love", with Drake.[18]

2019–2020: Breakthrough and Over It

On August 23, 2019, Walker released a track, called "Playing Games" as the first official single for her debut studio album, titled Over It.[19] The song, which contains an interpolation of Destiny's Child's number-one hit "Say My Name", was produced by London on da Track. On September 12, Walker revealed that Over It would be release on October 4 via LVRN and Interscope Records.[20] Along with her album announcement, she shared the official artwork. Over It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 134,000 units in its first week. Its debut week marked the largest streaming week for an R&B album by a female artist, in terms of on-demand audio streams.[21] The album also topped the R&B Albums chart for 14 nonconsecutive weeks, and as of July 2020, has yet to chart below number 7.[22] She supported Over It with her accompanying The First and Last Tour, which kicked off on October 20.[23] Due to her social anxiety, Walker canceled the remaining 20 out of 29 dates on the tour committing to 9 of them.[24] On November 17, Walker won her first Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist, she later received backlash from fans for her short speech and was accused of faking her social anxiety.[25]

During early 2020, Walker collaborated with an American rapper 21 Savage on a song, titled "Secret". She also appeared on a remix for Justin Bieber's song Yummy. In April 2020, she was featured on Khalid's remix of "Eleven". On June 29, Walker announced the release of an EP, titled Life on Earth to be released on July 10. The announcement came a day after she performed "Session 32" and "Come Thru" with Usher at the 2020's BET Awards, where she was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.[26] Life on Earth debuted atop the Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart, becoming Walker's second number one. It also debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 becoming her second top 10 project on the chart.[27] Two tracks from the EP charted on the "Billboard" Hot 100, "Let It Go", and "My Affection" featuring PartyNextDoor, at numbers 84 and 86, respectively.[28] "Come Thru" featuring Usher was certified platinum on August 20 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A few days later, on August 25, her song "Body" was a certified gold, "Playing Games" was a certified two-time platinum, and "Girls Need Love" was a certified three-time platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively.[29] On September 14, Walker was a musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing "Body" from her debut album Over It. The performance received praise from music-critics and fans alike, with Rolling Stone describing the performance as "beatific". On October 14, Summer won the Billboard Music Award for the Best Female R&B Artist at the 2020's Billboard Music Awards beating out Beyoncé and Lizzo. It became her first Billboard Music Award win from three nominations respectively. She was also nominated for Top R&B Artist and Top R&B Album for Over It. On November 23, she released a repackaged version of the Over It album, titled Over It (Complete Edition). The repackaged version of the album features all 18 songs from the standard version of the album plus additional instrumentals, a capella versions, live renditions and more. On December 10, her debut song, "Session 32" was certified gold and her collaboration featuring Jhené Aiko, titled "I'll Kill You" was a certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively. On the Billboard 200 year-end chart of 2020, Over It was the second best performing R&B album of the year behind The Weeknd's After Hours and was the seventeenth best performing album overall.[30]

2021-present: Still Over It

Walker released her second album Still Over It which has since broken the record for biggest R&B debut on the US albums chart since Beyonce's album Lemonade. The album surpassed 166,000 units within the first week of release. On November 29, Walker and Ari Lennox performed her song "Unloyal" together at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards.

The "No Love" extended remix featuring Cardi B was announced on March 21, 2022. It was released along with a music video on March 25, 2022.[31]

Personal life

While teaching herself guitar through YouTube tutorials, Summer worked as a stripper in an Atlanta strip club. In an interview with The Face she stated that the experience was "helping her grow out of her shell" and that it was "a fun experience".[32]

In 2020 Walker announced that she was expecting her first child, with occasional boyfriend London on da Track.[33] Their baby girl was born in March 2021.[34]

Walker has well over 23 tattoos as of 2019,[35] including face tattoos.[12]

Artistry

Walker has said that she draws inspiration from Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, and Erykah Badu.[36]

Discography

Studio albums
Mixtapes and EPs

Tours

Headlining

  • The First and Last Tour (2019)[37]
  • The Summer Walker Series (2022)[38]

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020[39] Herself Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Nominated
"Playing Games" Favorite Soul/R&B Song Nominated
Over It Favorite Soul/R&B Album Nominated

BET Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020[40] Herself Best New Artist Nominated
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Nominated

Billboard Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020[41] Herself Top R&B Artist Nominated
Top R&B Female Artist Won
Over It Top R&B Album Nominated
2022[42] Herself Top R&B Artist Pending
Top R&B Female Artist Pending
Still Over It Top R&B Album Pending

Billboard Women in Music

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2022[43] Herself Chart Breaker Award Won

iHeartRadio Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020[44] Herself Best New R&B Artist Won
R&B Artist of the Year Nominated
"Girls Need Love" (with Drake) R&B Song of the Year Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020[45][46] Herself Push Best New Artist Longlisted
"Eleven" (with Khalid) Best R&B Nominated

Soul Train Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019[47] Herself Best New Artist Won
R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated
"Girls Need Love (Remix)" Song of the Year Nominated
2020[48] "Come Thru" (with Usher) Nominated
Best Collaboration Nominated
Over It Album of the Year Won
Herself Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated
"Playing Games" The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated

References

  1. "Summer Walker Profile". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  2. "The Untold Truth of Summer Walker". Nickiswift.com. December 19, 2020.
  3. Leight, Elias (November 4, 2021). "Summer Walker Is a Star. But She Signed a 'Brutal' Record Deal to Get There". RollingStone. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  4. Johnson, Zoe (October 19, 2018). "Take A Walk With Summer Walker On The 'Last Day Of Summer'". Vibe. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  5. @billboardcharts (October 14, 2019). ".@IAMSUMMERWALKER has eight songs on..." (Tweet) via Twitter.
  6. "Top 100 Songs: October 19, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. Wicker, Jewel (October 1, 2019). "Chartbreaker: Summer Walker Readies Star-Studded New Album After Drake Co-Sign". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. "Summer Walker's 'Over It' Earns Biggest Streaming Week Ever for an R&B Album by a Woman". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media, LLC.
  9. White, Roman (May 9, 2020). "Summer Walker's 'Over It' Officially Goes Platinum".
  10. Records, Interscope. "Summer Walker Shatters Apple Music Record For Most Album Streams In A Day By A Female-Identifying Artist Ever". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  11. Zellner, Xander (November 16, 2021). "Summer Walker Ties Taylor Swift for This Billboard Hot 100 Record". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  12. Kennedy, Gerrick D. (October 21, 2019). "Summer Walker went from housekeeper to R&B it girl — and she's still a mystery". Los Angeles Times.
  13. P., Milca (October 20, 2018). "Summer Walker Officially Arrives With "Last Day Of Summer" Project". HotNewHipHop.
  14. "5 Times We Fell In Love With Summer Walker on Her 'Last Day of Summer' Debut". Ones to Watch. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  15. "6LACK Announces World Tour Featuring Tierra Whack, Boogie & More". HotNewHipHop. August 14, 2018.
  16. "Summer Walker Named the First Apple Music Up Next Artist of 2019". Broadway World. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  17. P., Milca (January 26, 2019). "Summer Walker Shares Soulful "CLEAR" EP". HotNewHipHop.
  18. Blistein, Jon (February 27, 2019). "Hear Drake Drop First New Verse of 2019 on Summer Walker's 'Girls Need Love' Remix". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  19. "Summer Walker Releases New Song 'Playing Games'". ratedrnb.com. August 23, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  20. "Summer Walker Announces Release Date for Debut Album". ratedrnb.com. September 12, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  21. Caulfield, Keith (October 13, 2019). "SuperM Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'The 1st Mini Album'". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  22. Trevor, Anderson (July 17, 2020). "Summer Walker's 'Life on Earth' Debuts at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  23. "Summer Walker Plots 'The First and Last Tour'". ratedrnb.com. August 19, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  24. "Summer Walker cancels US gigs: 'I get tired, I get sad and it's just a lot'". BBC. November 13, 2019.
  25. "Summer Walker Addresses Critics Who Don't Believe She Has Social Anxiety". Essence.
  26. Ingvaldsen, Torsten (June 29, 2020). "Summer Walker Announces New 'Life on Earth' EP". Hypebeast. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  27. Trevor, Anderson (July 17, 2020). "Summer Walker's 'Life on Earth' Debuts at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  28. "Summer Walker Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  29. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
  30. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End". Billboard.
  31. Grein, Paul (November 19, 2021). "Summer Walker to Perform at 2021 Soul Train Awards". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  32. Wilson, Samantha (November 28, 2020). "Summer Walker: 5 Things To Know About The Pregnant Singer Calling BF London On Da Track 'A Bum'".
  33. "Summer Walker Is Pregnant With Her First Child". Essence. November 20, 2020.
  34. "Summer Walker & London on da Track share first photos of their daughter's face". Capital XTRA.
  35. @applemusic (January 28, 2019). "Some tattoo talk with @IAMSUMMERWALKER. Watch her #UpNext film now, only on Apple Music. apple.co/summerwalker" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  36. "5 Times We Fell In Love With Summer Walker on Her 'Last Day of Summer' Debut / Ones To Watch". Ones To Watch. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  37. "Summer Walker Announces 35-City Tour & Drops Sultry "Playing Games" Single". HYPEBEAST. August 23, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  38. "Summer Walker announces 2022 tour dates". The Fader. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  39. "Nominations Announced for the 2020 AMAs". American Music Awards. October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  40. "BET Awards 2020: See who won at the BET Awards". CNN. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  41. Aniftos, Rania (September 22, 2020). "Post Malone Leads 2020 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 16: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  42. Grein, Paul (April 8, 2022). "The Weeknd & Doja Cat Lead 2022 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  43. "Billboard Women In Music awards 2022: Summer Walker accepts the Chart Breaker Award". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  44. Fields, Taylor (January 8, 2020). "2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees Revealed: See the Full List". iHeartRadio. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  45. Drake, Carolyn (July 23, 2020). "Doja Cat, Pop Smoke, And More Are Nominated For VMAs' Best New Artist". Uproxx. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  46. Ginsberg, Gab (July 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga Lead 2020 MTV VMA Nominations: See Full List". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  47. "2019 Soul Train Awards". BET. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  48. "H.E.R. & Chris Brown Lead 2020 Soul Train Awards Nominations: Here's the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
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