22Gz
22Gz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jeffrey Mark Alexander November 29, 1997 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Rapper |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for | Foundational figure in the Brooklyn drill movement |
Jeffrey Mark Alexander (born November 29, 1997), professionally known as 22Gz (pronounced "too JEEZ"), is an American rapper credited as a foundational figure in the Brooklyn drill movement. His initial major mixtape, The Blixky Tape, was launched through Atlantic Records in 2019.
Early life
Born on November 29, 1997, in Brooklyn’s Flatbush area of New York City, Jeffrey Mark Alexander lost his father prior to his birth. He is of Guyanese heritage. Alexander’s early foray into entertainment involved performing showtime dance routines on the New York City Subway.
Career
Starting at age 17 in early 2015, 22Gz began distributing his music via SoundCloud. Tracks such as "Blixky" and "Suburban," released in 2016, helped him build an audience on YouTube. The song "Suburban," crafted by London-based drill producer AXL Beats, stood out as one of the initial Brooklyn drill hits to gain widespread attention. This momentum led to his 2018 signing with Atlantic Records, where label A&R facilitated a collaboration with Kodak Black. Their joint track "Spin the Block" was among his earliest releases under Atlantic.
His first mixtape under Atlantic, The Blixky Tape, was issued in July 2019. The subsequent project, Growth & Development (April 2020), featured co-production from London drill producer Ghosty. Industry critiques praised 22Gz’s assertive delivery and swift ascent within the drill genre, underscoring his significant market impact and branding potential.
Legal controversies
In 2014, Alexander faced conspiracy to commit murder charges, which were later dropped. In 2017, he served five months incarcerated on second-degree murder accusations tied to a Miami shooting; these charges were eventually dismissed. In 2018, he broadcasted a Facebook Live video from an NYPD detention cell.
In 2019, authorities removed him alongside Casanova, Pop Smoke, Sheff G, and Don Q from the Rolling Loud festival due to police concerns about possible violence.
On June 12, 2022, 22Gz was apprehended in New York City on attempted murder allegations connected to a March incident that wounded three individuals. He was released four days later after posting $500,000 bail.
Mixtapes
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Heat. | ||
| The Blixky Tape |
|
— |
| Growth & Development |
|
12 |
| The Blixky Tape 2 |
|
20 |
| Growth & Development II |
|
— |
| Brooklyn's Most Wanted |
|
— |
| Hidden Gemz |
|
— |
Extended plays
| Title | Extended play details |
|---|---|
| Year of the Blixky |
|
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "12 Bars" |
2015 | Non-album singles | |
| "At The Light" (feat. Theo Zanotti) |
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| "Blicky" (feat. Nas Blixky & NiikoSuav) |
2016 | ||
| "Regular" (feat. Theo Zanotti & Suavee Jew) |
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| "Up Next!" (feat. Breezo Blixky & Nas Blixky) |
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| "Suburban" | |||
| "Vamanos" (feat. Ju Laden & Theo Zanotti) |
2017 | ||
| "Ain't Livin My Life" | |||
| "Invest in a Ratchet" (feat. Big Moose 280) |
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| "We On" (feat. Nas Blixky) |
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| "First Day Out / Stuck in the Yams" | |||
| "Why" | 2018 | ||
| "Blicky Da Blicky" | |||
| "Got Those" | |||
| "Spin the Block" (feat. Kodak Black) |
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| "Spazz Out" (feat. PNV Jay & Leeky Bandz) |
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| "Drifting" (AXL Beats, Khay B Flockin, Kush Binflockin, & Breezy Blixky) |
2019 | ||
| "Sniper Gang (Freestyle)" | The Blixky Tape | ||
| "Rerock" (feat. Shawny Binladen) |
Non-album singles | ||
| "Telephone" (feat. MaxThaDemon & Ciggy Blacc) | |||
| "Suburban, Pt. 2" |
|
Growth & Development | |
| "No Questions" | 2020 | ||
| "YTB (Yellow Tape Blixky)" (feat. Shawny Binladen & Big Yaya) |
Non-album singles | ||
| "Do The Most" (feat. PeeGunna) | |||
| "Movie" (Feat. CoachDaGhost) |
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Flexin" (Khay B Flockin featuring 22GZ & Kush Binflockin) |
2016 | Non-album singles |
| "Jet Li, Pt. 2" (Nick Blixky featuring 22GZ) |
2018 | |
| "Drive the Boat" (Nick Blixky featuring 22GZ & Nas Blixky) |
2019 | |
| "Upset" (T'up Ty featuring 22GZ) |
Excuse the Way I Came Up | |
| "Faded Remix" (B1 featuring 22GZ, Ivorian Doll and Dezzie) |
2021 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Collaborating artists | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Flexin" | 2016 | Khay B Flockin, Kush Blixky | Blixky |
| "The Get Back , Pt 1" | 2018 | T'up Ty | T'd Up, Vol. 1 |
| "Sick of Us" | Envy Caine | 2 Many Situations | |
| "Wita Blixky" | 2019 | C-Clip Beatz | Rap & Beats |
| "Extra" | Rooga | Back da Fuck Up | |
| "Hoody Szn" | Nym Lo, 183rd, Casanova | High Horse | |
| "Up the Score" | 2020 | Slayter, Maxo Kream | World Got Me Fucked Up, Vol. 1 |