Compton rapper Tyga quickly moved from independent hustling to major label superstardom, all on the strength of his charismatic style and effortless talent. Self-funded mixtapes gave way to Billboard charting albums like 2013’s Hotel California and 2019’s Legendary.

Tyga was born Michael Ray Stevenson in 1989 and began rapping in the early 2000s. Taking the name Tyga (which stands for Thank You God Always,) he produced multiple mixtapes that showcased his swagger-heavy style. After recording a mixtape and promoting it around the city, Tyga ran into his cousin, Gym Class Heroes member Travis McCoy, in the Flight Club L.A. sneaker shop. Their conversation went from shoes to rappers, and as Travis’ group went from unknowns to MTV stars, he would always remember that talk and his cousin’s unique style.