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David Alex Villegas (born December 19, 1995), known by his stage name Skinnyfromthe9 (formerly stylized $kinnyFromThe9), is an American rapper and singer from Somerville, New Jersey. He first gained widespread attention after releasing his song "Love Blast" in late 2017. He signed to L.A. Reid's record label, HITCO, in 2018. He released his debut mixtape, Highly Clouted, in July 2016.

Early life

David Alex Villegas was born in Hialeah, Florida. He is of mixed Puerto Rican, Colombian, and Dominican descent. He grew up largely in Somerville, New Jersey, although he and his family moved around frequently. As a child, his father was imprisoned, and his mother became involved with another man. During Villegas' adolescence, his mother and stepfather engaged in scams and identity fraud until his stepfather was eventually caught and spent time in prison. Villegas also spent time living in homeless shelters and hotels as a youth. He began focusing on hip hop as a teenager after his father purchased a mic for him. He adopted the stage name, Skinnyfromthe9, because his nickname was "Skinny" and he was from area code 908 (colloquially, "the 9").

Career

Skinnyfromthe9 began putting his music on SoundCloud in 2016. In 2017, he released the songs, "Family Rich" featuring Jay Critch and "Count It" featuring Stitches. In late 2017, he released the single, "Love Blast," which would go on to accumulate more than 3.5 million streams on SoundCloud. In January 2018, Skinny joined Fetty Wap on his "FMF Tour." Later that year, it was announced that he had signed to L.A. Reid's new record label, HITCO.

In April 2018, he released a music video for "Love Blast" and also released the single, "Back When I Was Broke." The following month, he published music videos for "Back When I Was Broke" and "Pink Choppas." Rappers Wiz Khalifa and Russ made cameos in the former video. Later that month, Skinny also released the songs, "Space" and "I Drip."

Beginning in June 2018, Skinny was supposed to join rapper, 24hrs, on his "3200 Lenox Rd." tour, but 24hrs was hospitalized in June, and the tour was canceled. In July 2018, Skinny made a cameo appearance in the video for PnB Rock's "London." The following month, he released the single, "Jump Out That," featuring PnB Rock. Later in August, Skinny was arrested on suspicion of simple assault and theft.

In October 2018, while serving time in jail, he released a freestyle rap along with two more songs, "Alone" and "Songs About You." He was released from jail in November 2018. Soon after his release, he published the music video for his song, "Just Left Jail." His mixtape, It's An Evil World, was released on November 30, 2018, through HITCO. It featured guest appearances from Fetty Wap, PnB Rock, and Kap G.

Legal issues

Since 2014, Skinnyfromthe9 has been charged with several minor offenses such as shoplifting and reckless driving. Many of those charges were later dropped.

In August 2018, Skinny, his father, his brother, and a fourth defendant were arrested and charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault in relation to an incident in Somerset County, New Jersey in which the four men were accused of luring another man into a vehicle and striking him. In September, the charges for Skinny were downgraded to luring an adult, simple assault, and theft after he took a plea deal that also allowed him to avoid prison time in exchange for a probation sentence. Skinny has maintained his innocence, claiming that the person who brought charges against him stole a chain worth $8,000.

Discography

Mixtapes

Extended plays

Singles

References

1. "SKINNYFROMTHE9 REVEALS HE'S HOMELESS ON THE 'WORST BIRTHDAY' OF HIS LIFE". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
2. III, Robby Seabrook. "Skinnyfromthe9 and Fetty Wap Have a Joint Mixtape on the Way". XXL Mag. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
3. Espinoza, Joshua (August 11, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Arrested on Assault and Kidnapping Charges". Complex. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
4. ^ Coe, Kairi (March 23, 2018). "The Break Presents: SkinnyFromthe9". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
5. ^ Burney, Lawrence (May 4, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9's "Back When I Was Broke" Is an Ode to Perseverance". Noisey. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
6. Powell, Jon (June 13, 2018). "RESPECT. Interview: Skinnyfromthe9". RESPECT. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
7. Dicello, Josh (November 4, 2017). "Skinnyfromthe9 & Stitches drop visuals for their latest track 'Count It'". Woke Online. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
8. White, Omari (December 1, 2017). "On The Radar: Skinnyfromthe9 – "Love Blast"". RESPECT. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
9. Gross, Paige (August 20, 2018). "Rapper who toured with Fetty Wap arrested, facing kidnapping, assault charges". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
10. Todd, Jessica (July 12, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Skinnyfromthe9 on $5M Deal with L.A. Reid, Pulling Up to Old School in Lambo". VladTV. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
11. ^ Seabrook III, Robby (August 3, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 'Jump Out That' Video Featuring PnB Rock: Watch Them Hit the Open Road". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
12. Mojica, Nick (April 2, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Lets 'Love Blast' in New Video". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
13. Maduakolam, Emmanuel (April 17, 2018). "SkinnyFromthe9 Drops 'Back When I Was Broke'". HypeBeast. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
14. Seabrook III, Robby (May 3, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Shows Off a New Droptop in 'Pink Choppas' Video". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
15. India, Lindsey (May 8, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Surrounds Himself With Models and Mansions in 'Back When I Was Broke' Video". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
16. ^ Miller, Kai (June 4, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Drops New Videos for "Space" and "I Drip"". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
17. A., Aron (June 15, 2018). "24Hrs Announces Social Media Hiatus After Being Admitted to the Hospital". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
18. Seabrook III, Robby (July 16, 2018). "PnB Rock Throws a Wild Pool Party in New "London" Video". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
19. ^ Russell, Suzanne (August 10, 2018). "Somerville rap artist 'skinnyfromthe9,' 3 others charged in kidnapping". Bridgewater Courier News. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
20. ^ Muscavage, Nick (September 27, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9, Somerville rapper, released from jail". Bridgewater Courier News. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
21. Orcutt, KC (October 12, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Shares New Freestyle From Jail". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
22. Coe, Kairi (November 5, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Released From Jail, Thinks Overcoming Sentence Will Make Him an All-Time Great". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
23. Marsh, Ryan (November 19, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 – Just Left Jail (Official Music Video)". Rap Wave. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
24. Haffenden, Dayna (November 14, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 'It's an Evil World' Project Tracklist Features Fetty Wap, PnB Rock and More". XXL. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
25. A., Aron (December 4, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9 Drops "It's A Evil World" Ft. PnB Rock, Fetty Wap & Kap G". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
26. Tiamoyo Harris, Taylor (June 19, 2018). "Rapper labeled a criminal by some, but millions are listening to his music". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
27. Muscavage, Nick (November 8, 2018). "Skinnyfromthe9, Somerville rap artist, talks new album, Manville show". Bridgewater Courier News. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
28. "Genius – Skinnyfromthe9 – Highly Clouted". July 6, 2016.
29. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – No Losses". December 19, 2016.
30. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – It's An Evil World". November 30, 2018.
31. "Genius – Skinnyfromthe9 – Skinny Wit The Zoo". June 28, 2019.
32. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – Love Me Now". March 12, 2021.
33. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – No More Favors". December 1, 2023.
34. "SoundCloud – Skinnyfromthe9 – #FreeSkinny". 2018.
35. "SoundCloud – Skinnyfromthe9 – 9 Tail Fox Mode". March 13, 2020.
36. "YouTube – Skinnyfromthe9 – 9 Tail Fox Mode". March 13, 2020.
37. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – Hearts On Fire". August 12, 2022.
38. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – Money In The Bank". January 26, 2023.
39. "Spotify – Skinnyfromthe9 – Forever Ballin". May 20, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Skinnyfromthe9 on SoundCloud

• 1995 births
• Living people
• Rappers from New Jersey
• East Coast hip-hop musicians
• 21st-century American rappers
• American hip-hop singers
• People from Hialeah, Florida
• Musicians from Somerville, New Jersey