Jeremih

Jeremy Phillip Felton, known professionally as Jeremih, was born on July 17, 1987, in Chicago, Illinois. His musical journey began early, playing drums at age three and mastering instruments like the saxophone, percussion, and piano/keyboards. He attended Morgan Park High School, where he participated in the marching band and a Latin jazz band, consistently achieving academic honors that allowed him to graduate early. After initial studies in engineering at the University of Illinois and Parkland College, he transferred to Columbia College Chicago in 2007 to pursue a degree in music business, a turning point that led him to recognize his vocal talents.

Jeremih’s professional career launched in 2008 when he collaborated with record producer Mick Schultz. This partnership led to his signing with Def Jam Recordings in February 2009 after an audition for CEO Russell Simmons and A&R executive Karen Kwak. His debut single, “Birthday Sex,” released in 2009, quickly rose to number four on the Billboard Hot 100, preceding his self-titled debut album, which reached number six on the Billboard 200. This early success was followed by another hit, “Down on Me” featuring 50 Cent in 2010, which secured the number-one position on the Rhythmic Billboard chart for eight weeks and achieved sextuple platinum certification from the RIAA.

His career continued with notable milestones including the release of his third album, “Late Nights: The Album,” in 2015, which featured quintuple platinum singles like “Don’t Tell ‘Em” (featuring YG), “Oui,” and “Planez” (featuring J. Cole). Jeremih co-wrote Rihanna’s song “Woo” from her album “Anti” in 2016 and formed the duo MihTy with Ty Dolla Sign, releasing an eponymous collaborative album in 2018. After 15 years with Def Jam Recordings, Jeremih embarked on an independent career in February 2024, releasing his first independent single, “Wait on It,” featuring Bryson Tiller and Chris Brown, and establishing Late Nightz Records to support emerging artists like Murf Dilly.