Lil Zay Osama

Isaiah Jaylaun Dukes, known as Lil Zay Osama, was born on June 3, 1997, in Chicago. He spent his early childhood in the Robert Taylor Homes on the South Side of Chicago. His interest in music began at a young age, with him rapping at eight and recording by the age of ten. His early experiences, including his family background and exposure to gang activity, shaped his musical themes, which he describes as “pain music” covering topics such as grief, trauma, and survival.

Dukes’ career experienced a turning point after a period of incarceration at 16, where he prioritized music, writing rap songs that also incorporated pop and R&B influences. Upon his release in 2017, he returned to the South Side with a renewed focus on his musical ambitions. In 2018, he released eight new tracks on SoundCloud, building momentum for his debut mixtape, “Hood Bible,” in 2019. This mixtape featured the breakout hit “Changed Up,” whose music video garnered over 20 million views on YouTube within a few months, demonstrating his growing appeal and the relatability of his work to a broader audience.

His success led to a recording contract with Warner Records in August 2019. Under this label, he continued to release new music, including collaborations with other artists. His discography includes several mixtapes such as “Trench Baby” (2021), “Trench Baby 2” (2021), “Trench Baby 3” (2022), “4 The Streets” (2023), and “Hood Bible 2” (2023). In September 2024, he released the extended play “The Streets Calling My Name.” His single “Changed Up” achieved Gold certification from the RIAA. This was followed by another Gold certification for “Fuck My Cousin, Pt. II” with Lil Durk in 2022, which also charted on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.