Nicholas Alexander Simmons (born December 18, 1999), known professionally as YBN Nahmir (Initialism for Young Boss Nigga Nahmir), is an American rapper.[3][4] He was the de facto lead member of the short-lived hip hop collective YBN, and is best known for his 2017 single "Rubbin Off the Paint", which peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] His 2018 single, "Bounce Out with That" peaked atop the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. His 2019 single, "Opp Stoppa" (remixed featuring 21 Savage) peaked at number 78 on the former chart and preceded the release of his debut studio album Visionland (2021), which was met with critical and commercial failure.[6]

YBN Nahmir
YBN Nahmir performing in 2018
YBN Nahmir performing in 2018
Background information
Birth nameNicholas Alexander Simmons[1]
Born (1999-12-18) December 18, 1999 (age 24)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2014–present
Labels
  • Atlantic/Art@War (2018–2022)
  • Def Jam (2022–2023)
  • Independent (2023–present)
Formerly ofYBN
Websitey-b-n.com

Early life

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Nicholas Simmons was born on December 18, 1999, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was raised in a home with his mother, his cousins and his aunt.[7] Simmons attended Clay-Chalkville High School in Clay, Alabama, though dropped out following the success of "Rubbin Off the Paint;"[8] he graduated in May 2018.[9]

Simmons' interest in music started when he was fourteen years old and was gifted an Xbox 360 for Christmas.[7] Simmons began to play the video game Rock Band (which he would later use to record his first song.)[10] and eventually moved to playing Grand Theft Auto V and then started recording gameplay videos where he would generate a following on YouTube.[11] During his time playing Grand Theft Auto V, Simmons would freestyle in Xbox Live parties and alongside numerous other friends, established the Young Boss Niggas collective.[12]

Career

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YBN Nahmir in April 2017 at the age of 17.

Simmons formed the hip hop collective YBN (an acronym for Young Boss Niggas) in Birmingham, Alabama in 2014 composed by him, YBN Almighty Jay, YBN Cordae, YBN Glizzy, his cousin YBN Manny, YBN Walker, YBN Nicky Baandz, YBN Malik, YBN Carl and YBN Dayday.[13]

Simmons uploaded his first song onto YouTube when he was fifteen with fellow YBN member, YBN Almighty Jay. The song, titled "Hood Mentality" was uploaded on March 21, 2015, to barely any reception.[12][14] Simmons uploaded several more songs to YouTube before releasing his first mixtape on January 2, 2017, titled Believe In The Glo on SoundCloud.[15] Simmons uploaded his second mixtape to SoundCloud on January 21, 2017.[16]

Simmons released "Rubbin Off the Paint" on September 18, 2017, to WorldStarHipHop's YouTube channel.[17] The song quickly went viral with Simmons explaining it as "blowing up overnight."[18] After the success of the song, Simmons began to skip school due to hot weather and exceptional popularity, and was forced to start online classes.[7] The song debuted at 79 on the Billboard Hot 100[19] and peaked at 46.[20]

In November 2017, Simmons was involved in controversy following his song being claimed by a record label after his manager sold the instrumental for the song to a third-party.[21] In response, Simmons now has an in-house producer for his instrumentals who is a member of the YBN collective.[7] Simmons released six more tracks in 2017.

On January 23, 2018, Simmons released "Bounce Out with That" on Lyrical Lemonade's YouTube channel.[22] The song wasn't available on streaming services for up to three days after the release of the music video. The song has accumulated over 159 million views on YouTube after its release.[23]

In April 2018, Simmons signed with Atlantic Records.[24] He was later named as one of the members of XXL's "2018 Freshman Class" on June 12, 2018, competing in a cypher with Stefflon Don and Wifisfuneral.[25]

On July 13, 2018, Simmons announced via Twitter he would do a Tour in Europe in the fall 2018 with Almighty Jay and Cordae.[26] They would visit France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and more.[27] The collective YBN released YBN: The Mixtape in 2018 with Gucci Mane, MGK and Lil Skies, between others.[28][29]

On March 22, 2019, he released "Baby 8".[30] On June 10, 2019, he released a music video called "Opp Stoppa".[31]

On March 26, 2021, Simmons released his debut album Visionland.

On July 9, 2022, Simmons has confirmed to have signed a new recording deal with Def Jam Recordings, making him the second artist to draft instantly to the latter from Atlantic Records since Fabolous in 2006.[32][33]

On February 23, 2024, he released “BEAM” with Indian Rapper MC NIKHIL.

In an Instagram story in July 2024, Nahmir confirmed he was an independent artist.

Musical style

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Nahmir lists his main influences as rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area such as E-40.[12] Talking on his influences in an interview with Billboard, Simmons stated that the lack of mainstream rappers from Birmingham made him listen to more artists from the West Coast such as Eazy-E and Tupac.[34][35]

Personal life

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Simmons currently resides in Los Angeles, California. In August 2018, he began a relationship with social media influencer Sahlt. In 2021, it was announced that the two had ended their relationship.

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Details
Visionland

Extended Plays

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List of Extended Plays, with selected details
Title Details
Faster Car Music[36]

Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with selected chart positions and details
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[37]
US R&B/HH
[38]
US
Rap

[39]
CAN
[40]
Head Honcho
  • Released October 5, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Believe in the Glo
#YBN
  • Released: January 21, 2017[42]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
YBN: The Mixtape
(with Almighty Jay, and Cordae)
  • Released: September 7, 2018[29]
  • Label: Atlantic, Art@War
  • Formats: Digital download
21 13 12 19
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[45]
US
R&B/HH

[46]
US
Rap

[47]
CAN
[48]
NZ
Hot

[49]
"I Got a Stick"[50] 2017 Non-album singles
"Glizzy Hella Geekin"[51]
"No Hook"
(with YBN Almighty Jay)[52]
"Bail Out"[53]
"Rubbin Off the Paint" 46 17 15 85 - YBN: The Mixtape
"Bounce Out with That"
(solo or with Machine Gun Kelly)[54]
2018 [A] 47 76
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[43]
  • MC: 2× Platinum[44]
"Baby 8"[56] 2019 Non-album singles
"Fuck It Up"
(featuring City Girls and Tyga)[57]
"Opp Stoppa"
(solo or featuring 21 Savage)
78 29 23 72 30
"Talkin" 2020
"2 Seater"
(featuring G-Eazy and Offset)[58]
32 Visionland
"I Remember" Non-album singles
"Pop Like This"
(featuring Yo Gotti)
"Wake Up" Visionland
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[59]
US
R&B/HH

[60]
CAN
[61]
"Hi Bich (Remix)"
(Bhad Bhabie featuring YBN Nahmir, Rich the Kid and Asian Da Brat)[62]
2018 Non-album single
"1942"
(G-Eazy featuring Yo Gotti and YBN Nahmir)
70 29 90 Uncle Drew
"Juveniles"
(Wifisfuneral featuring YBN Nahmir)[64]
Ethernet
"Eastside"
(Joose featuring YBN Nahmir)[65]
Non-album singles
"Big Chop"
(Cuban Doll featuring YBN Nahmir)[66]
"RUN IT UP"
(DDG featuring Blac Youngsta, G Herbo and YBN Nahmir)[67]
Sorry 4 the Hold Up and VALEDICTORIAN
"Spaz"
(Bhad Bhabie featuring YBN Nahmir)[68]
Non-album singles
"Done with Her"
(Khao featuring Gucci Mane, Lil Baby, Tabius Tate and YBN Nahmir)[69]
2019
"I Might"
(Lil Xan featuring Steven Cannon, YBN Almighty Jay and YBN Nahmir)[70]
"Thot Box"
(Hitmaka featuring Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Tyga and YBN Nahmir)
Big Tuh
"Braces"
(Prince Taee featuring YBN Nahmir)[71]
2021 Non-album single
"Victory"
(Dvbbs featuring YBN Nahmir)[72]
Sleep
"Who Is That"
(Kernald featuring YBN Nahmir)[73]
2024 Non-Album Single
“BEAM” (MC NIKHIL featuring YBN Nahmir) BEAM(feat. YBN Nahmir) - Single by MC NIKHIL, retrieved February 23, 2024
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Bounce Out with That" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[55]

References

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  1. ^ "ACE Repertory". February 6, 2017. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Burford, Corinna (April 4, 2018). "How to Tell All the SoundCloud Rappers Apart". Vulture.com. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  3. ^ Plante, Corey (November 29, 2017). "YBN Nahmir Has Got Bad News About 'Rick and Morty'". Inverse. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  4. ^ "10 New Artists You Need to Know Now". Rolling Stone. November 22, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Penrose, Nerisha (November 15, 2017). "YBN Nahmir Details Drama Behind Viral Hit 'Rubbin Off the Paint'". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "YBN Nahmir – Visionland". Pitchfork.
  7. ^ a b c d Kochhar, Nazuk (October 18, 2017). "How YBN Nahmir went from gamer kid to rising rapper". The Fader. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  8. ^ REAL 92.3 LA (December 4, 2017). YBN Nahmir Talks Going To Prom, Sleeping w/ 30 Year Olds, "Rubbin Off The Paint" (YouTube). Retrieved January 30, 2018.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Boyd, Jared (December 21, 2017). "Viral Birmingham rapper YBN Nahmir hosts Christmas toy giveaway with local radio station". Al.com.
  10. ^ "YBN Nahmir's "Rubbin Off The Paint" Is About To Be Your New Favorite Song, Meet The 17 Year Old Rapper In His First Interview". The Masked Gorilla. 2017. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  11. ^ CapGod 1 (August 22, 2017). GTA 5 SCHOOL KIDS #56 (YBN Nahmir) (YouTube). Retrieved January 30, 2018.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ a b c C.M., Emmanuel (November 24, 2017). "The Break Presents: YBN Nahmir". XXL Mag. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (May 24, 2018). "Meet all the members of YBN, a new kind of internet rap clique". The Fader. Wondersauce. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  14. ^ "Nahmir x Almighty Jay - Hood Mentality". YouTube. March 26, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Believe In The Glo". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "YBN", Soundcloud.com, retrieved January 30, 2018
  17. ^ "YBN Nahmir "Rubbin Off The Paint" (Prod. by Izak) (WSHH Exclusive - Official Music Video)". YouTube. September 18, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  18. ^ "Hot 100 Q&A: 18-Year-Old Rapper YBN Nahmir on How Cartoons Inspired His Breakthrough Hit". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "Songs By N.E.R.D. & Rihanna, YBN Nahmir, More Debut On Billboard Hot 100". Headline Planet. November 14, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  20. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  21. ^ "YBN Nahmir Details Drama Behind Viral Hit 'Rubbin Off the Paint'". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  22. ^ "YBN Nahmir Drops Cole Bennett Directed "Bounce Out With That"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  23. ^ "Bounce out With That" from Bounce out With That - Single by YBN Nahmir on iTunes, January 26, 2018, retrieved January 30, 2018
  24. ^ jbanks (April 25, 2018). "YBN Nahmir On Recording With His Xbox Headset, Signing to Atlantic Records & More!". Power 106. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  25. ^ "XXL 2018 Freshman Class Revealed". XXL. June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  26. ^ Berry, Peter A. (July 13, 2018). "YBN Nahmir Shares Dates for European Tour". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  27. ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (September 1, 2018). "YBN Nahmir and Instagram Star Sahlt Spark Dating Rumors". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  28. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (September 7, 2018). "YBN Crew Releases New Mixtape f/ Gucci Mane, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Skies, and More". Complex. Complex Media, Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  29. ^ a b "YBN: The Mixtape by YBN Almighty Jay, YBN Cordae & YBN Nahmir". Apple Music. September 7, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  30. ^ Darville, Jordan (March 22, 2019). "YBN Nahmir shares video for "Baby 8"". The Fader. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  31. ^ Cowen, Trace William (June 11, 2019). "YBN Nahmir Keeps It Brief in New "Opp Stoppa" Video". Complex.com. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  32. ^ "YBN NAHMIR on Twitter: "it's official. @defjam 🥂 https://t.co/ut81SPtkqT" / Twitter". July 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  33. ^ "Def Jam Recordings on Twitter: "Welcome @YBNNahmir to the Def Jam Family 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/LzsgT178DK" / Twitter". July 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  34. ^ "YBN Nahmir Premieres New Songs that he wrote 'Popped Up,' Talks Surprise 'Rubbin Off the Paint' Success". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  35. ^ "Meet YBN Nahmir: Alabama's "Rubbin Off The Paint" Star". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  36. ^ "YBN Nahmir - Faster Car Music". Apple Music. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "Billboard 200 – September 22, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  38. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – September 22, 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  39. ^ "Top Rap Albums – September 22, 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  40. ^ "Canadian Albums Chart – September 22, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  41. ^ "Believe In The Glo". MixTape Monkey. 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  42. ^ "#YBN". MixTape Monkey. 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  43. ^ a b c d "American certifications – YBN Nahmir". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  44. ^ a b c d "Canadian certifications – YBN Nahmir". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  45. ^ "Billboard Hot 100: December 16, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  46. ^ Peak chart positions:
  47. ^ "Hot Rap Songs: December 16, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  48. ^ Peak chart positions:
  49. ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
  50. ^ "I Got a Stick - Single by YBN Nahmir". iTunes. October 25, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  51. ^ "Glizzy Hella Geekin - Single by YBN Nahmir". iTunes. October 25, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  52. ^ "No Hook - Single by YBN Nahmir & YBN Almighty Jay". iTunes. December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  53. ^ "Bail Out - Single by YBN Nahmir on Apple Music". iTunes. December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  54. ^ "YBN Nahmir Drops Cole Bennett Directed "Bounce Out With That"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  55. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: March 10, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  56. ^ "Baby 8 - Single by YBN Nahmir on Apple Music". Apple Music. March 29, 2019.
  57. ^ "F**k It Up – Single by YBN Nahmir on Apple Music". Apple Music. July 19, 2019.
  58. ^ "2 Seater (feat. G-Eazy & Offset) - Single by YBN Nahmir", Apple Music, archived from the original on April 3, 2020, retrieved March 13, 2020
  59. ^ "G-Eazy - Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  60. ^ "G-Eazy - Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  61. ^ "G-Eazy – Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  62. ^ "Hi Bich (Remix) - Single by Bhad Bhabie on Apple Music". Apple Music. January 16, 2018.
  63. ^ "American certifications – YBN Nahmir". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  64. ^ "Juveniles - Single by Wifisfuneral on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  65. ^ "Eastside - Single by Joose on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  66. ^ "Big Chop - Single by Cuban Doll on Apple Music". Apple Music.
  67. ^ "Run It Up - Single by DDG on Apple Music". Apple Music.
  68. ^ "Spaz - Single by Bhad Bhabie on Apple Music". Apple Music.
  69. ^ "Done With Her - Single by Khao on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  70. ^ "I Might - Single by Lil Xan on Apple Music". Apple Music.
  71. ^ BRACES (feat. YBN Nahmir) - Single by Prince Taee, retrieved May 17, 2021
  72. ^ "Victory (feat. YBN Nahmir) - Single by DVBBS on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  73. ^ "Victory (feat. YBN Nahmir) - Single by Kernald on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
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