The mystique surrounding 4batz has started to dissipate. When he first appeared on timelines donning a black shiesty and gold grillz, he shocked the world, opening his mouth not to rap of slew of slaughter gang bars (like you were expecting) but to sing smooth pitch-up melodies.
The confusion only grew as little was found about him online, but his presence was inescapable. In the first four months of 2024, he went viral for FaceTiming with Ye, amassed co-signs from Timbaland and SZA, and had Drake remix his song “act ii: Date @ 8.”
This was all leading up to the release of his debut EP, U Made Me a St4r, in May, complete with a solo feature from Ye.
Finally, he started to pull back the curtain on who he was. First, he did a voice reveal on Adin Ross’ stream (spoiler alert: He doesn’t sound like his music) and then did interviews with Complex and GQ, revealing his origin story, which doubles as his villain arc.
Find every question you’ve had about the mysterious artist answered below.
He’s From Dallas, Texas
Prone to unfortunate circumstances, 4batz often wondered if he was cursed growing up in Dallas, calling the area he’s from “the slums” rather than “the hood.”
He never had a real home, telling GQ he only lived in an apartment once or twice when he was growing up. “The rest of the time I was living with my uncle, my grandma, sleeping on the floor. I slept in a church for four years.”
There’s a Meaning Behind “4batz”
The “4” is an homage to the part of South Dallas he’s from, and “Batz” is an endearing nickname he got for frequently fighting and always holding it down. “You know—when you bat [someone] the fuck outta here,” he says in his own words.
His Shiesty R&B Persona is Inspired by Real-Life Experiences
Although the contrast between his look and his sound was undeniably a great marketing move, it’s an authentic representation of who he is. He grew up listening to R&B classics like Mint Condition, 112, Sade and Anita Baker—introduced to him by his mother and grandmother.
But he also had an affinity for Tupac and DMX, thanks to his father’s influence before he passed. Add Chief Keef, a rapper he found on his own, and suddenly, 4batz’s look and sound don’t seem so far-fetched.
There was a “aha” moment when 4batz realized he could embody the persona he has today. “I remember those times I was in a stolo,” he said to GQ, referring to a stolen car, “in Dallas, pushing that ho on the highway, and Aaliyah comes on while I’m sipping lean, or while I’m, like, clutching my gun. And I realized, Why is this [considered] yin and yang? Why has nobody put these [feelings] together? And I said, You know what? I’m that. Why can’t I?”
Heartbreak Changed His Career
4batz’s villain arc starts the way most do…with a girl. In his GQ interview, he recounts being down bad over a Chicago shorty who would come visit him often. They did long distance for three years, and he was considering moving in with her. But as he was planning on taking his first flight ever to see her…
“Then she called my phone,” he says, “and she said, ‘Batz, I don’t want to be with you no more. I’m just not f*cking with you.’ Around that same time, literally a month before that, my pops died.”
“So I said, ‘All right, well, if you do that, I’m going to blow the f*ck up. I’m going to be on all these interviews, I’m going to be on all these blogs, I’m going to be on all these motherfucking…. I’m going to be everywhere, and I’m going to shit on you. I’m going to make you feel bad.’”
The next morning, his ex was already posting with her new man. Adding insult to injury, her new bf was the co-worker she told 4batz not to worry about when they were dating. He went into a deep depression and hit rock bottom, grieving the loss of his father and girlfriend.
His Ex Inspired His First Song and Debut EP
Faced with the decision to sink or swim, 4batz used his heartbreak and spite to fuel his determination. He turned all his attention back to music, which he neglected during his relationship, and tried to get out of the street life that inspired his persona.
He worked 12-hour shifts at a warehouse and committed to a three-song-a-night regimen, downloading beats from YouTube. After many attempts, the song that changed his career was inspired by his ex.
“I might just call and catch a plane, I might just come see you today,” 4batz sings at the beginning of “act i: stickerz “99”’ recalling the flight to see his ex that he never took. It was his first official song that led to the virality he’s had in the last year, making good on his promise to get back at her.
Not only was 4batz’s ex a fan of Adin Ross’ stream (which he appeared on), but she’s also featured on the cover of his debut EP in the photo he’s holding, which has a big X drawn over it.
Taking it to a level of petty that Drake would be proud of, he named his tour Thank U, Jada, giving her a backhanded compliment for her contribution to his success.
