Last Updated on February 24, 2024
Who Is Fetty Wap?
Willie Junior Maxwell II, better known by his stage name Fetty Wap, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer who gained initial fame after releasing his debut single “Trap Queen.” The song reached #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Following the success of “Trap Queen,” Willie Maxwell was able to secure a recording contract with 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Maxwell achieved mainstream success after releasing two more US top-ten singles namely “679” and “My Way.” He eventually released his eponymously-titled debut album in September 2015.
Maxwell earned the stage name ‘Fetty Wap’ as a tribute to his incredible talent for making money. The word ‘Fetty’ is slang for money, whereas the name ‘Wap’ was inspired by Gucci Mane’s moniker GuWop.
As a rapper, Fetty Wap is best known for his unique musical style which seamlessly blends singing and rapping. His music covers the hip-hop, pop, trap, and R&B genres.
Wap is also noted for donning the flag of Haiti, apparently as a tribute to one of his daughter’s late grandmother. Besides donning Haiti-themed clothing, some of the rapper’s songs are also inspired by the Haitian culture.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Willie Junior Maxwell II |
Popular Name: | Fetty Wap |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | June 7, 1991 |
Age: | 32 years |
Parents: | Unknown |
Siblings: | Divinity Maxwell and Twyshon Depew (deceased) |
Birth Place: | Paterson, New Jersey |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | African-American |
Education: | Eastside High School |
Marital Status: | Married |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Leandra K. Gonzalez |
Children: | At least 6 with 5 different women, including Aydin Maxwell with Ariel Reese, Zaviera Maxwell with Lezhae Zeona, Khari Barbie Maxwell with Masika Kalysha, Amani Maxwell with Elaynna Parker, Lauren Maxwell with Turquoise Miami, and Zy Maxwell with Lezhae Zeona |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD 8 million |
Source of Wealth: | Rapping, Singing, Songwriting, Record Producing, Video Gaming, and Other Ventures |
Height: | 6′ 0″ (1.83 m) |
Weight: | 77 kg; In pounds: 169 lbs. |
Early Life
Willie Junior Maxwell II was born on June 7, 1991, in Paterson, New Jersey. His parents are largely unknown.
Maxwell was born with glaucoma in both eyes and had to undergo intensive treatments to reverse the condition. Unfortunately, his doctors could only save his right eye and ended up fitting his left eye with an ocular prosthesis.
Career Information
Fetty Wap became interested in music in 2013. He started off as a rapper but decided to expand into singing as well.
In early 2014, Wap released his debut single, “Trap Queen.” Although the song registered dismal performance initially, it eventually gained major recognition from mid-November 2014. As of the time of writing, “Trap Queen” has garnered more than 130 million SoundCloud plays.
In November 2014, Fetty Wap signed a recording deal with 300 Entertainment and a distribution contract with Atlantic Records.
On July 29, 2015, Wap released his second single, “679.” The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after several weeks. Wap’s next single, “My Way,” was also a major hit, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100.
Fetty Wap released his eponymously-titled debut album on September 25, 2015. The album, which remains Fetty’s only studio album to date, debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200.
Shortly after unveiling his debut album, Wap released two streaming-only mixtapes. They include Coke Zoo (with French Montana) and ZOO 16: The Mixtape (with Zoo Gang).
Fetty Wap has continued releasing music over the next years, including the singles:
• Jimmy Choo – In February 5, 2016
• Wake Up – In April 2016
• Make You Feel Good – In August 2016
• Like a Star (featuring Nicki Minaj) – In November 2016
• Way You Are (featuring Monty) – In January 2017
• Flip Phone – In February 2017
• Aye – In May 2017
• There She Go (featuring Monty) – In August 2017
• Birthday – On June 7, 2019 (during his birthday)
• Brand New – In September 2019
Wap is also associated with a moderately successful video game. On April 26, 2016, reports emerged of plans to launch Wap’s own mobile racing game on various platforms, including phone and tablet as well as Apple TV. The game was created in partnership with renowned automotive brands like Nissan, BMW, and Cadillac.
Awards and Accolades
Fetty Wap has received numerous notable awards over the course of his career, including:
• 1 MC100 Award
• 1 BET Award
• 1 MTV Video Music Award
• 1 iHeartRadio Music Award
• 1 Billboard Music Award
Fetty Wap’s Net Worth
Fetty Wap has enjoyed a successful music career spanning slightly over seven years, during which he has released just one studio album. However, the rapper has amassed incredible wealth from album and record sales, as well as record producing and touring.
As of 2023, Wap had a net worth of $8 million. Some of his most successful musical projects include:
• The single “Trap Queen” – Garnered over 130 million SoundCloud plays within a few months of release
• The single “679” – Peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100
• The album ‘Fetty Wap’ – Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 129,000 equivalent album units, including 75,484 in pure album sales
In addition to music, a significant portion of Fetty Wap’s income also comes from video games and social media. The rapper is also reported to have invested in stocks.
Lessons from Fetty Wap
1. Be comfortable in your own skin
Fetty Wap was born with glaucoma in both eyes. Unfortunately, doctors couldn’t save his left eye and he had to wear a prosthetic eye for the better part of his youth. During this period, Wap became an object of ridicule on account of his disability. After months of fighting his teasers, he decided to embrace his disability and got rid of the prosthetic eye altogether.
2. Be proud of where you came from
The official music video for Wap’s single “Wake Up” was filmed at his former school, Eastside High School. This was unquestionably a special tribute to an alma mater by a great rapper.
3. Every career has its own challenges
Despite being a successful rapper, Fetty Wap’s music career hasn’t been without its setbacks. Wap has been a subject of multiple lawsuits throughout his music career. He has been sued for assault, defamation, property damage, and even copyright infringement.
Famous Quotes by Fetty Wap
“Don’t let nobody tell you that you can’t do it. Love what you do until you don’t love it anymore. Nothing’s impossible.”
“I don’t ever try to make a song better than my last song. I just try to make it different from my last one.”
“I’ve always been my own person. I don’t do what people want me to do. Like, if you want me to do that, I’m going to do the complete opposite.”
My whole thing is loyalty. Loyalty over royalty; word is bond.”
“Once I come up with the concept, the rest of the song just comes.”
Conclusion
Fetty Wap is a rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer who broke into the limelight in 2013. Although the rapper has only released one studio album to date, he has made a name for himself through his highly successful singles and mixtapes. Wap has a net worth of $8 million as of 2023.