Logic currently occupies prime real estate in the ever-growing landscape of hip-hop. Over the past three years, he has blossomed into one of the genre’s premier artists, transitioning from lovable underdog to bonafide superstar. His journey has coincided with hip-hop officially becoming the most popular genre of music in the country, making his rise all the more impressive. For casual hip-hop fans, Logic may appear to have come out of nowhere, but success has been years in the making for the Maryland MC.
Unlike many of today’s popular rappers, Logic was not an overnight sensation. He dropped his first mixtape Psychological: The Mixtape in 2009 when he was just 19 years old. His big break into true superstardom came eight years later in 2017, when he released the Khalid and Alessia Cara-assisted “1-800-273-8255”; the song’s title is the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Logic released the song to raise awareness for suicide prevention. It would go on to become the biggest single of Logic’s career to date, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning him nominations for Song of the Year and Video of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. In the eight years between his debut mixtape and his biggest hit to date were eight official projects—two albums and six mixtapes.
Things aren’t slowing down for the 28-year-old rapper, either; he’s scheduled to release his fourth studio album YSIV on Sept. 28. But before we get too ahead of ourselves and start speculating on his future, let’s take a look at his full journey, and the steps he took to get to where he is today. Below is an in-depth look at Logic’s rise to the hip-hop mainstream.
The First Mixtapes
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After years of rapping only to himself, Logic began to take music seriously at around age 15. He released his first mixtape, the bluntly titled Psychological: The Mixtape, at age 19, then under the moniker Psychological. The following year, in 2010, he updated his handle and dropped Young, Broke, and Infamous, a more official project. It was that mixtape that attracted the attention of Chris Zarou, founder of independent label Visionary Music Group.
The 'Young Sinatra' Projects
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With Visionary backing him, Logic worked on building a fanbase via the Young Sinatra series of mixtapes. These releases—Young Sinatra in 2011, Young Sinatra: Undeniable in 2012, and Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever in 2013—showed him making strides in both his artistry and his ability to connect with followers. The mixtapes drew their name from Logic's personal fascination with Frank Sinatra, a figure he latched onto during a rocky patch in adolescence.
His First Record Deal
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Zarou, the record label founder, discovered Logic through YouTube, according to a report from Forbes. He contacted the rapper directly via his personal Facebook page, persuading him to consider a deal with Visionary, which was then in its infancy. Logic signed, becoming the young label's marquee act and beginning a partnership that would carry throughout his career.
Nas Once Tried to Sign Him
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According to Logic, he was being courted by the Queensbridge rap hero in the nascent days of his career. He ultimately turned down the offer for fear of ending up stuck in the long shadow of the man who made Illmatic. Logic rapped about his initial encounter with Nas on "Welcome to Forever," recalling the legend referencing his own bars to him. "Remember meeting Nas for the first time," he rapped. "Shook his hand and he started quoting my lines?"
Signing With Def Jam
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Logic announced in April 2013 that he'd signed a deal with the legacy label. While the public was that year just learning of his connection to Def Jam, Logic had quietly inked a contract with the label in 2011, just five months after the release of his first Young Sinatra mixtape. Still, he told Complex in 2014 that his career up to that point owed mostly to his independent backing. "We wanted to show that we've done it independently and nothing changed," Logic said. "Everything that we've done has been Visionary—Def Jam hasn't done s**t. I'm not complaining, Def Jam is incredible, but Visionary did everything for me."
His Debut Album
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Logic took a break from five consecutive years of mixtape releases in 2014 to drop Under Pressure, his first studio album. The project debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, proving that his mixtape success could translate, and was certified gold by the RIAA two years later. No I.D.—the legendary Chicago producer who helped bring Logic to Def Jam—executive produced the album.
Logic's Second Album
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The rapper kept up his pace, releasing sophomore effort The Incredible True Story, in November 2015. The concept album made its debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, moving 135,000 copies in its first week out. While the album didn't spawn any major singles, the numbers by then reflected Logic's trajectory: He'd nearly doubled the first-week sales of his debut from the previous year.
'Bobby Tarantino'
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Logic returned to mixtape form in 2016 with the surprise release of this project. He would later explain that Bobby Tarantino is an alter ego of sorts, a character separate from the Logic on display when he's working on and releasing albums. The mixtape, which came with a feature from Def Jam labelmate Pusha T, debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200. It was supported by the Endless Summer Tour, co-headlined by Logic and G-Eazy.
His Crossover Moment
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Logic at last entered the mainstream pop culture consciousness with 1-800-273-8255, his emotional single from April 2017 that uses for its name the number to the American National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. "I don't wanna be alive," he chants on the chorus, "I just wanna die today." The track spent 43 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, peaking at No. 3. The song and video were nominated for a Grammy, and Logic performed the tune at the ceremony in 2018.
'Everybody'
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The breakout success of Logic's suicide prevention song gave him his first No. 1 album with this project, which arrived in May 2017. It moved 247,000 album equivalent units in its first week out, a staggering 79.3 percent of which were actual album sales—a portion almost unheard of these days in rap. The figure came as another reminder of just how dedicated Logic's fanbase is, showing that his followers were disproportionately willing to actually purchase his music rather than just stream it.
'Bobby Tarantino II'
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Mixtape Logic returned in 2018 with this sequel, which gave him another No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 chart. Bobby Tarantino II was introduced with a Rick and Morty promo trailer that promised a departure from the more conscious, message-focused Logic content that arrived on the album from the year prior. The mixtape features guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Marshmello, and earlier Logic alter ego Young Sinatra.
$30 Million Deal?
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In a March interview with Zane Lowe for Beats 1, Logic said that he'd signed a new Def Jam deal to the tune of $30 million. He referenced a similar figure on "Wassup" from Bobby Tarantino II, rapping that he'd updated his original contract and told the label he'd accept nothing less than $20 million. A report from TMZ shut down those figures, saying that while Logic had restructured his deal, the sum he earned was not quite as handsome as he'd claimed.
What's Next?
