Name: Aminé
Reppin’: Portland, Ore.
Genre: Rap
While West Coast rap conversations are dominated by California, the oft-forgotten states of Washington and Oregon have been producing their own waves in spurts. Sir Mix-a-Lot and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have brought platinum plaques back to the Evergreen State. Now, Portland rapper Aminé is currently blazing trails. In less than a year, the 22-year-old MC has gone from little-known artist, to owner of one of the biggest viral hits in the country, “Caroline,” which peaked at No. 3 on the iTunes charts behind only Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” and Drake’s “Fake Love,” in late 2016.
Growing up the son of Ethiopian immigrants, Adam Aminé Daniel first had dreams of playing basketball. When his true passion turned into music, he decided to go all in. The aspiring artist put out his first project Odyssey to Me in 2014. Later that year, he dropped the EP En Vogue. Both projects earned some buzz in the region.
In August 2015, he released his sophomore mixtape Calling Brio and signed a deal with Republic Records, the same month.
Aminé’s big break came last March, when he dropped the single “Caroline,” a fun, upbeat rap/R&B jam that quickly took off. “If I say you’re a Caroline, it’s like you are a very beautiful woman,” he told RapGenius about the meaning behind the catchy tune. “Like, you’re gorgeous, type thing.”
The song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. As of press time, the accompanying video for the track has over 107 million views on YouTube.
The song’s popularity has been taking Aminé places. In November, he made his national TV debut performing his hit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
2017 should be filled with resume-padding moments, as the growing buzz continues to heat up with the weather. He is currently slated to perform at this year’s South by Southwest Festival in March.
Check out some of his videos below.
“Caroline”
“YeYe”
“Caroline” of Fallon
