TeeFlii

Christian Joel Jones (born July 17, 1987), better known by his stage name TeeFlii (stylized as TeeFLii), is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and dancer from South Los Angeles, California. He is currently signed to E1 Music. He is best known for his debut commercial single "24 Hours", which was premiered in March 2014, and features 2 Chainz. His debut studio album Starr was released February 3, 2015 by Epic Records.

TeeFlii Jones
TeeFlii performing in 2013
Background information
Birth nameChristian Joel Jones
Born (1987-07-17) July 17, 1987
OriginSouth Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record producer
  • dancer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • organ
  • piano
  • guitar
  • drums
Years active2007–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websiteteeflii.com

Early life

TeeFlii developed an interest in music as a child attending church, drawn to keyboards after seeing how much his grandfather, who was a pastor, paid his organ players.[1] Frequenting his grandfather's church, he learned to play multiple instruments, such as the organ, piano, guitar and drums.[2] He played drums for Barbra Streisand at a Democratic Party event. Music helped provide stability in his life, as his mother battled drug addiction throughout his childhood, and he did not know his biological father until his teens. TeeFlii began smoking marijuana at age eight and moved out of his parents' place for good at age thirteen.[2] He described his childhood self by saying, "I was bad—fighting, stealing. I’d go take your bike, bring it to my backyard, spray-paint it, try to ride it around."[1]

As a teenager, TeeFlii began dancing and krumping, performing under the name Baby Tight Eyez, and earned placement in a few early Chris Brown music videos as well as appearing in a major role in Rize, David LaChapelle's 2005 documentary about Los Angeles' Krump scene. After the film was released, by the time he was 19, he had been living at various friends' houses, and after having his first daughter he went through an issue with the mother, where he lost visitation rights. He then started writing songs for other people to "get the vent off" and started seeing a better chance at stability in his life, so he pushed himself as an artist.[1]

He created his stage name partially from his experience in the movie "Rize." He says in an interview, "TeeFLii came from dancing. I was in the Rize movie, and my name in the movie was Baby Tight Eyez. I was under somebody in dancing named Tight Eyez, then I wanted to branch off and do my own thing when I started getting older. I wanted to have my own name and something I could say that I did for myself. I grew up under another dude named Flii Stylz who choreographed for Chris Brown, Usher, Omarion, everybody in the game. I took a liking to him and next thing I knew, I just took the name TeeFLii."[3]

Musical career
TeeFlii (left) performing with frequent collaborator Nipsey Hussle in December 2013.

Early on his career prior to releasing his first project, TeeFlii collaborated with West Coast-based rappers such as Problem, YG, Nipsey Hussle and Skeme.[2] His debut mixtape AnNieRuO'TAY 1 was released on November 21, 2012. It featured collaborations with Skeme, Problem, Bad Lucc, and Nipsey Hussle among others.[4] AnNieRuO'TAY 1 was met with generally positive reviews from music critics.[5] His second official mixtape AnNieRuO'TAY 2: The TakeOver was released on March 5, 2013.[6] It featured production by DJ Mustard, 1500 or Nothin' and TeeFlii himself. At the same time he was recording his next mixtape, a project entirely produced by DJ Mustard to be released soon.[6] He also indicated that he was working on a project with Nipsey Hussle.[7] AnNieRuO'TAY 2 was met with mainstream coverage from publications such as Chicago Reader,[8] and Fact,[9] among others.

On July 4, 2013, TeeFlii released his third mixtape in eight months, the DJ Mustard-produced Fireworks. It featured collaborations with Dom Kennedy, Casey Veggies, Ty Dolla Sign, Omarion and E-40, among others.[10] The mixtape would receive positive reviews upon release, Stereogum would end up naming it the "Mixtape of the Week".[11] Rolling Stone also would name it the fourth best mixtape of 2013. They said, "Where Mustard's beats normally evoke a strip club's booty-whomp, here he pushes himself, brilliantly, towards R&B smoothness."[12] On July 16, 2013, the music video for "This D" was premiered by Vice.[13] In August 2013, TeeFlii signed to Epic Records after being actively persuaded by label executive L.A. Reid.[1] Then on October 2, 2013, "This D" was released as his debut single.[13] The following day, he released the remix to "This D", featuring Jadakiss and Tyga.[14] After "This D" received major radio rotation in Los Angeles, he got a major co-sign from rapper Snoop Dogg.[15] The song would peak at number 35 on the US Billboard Rhythmic chart.[16]

In October 2013, LA Weekly named TeeFlii the best R&B singer in Los Angeles.[17] On November 25, 2013, he released his fourth mixtape AnnieRUO'TAY 3: Who The Fuck Is Annie?. The seventeen track mixtape featured a collaboration with Dom Kennedy and production by The Futuristiks and himself, among others.[18][19] On December 9, 2013, "That's How We Livin'" a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Warren G was released. It was then included on Snoop's mixtape That's My Work Vol. 2.[20]

On March 26, 2014, TeeFlii premiered his second official single "24 Hours" featuring 2 Chainz, with production by DJ Mustard. Along with its release, it was announced that TeeFlii's debut studio album would be titled Starr and released during mid-2014.[21] "24 Hours" was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United States on April 7, 2014,[22] and then was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio on May 6, 2014.[23] The track peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as a bonus track on Starr.

Personal life

TeeFlii's invocations of his faith are frequent as he believes in Christianity. His grandmother was a gospel singer and his aunt harmonized for Elvis Presley's backup group, The Sweet Inspirations.[2] His grandmother is the one that taught him the most about singing.[24] He has four children; three daughters, and one son.[2]

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B/HH US
Rap
Starr
  • Released: February 3, 2015
  • Label: Excuse My Liquor, Epic Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
 —42—
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes
Title Album details
AnNieRuO'TAY 1
  • Released: November 21, 2012
  • Hosted by DJ Goofy
  • Format: Digital download
AnNieRuO'TAY 2: The TakeOver
  • Released: March 7, 2013
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma & DJ Mustard
  • Format: Digital download
Fireworks
  • Released: July 4, 2013
  • Produced by DJ Mustard
  • Format: Digital download
AnNieRuO'TAY 3: Who The Fuck Is Annie
  • Released: November 21, 2013
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma
  • Format: Digital download
AnnieRuO'TAY 4
  • Released: June 30, 2015
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma
  • Format: Digital download
AnnieRUO'TAY 5 (What Happened To TeeFLii?)
  • Released: June 30, 2016
  • Hosted by DJ Carisma
  • Format: Digital download
Next Level (with Jermaine Dupri)

As lead artist
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B/HH		 US
Rap		 US
Rhy.
"This D" 2013 ———35 N/A
"24 Hours"
(featuring 2 Chainz)		 2014 8521158 Starr
"Change Your World" ————
"Blue Lipstick"
(featuring Chris Brown)		 ————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
List of featured singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B/HH		 US
Rap
"Still Callin'"
(Dom Kennedy featuring TeeFlii)		 2014 ——— Get Home Safely
"Do It to Ya"
(YG featuring TeeFlii)		 ——— My Krazy Life
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest Appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"Like Me" 2012 Problem Welcome To Mollywood 2
"Hollywood" DJ Quik, Hollywood
"Fuck That Nigga" 2013 DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla Sign, Constantine, Tory Lanez Ketchup
"Hate It or Love It" Nipsey Hussle Crenshaw
"Sprung" YG Just Re'd Up 2
"Get It" RJ O.M.M.I.O
"That's How We Livin" Snoop Dogg, Warren G I Got That Work Vol. 3
"Favorite Position" 2014 Boxxx XTC
"Where The Party At" Slim 400 Keepin' It 400
"Deep" DJ Mustard, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa 10 Summers
"Valet" Eric Bellinger, Pleasure P Choose Up Season
"Neva Met" 2015 Rick Rock, Snoop Dogg Rocket
"Pimpin' Ain't Easy" 2016 Problem, Kevin McCall Hotels 2: The Master Suite
"Proper" Rayven Justice, Kool John Do It Justice 2
"Reconsider" Furious, Clyde Carson Journey Home
"Busy Body" 2018 Berner, E-40, Too Short The Big Pescado
"Keyz to the City" Nipsey Hussle Victory Lap
"Blue Apts" King Lil G Paint the City Blue
"Secret Lovers" 2019 Rayven Justice, Clyde Carson ESO

References
  1. "GEN F: TeeFLii". The Fader. October 3, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  2. Weiss, Jeff (June 13, 2013). "TeeFlii Starred in Rize. Now He's About the Hottest Underground R&B Singer Going | Los Angeles News and Events". LA Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  3. Capell, Frances (April 2, 2013). "Meet TeeFlii, the Ratchet Prince of Los Angeles R&B". Noisey. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  4. Dell (December 1, 2012). "Tee Flii – AnNieRuO'TAy 1 [Mixtape] | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  5. "TeeFlii :: AnnieRUO'Tay :: TeeFlii.com". Rapreviews.com. April 30, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  6. "Download TeeFLii's AnnieRUO'TAY 2 Mixtape". The Fader. March 6, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  7. "Meet TeeFlii, the Ratchet Prince of Los Angeles R&B | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. April 2, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  8. Galil, Leor (June 17, 2013). "Take a break from all this Kanye and Jay-Z talk with TeeFlii | Bleader". Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  9. "Tee Flii channels The-Dream on new mixtape AnnieRUO'TAY2 – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. March 7, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  10. "DJ Mustard, TeeFLii "Fireworks" Mixtape". Complex. July 4, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  11. "Mixtape of the Week: TeeFLii & DJ Mustard Fireworks". Stereogum. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  12. "10 Best Mixtapes of 2013: DJ Mustard TeeFlii, 'Fireworks'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  13. "Here's the New Video for TeeFlii's "This D" | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. July 16, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  14. "TeeFLii f. Tyga and Jadakiss, "This D (Remix)" MP3". The Fader. October 3, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  15. "The Break Presents: TeeFlii – XXL". Xxlmag.com. October 21, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  16. "Chart Search – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  17. "Los Angeles Best R&B Singer | Arts & Entertainment | Los Angeles News and Events". LA Weekly. October 3, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  18. Ju, Shirley (November 25, 2013). "TeeFlii "ANNIERUO'TAY 3: Who The Fuck Is Annie?" Cover Art, Tracklisting, Download & Mixtape Stream | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  19. » by Trent Clark November 27, 2013, 7:42 am (November 27, 2013). "TeeFlii – AnnieRUOTAY 3 Mixtape". Hiphopwired.com. Retrieved January 13, 2014.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. "TeeFlii f/ Snoop Dogg & Warren G "That's How We Livin'"". Complex. December 9, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  21. "Premiere: TeeFlii feat. 2 Chainz – "24 Hours"". March 26, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  22. "Urban/UAC Future Releases – R&B, Hip Hop, Release Schedule and Street Dates – ..." Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  23. "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases – R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates – ..." Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  24. Montes, Patrick (August 9, 2013). "TeeFLii Turned R&B Into "Fly'n'B" With a Little Bit Of Ratchetness". Blogs.ocweekly.com. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  25. Cory McClanahan. "TeeFLii (@teeflii) & Jermaine Dupri (@JermaineDupri) - Next Level". Global14.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
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