From Richmond, California to the national stage, IAMSU! has built a career rooted in authenticity, creativity, and independence. Known for his dual talents as both rapper and producer, the Bay Area trailblazer has evolved through the years — from breakout mixtapes and chart-topping features to his latest release, 100%, a project that represents a full-circle moment in his musical journey.
Growing up in the East Bay, he was surrounded by the region’s eclectic sound — a melting pot of reggae, R&B, and hyphy energy that would later define his music. During his teen years, he joined Oakland’s Youth Radio program, where he learned the fundamentals of recording, production, and songwriting. Those formative sessions laid the foundation for a sound that was both inventive and unmistakably Bay Area.
By 2009, he had adopted the name “Su” — later stylized as “IAMSU!” — and began to make his presence felt through local collaborations and production credits. His first mixtape, Su! The Right Thing(2010), marked his official introduction as a solo artist and hinted at the versatility that would soon make him one of the region’s most dynamic creatives.
IAMSU! wasn’t alone in shaping the new wave of Bay Area music. Alongside fellow artists and producers like Sage the Gemini, P-Lo, and Kehlani, he co-founded the HBK Gang (Heartbreak Gang)— a collective built on friendship.
His first major breakthrough came in 2011 when he produced and co-wrote LoveRance’s smash hit “Up!,” which climbed into the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 50. The following year, his feature on E-40’s “Function” further cemented his reputation as a hitmaker. By 2013, IAMSU! was everywhere — from his own mixtape $uzy 6 $peed to the collaborative Million Dollar Afro with Problem, a project that critics at SPIN called one of the best releases of the year.
Then came “Gas Pedal,” his feature on Sage the Gemini’s platinum single. The record reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, bringing national attention to the HBK movement and introducing IAMSU!’s melodic yet hard-hitting style to a global audience.
In 2014, IAMSU! delivered his highly anticipated debut studio album, Sincerely Yours. Released through HBK Gang in partnership with ADA, the project featured a stacked lineup including 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, E-40, and Too $hort. The title reflected his intent — a personal, transparent introduction to who he was as an artist and person.
“I wanted to call the album that because it’s 100% me,” he explained in an interview. “It’s my story. It’s like different entries in a letter throughout the album.”
The record balanced polished radio-ready production with IAMSU!’s introspective lyricism, bridging the gap between his underground roots and mainstream appeal.
Fast forward to 2025, and IAMSU! has once again tapped into his core energy with his latest project, 100%. The seven-track release embodies everything fans have come to love about him — clever lyricism, infectious melodies, and that unmistakable Bay Area bounce. Short, cohesive, and confident, 100% feels like a reaffirmation of who IAMSU! is at his core.
The title also feels symbolic. Over a decade after Sincerely Yours, where he first declared that his music was “100% me,” this new project closes the circle — representing not just artistic evolution, but complete creative ownership.
