Meet TyLee

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is TyLee and I’m originally from Queens, New York. At the age of 10 my mother moved my younger brother and I from Brooklyn, New York to Newport News, Virginia.

Why do you love what you do?

I love being able to see the positive impact that my music leaves on people all around the world. Music has been a part of my life since birth. Grandson to Legendary Producer and Singer Darnell Simpkins, member of the 70’s funk group “Darnell Simpkins & The Family Tree”, TyLee has big aspirations of creating a name for himself through his songwriting ability and music business knowledge.

What makes you different?

Being born and raised in Queens, New York TyLee has been given the title “VA Drill King” with his gritty New York sound, story-telling and word play. At the age of 6, TyLee was brought to a recording studio with his Grandfather. This is where he started being introduced to R&B, Rap and many different Genres due to the connections and impact his grandfather had in the City. When TyLee wasn’t in the studio he would spend time with his uncles who also would rap and spend many summer’s outside rapping in cyphers and even some battles with grown men while only being in elementary school. This is where he discovered his own style, aggression and hunger to create a name for himself.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I hope to see myself becoming a Grammy award winning songwriting and producer with big dreams of writing for major artist like Chris Brown, Summer Walker, Tobe Nwigwe, Lizzo, and Burna Boy just to name a few.

What do you want to accomplish in life?

I feel like I have accomplished so much in life already. I plan on leaving a impact on as many people as I possibly can. Whether it’s through coaching for my mother Katisha Simpkins, owner of the “Virginia Devils Women’s Tackle Football Team” (formally known as the Virginia Lady Gators) as well as being a accomplished athlete in my own right. In conjunction of being a dad of beautiful kids that look at me as a role model and example that through adversity you can achieve anything.

What do you bring to your industry?

I would like to say that I bring creativity, resilience and originality to the music industry as well as business knowledge.

Also, my versatility plays a huge role due to me being around different genres and hearing so many different sounds at young age nevertheless later moving to Virginia where I developed a southern ear for music plays a huge role for me to be able to adapt to any artist that I’m working with.

What do you want to be remembered by?

I want to be remembered as an Artist and Songwriter who had the opportunity to make a difference and show kids that someone who didn’t grow up in the best situation can still have a chance to win.

As a child born into one of the worst projects in Queens “Redfern Houses”, as well as losing my father at 6 due to gun violence most people who grew up where I came from are either dead, in jail or still there. I’m just a product and example that you can grow through what you’ve gone through. With the opportunities given to me I plan on climbing as high as I can until I reach every goal I’ve set for myself cause failure trying is still better than an incomplete attempt.