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Travie McCoy
American rapper (born 1981) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Travis Lazarus "Travie" McCoy (born August 5, 1981)[3] is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the rap rock band Gym Class Heroes, which he formed in 1997 with his classmate Matt McGinley, after the two became acquainted with the East Coast punk rock scene.
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Gym Class Heroes recorded independently before signing to Fueled by Ramen and releasing the album, The Papercut Chronicles (2005). They signed to Decaydance for their next album, As Cruel as School Children (2006), which contained the hit singles "Cupid's Chokehold" and "Clothes Off!!." In 2007, McCoy launched the label BatSquad to sign then-unknown rapper Tyga.[4] Following the release of The Quilt (2008), Gym Class Heroes took a hiatus, and McCoy shifted focus to his solo work. He signed with Decaydance in a joint venture with T-Pain's Nappy Boy Entertainment to release his debut studio album, Lazarus (2010).[4] The lead single, "Billionaire" feat. Bruno Mars was certified 4x platinum in the US. His 2015 non-album single "Golden" feat. Sia was certified platinum in Australia. In 2022, McCoy signed with Hopeless Records to release his second solo album Never Slept Better.[5] Gym Class Heroes were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2025.[6]
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Early life and education
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McCoy was born and raised in Geneva, New York.[7] His father is Haitian and his mother is of Native American and Irish descent.[8] As a child, McCoy used a wheelchair for four months after a skateboarding accident; his lack of mobility allowed him to focus on art.[9] When he was 15, McCoy worked in a tattoo parlor as an apprentice, and shortly after, he began tattooing his friends.[10] As a teenager, McCoy was a fan of hardcore punk bands such as Snapcase and Earth Crisis, as well as underground rap acts such as Company Flow and the Arsonists. He says of his musical tastes "I was never a typical hip-hop kid. I didn't want to be pigeonholed."[11] McCoy frequently took buses down to Manhattan, New York, throughout high school to participate in battle raps at the indie rap club Fat Beats.[11]
McCoy played the drums in high school and created a rap group with his father and his brother called "True Life Playas", and says of the experience, "It was so bad! The tapes exist somewhere but hopefully they'll never be found."[12]
In high school, he met future bandmate Matt McGinley in his gym class and the two bonded over a common interest in music, in particular punk rock, indie rock, and hip hop. After graduating from Geneva High School, McCoy attended art school at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York and majored in fine arts and illustration.[9][12][13] However, he dropped out at age 20 to focus on his tattoo work and his musical career.[10]
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Career
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1997–2002: Early career
McCoy and Matt McGinley became friends at their local high school's gym class in ninth grade in Geneva, New York.[12] They officially formed Gym Class Heroes in 1997.[10] The band originated when bassist Ryan Geise and drummer McGinley were performing at a party in a band with no vocals. McCoy, who was in attendance at the party, took the microphone onstage and started rapping.[14] A week later, the group came together and started making music.
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At one time, McCoy was working at a tattoo parlor, teaching art at a Boys & Girls Club in the daytime, and working at a gas station at night.[9] He decided to quit all three jobs and work on art full-time, opening an art show with his friend. He lived off of the money he made from selling paintings before Gym Class Heroes became successful.[9]
McCoy made his MTV debut in the summer of 2002, as he appeared on stage at the beach house, winning a standard nationwide MC battle that was held on the MTV show Direct Effect.[15]
2003–2009: Mainstream success with Gym Class Heroes
Fueled by Ramen, a Warner Music Group subsidiary, signed Gym Class Heroes in 2003 following the addition of guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts.[16] They later signed to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's Decaydance Records, an imprint of Fueled by Ramen.[16] They collaborated with Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold" from their gold-selling album As Cruel as School Children. That album spawned the hit singles "Cupid's Chokehold," reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Clothes Off!!," which was a top ten hit in the United Kingdom.
McCoy's appearance in Cobra Starship's song "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" on the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack further boosted the band's popularity.[17] Gym Class Heroes won the fan-voted Best New Artist award at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.[18][19]
After discovering 17-year-old rapper Tyga in 2007, McCoy founded the imprint BatSquad to sign him and release his debut album, No Introduction (2008).[20] Tyga was presented as McCoy's cousin, but they are not blood relatives.[20] McCoy was Tyga's mentor and was featured on his song "Coconut Juice" in 2008.[20]
Stump produced the majority of their follow-up album The Quilt, which was released on September 9, 2008, and peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and No. 41 on the UK Albums Chart. The lead single "Cookie Jar" peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. McCoy collaborated with his musical hero, Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, who served as the inspiration for Gym Class Heroes' 2007 Daryl Hall for President Tour, on the song "Live Forever (Fly with Me)."[21][22] "Travis has a deep understanding of music and is so creative." He did a mash-up record where he put his songs together with mine. Atlantic is crazy if they don't release it, Hall told Spin in 2008."[21]
In 2009, McCoy remixed the Bring Me the Horizon song "Chelsea Smile" for their remixes album, Suicide Season: Cut Up!.
2010–2015: Solo career and Lazarus
When McCoy began a solo career in 2010, he denied rumors that Gym Class Heroes had broken up, asserting that "Since the inception of Gym Class in 1997, every member has had another musical outlet, if not three or four. This is just another one of those."[23] McCoy had originally prepared to release an introspective mixtape titled Forgetting Katy Perry, which consisted of "sad and somber" songs reflective of his state of mind following his breakup with singer Katy Perry and his addiction to painkillers.[24] [25] The title is a reference to the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring Russell Brand, who was then engaged to Perry.[24] However, he decided to scrap his early material and start over, calling it "too personal." He explained, "I didn't want that to be my first look as a solo artist," and compared the album to Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak.[23][25] He later reflected on the project:
"Had I put out that mixtape, I would've felt like a simp. There were a lot of songs that we did for that mixtape that didn't necessarily have to do with her and our relationship that ended up making it out there. I did a joint with Joe Budden that was fucking crazy. I also did another joint called 'Get High' with Tame One from Artifacts which was one of my favorite joints."[26]
He relocated to Miami, Florida, to record new material and recover from his addiction, which helped him to create a more upbeat album because he "want[ed] to do something positive."[25] McCoy decided to officially call himself "Travie" instead of Travis; he explained that he has been called Travie by friends and family for "as long as [he] can remember."[27] He believes that the new name allows listeners to become "that much closer" to him and to "feel much more comfortable with calling me Travie and being part of the family."[27]
In May 2010, McCoy released the successful single "Billionaire" with Bruno Mars, which has been certified 4x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[28] McCoy released his first solo album, Lazarus on June 8, 2010, after being in the works for a year and a half. He calls the album "The longest, I think, I've spent on a record in my whole career."[23] He stated that he wanted to keep the number of collaborations on the album "kinda tight," but he plans to work with other artists on remixes of the album.[23] Producers on the album include Bruno Mars, T-Pain, The Smeezingtons, The Stereotypes, Lucas Secon, Oligee and Josh Abraham; Mars, T-Pain and Cee Lo Green provide guest vocals.
The album debuted at No. 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with sales of 15,000 copies.[29] On August 21, 2010 Lazarus was released in Europe and entered the UK Album Charts at No. 69, its peak position thus far.[30] "Need You" was the second single from the album in the U.S, released in September 2010. "We'll Be Alright" was released on October 25, 2010, as the second single in the UK. It was featured in the movie trailer of Yogi Bear.[31] In July and August 2010, McCoy supported Rihanna on some of the North American dates of her Last Girl on Earth Tour.[31] McCoy and Bruno Mars embarked on a 13-date tour of Europe throughout October and November. They played five dates in the United Kingdom, four in Germany and one each in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France.[31] McCoy performed at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010, on the main stage before the program cut to a performance by N.E.R.D.[32] In November 2010, McCoy performed on the Australian Summerbeatz tour alongside Flo Rida, Jay Sean and Soulja Boy. "Billionaire" was performed on the September 21, 2010, episode of Glee.[33] McCoy was a guest star on the sitcom "Shell Games", the third episode of Malibu Country, and sang with Reba McEntire.
McCoy is featured on the remix of teen-pop singer Jessica Jarrell's debut single "Up and Running," on the singer's upcoming debut album on Island Records.[34] McCoy is also featured on Livin's City of Brotherly Love album, scheduled to be released in early 2011 on 700 Level Entertainment. The track "When I Approach" features Livin, McCoy and Joe Budden, and is produced by Sev-One. A video released on YouTube showed McCoy recording the song. In mid-2010 he worked with producer Starsmith and British singer Cheryl Cole for her upcoming album. He is featured on the track "Yeah Yeah" of Cole's album Messy Little Raindrops.[35] In November 2010, McCoy collaborated with English R&B artist Taio Cruz on Cruz's single "Higher".
Gym Class Heroes released a new album, The Papercut Chronicles II, in November 2011.[36] The single "Stereo Hearts" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. McCoy performed the song with Adam Levine of Maroon 5 on November 5, 2011, on Saturday Night Live.[37] Gym Class Heroes also performed the song with Levine at the 2011 American Music Awards.[38]
In 2012, McCoy collaborated with English Girl Group Stooshe with their single Love Me.[39] On April 24, 2012, McCoy's song with ex Hollywood Undead singer, Deuce, was released on Deuce's album Nine Lives. The title of the track is "I Came to Party".
In 2013, McCoy released "Rough Water", a single with Jason Mraz.[40] The track was intended to be the lead single from McCoy's sophomore solo album, Rough Water.[41] According to McCoy, the album was "inspired by a tough period with his former girlfriend."[42] In March 2014, he released the single "Keep On Keeping On," featuring Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie.[43]
McCoy was featured on Olly Murs' hit single "Wrapped Up", released in October 2014.[44] In 2015, McCoy released the single "Golden" feat. Sia, which was certified platinum by the ARIA.[45][46]
2016–present: Hiatus and Never Slept Better
After a long hiatus, McCoy signed with Hopeless Records in 2021. On July 15, 2022, he released his second studio album, Never Slept Better.[5] The album was supported by two singles, "A Spoonful of Cinnamon" and "Loved Me Back to Life", which were also given accompanying music videos. Despite receiving mainly positive reviews, neither the album nor any of its singles charted.[47][48]
In April 2025, Gym Class Heroes were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.[6][49]
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Personal life
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McCoy is a close friend of Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz. McCoy was signed to Wentz's independent record label Decaydance Records. He is the godfather of Wentz's son with singer Ashlee Simpson, Bronx Mowgli Wentz.[50][51]
McCoy is a self-confessed sneaker collector.[52] In 2009, it was reported that he had over 200 pairs of sneakers.[53]
Relationships
We looked really cute together. We get (sic) along better than any other girl I've ever hung out with in my life. That was the beginning of a really really awesome time for me... When I was around her I felt really at ease and comfortable with myself... It was the most amazing thing ever.
—Travie McCoy on his relationship with Katy Perry (2012)[54]
McCoy had an on-and-off relationship with singer Katy Perry for several years. She played his love interest in the music video for "Cupid's Chokehold" in 2006, and he supported her as her star began to rise.[55][56] In 2008, Perry told Blender that initially they dated casually, but "soulless hooking up didn't seem so hot to me. I always wanted to have a romance. I said, 'Excuse me, I've been coming to a number of your shows in the greater Los Angeles area for quite some time now. I've been your Penny Lane long enough, and now I want to be your Grace Kelly.'"[57] In June 2008, McCoy gave Perry a diamond promise ring, and he wore a ring with "Katy" written on it.[58][21] That summer, Perry joined him on the Vans Warped Tour.[59] In December 2008, Perry took to her blog to deny a New York Daily News report that the couple were engaged, but she said they were "really happy."[60][56] After spending the holidays together in Mexico, McCoy announced their split on his blog on New Year's Eve.[61][62] They reconciled in April 2009, but spent less time together due to Perry's grueling Hello Katy Tour schedule.[63][64] Perry ended their relationship via email later in 2009.[65][54]
Following their split, McCoy penned the songs "Don't Pretend" and "Need You" about Perry, which were released on his 2010 album Lazarus.[24][66] Perry wrote the song "Circle the Drain" about McCoy's addiction, and it was included on her 2010 album Teenage Dream.[67][68][69] McCoy told VH1's Behind the Music in 2012: "She wasn't stupid... She knew when I was f**ked up. I chose drugs over our relationship... As things started taking off for her the more I started to doubt my role in her life. There were times I felt like a stepping ladder."[70] "Someone that you are ready to spend the rest of your life with sends you a f**king email just s**ting on your whole parade. It destroyed me," he added.[70][54]
McCoy was romantically linked to actress Juliette Lewis in 2012.[71][72]
On November 14, 2022, McCoy married Jessica Phillips McCoy.[73][74]
Health
McCoy has been candid about his battle with opioid addiction.[75] He became addicted to pharmaceuticals since the early 2000s, after being prescribed Oxycontin when he tore his ACL and MCL.[76][77] Following his cousin Isaiah's suicide in November 2007, McCoy "dove in face-first and started snorting my brains out."[76] In 2008, McCoy revealed to Blender that on a few occasions, he had attempted to commit suicide.[76] He recalled, "Two or three years ago, I had a crazy falling-out with a girlfriend and I grabbed a cocktail of pharmaceuticals and drowned them with alcohol. I woke up in the hospital cuffed to a bed."[76]
He went through his second stint in a detox program in early 2008 and took up yoga.[76] In March 2008, McCoy posted on his blog that he was recovering from a procedure that had his opiate receptors cleaned.[75] "I feel like a layer of shit has been peeled off of my brain," he said of the experience, adding that "I felt an enormous amount of guilt for glorifying drug use in our music."[75][78] Still dealing with the death of his cousin and then his breakup with Katy Perry in 2009, McCoy continued to struggle with his pill addiction and eventually began snorting heroin.[79] He has been sober from opioids since 2013.
McCoy has revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[77]
Legal issues
On July 2, 2008, McCoy was arrested for aggravated assault after hitting a man on the head with his microphone. The man had been in the crowd at a concert in St. Louis when he shouted racial slurs at McCoy. McCoy invited the man onstage with the intent to confront him.[80] In a statement, McCoy's publicist said that the man had hit McCoy's knee, which was in a brace after he had suffered a recent strain, therefore, he was forced to defend himself.[80] McCoy was later charged with third-degree assault and a warrant was issued for his arrest.[80]
On October 28, 2010, McCoy was arrested again while on tour in Berlin, Germany for tagging the Berlin Wall.[81] He was later released on €1,500 bail ($2,081), and continued on his European tour in Amsterdam. He later posted a picture of the vandalism on his Twitter account.[82]
Philanthropy
While at the MTV European Music Awards in November 2008, McCoy became involved with MTV's Staying Alive Foundation, their global campaign dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness that funds youth-led grassroots HIV prevention projects.[83] After spending more time with the founder, he was appointed the 2009 ambassador for the foundation.[84][83] In June 2009, McCoy embarked on a 10-day trip to South Africa, India, and the Philippines with Staying Alive.[85] For World AIDS Day in 2009, MTV networks worldwide premiered The Unbeaten Track, a documentary chronicling his journey.[85] Additionally, McCoy released a charity song called "One At A Time," with all proceeds going to Staying Alive.[86][87]
In December 2008, McCoy and Pete Wentz had an exhibition of their artwork titled "Without You I’m Just Me" at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles.[51] The artwork ranged in price from $600 to $4,000, and the profits benefited Invisible Children.[50]
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Discography
- Lazarus (2010)
- Never Slept Better (2022)
References
External links
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