Pink Siifu

Livingston Matthews, known professionally as Pink Siifu, and occasionally iiye,[3] is an American rapper and singer from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Birmingham, Alabama.

Pink Siifu
Birth nameLivingston Matthews
Also known as
  • iiye
  • Liv Martez
Born1992
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.[1]
Genres
Years active2013–present[2]
LabelsDynamite Hill
Websitepinksiifu.com

Life and career

Matthews gained an appreciation for music from his family while dividing his time between Birmingham and Cincinnati in his youth. His father, a saxophone player, introduced Matthews to classic jazz while his mother and older brother introduced him to R&B and hip-hop respectively. New Orleans–based rapper Lil Wayne was his favorite artist. Matthews played the trumpet and drums in marching bands throughout his youth. After high school, he was a theater major at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton.[4] However, he chose to leave the university to focus on a rap career. He started performing in Cincinnati under the name 'Liv Martez' before moving to Los Angeles in 2013 after recording in studios there, including working on a project with Syd tha Kyd.[2][5]

He began releasing music under the name Pink Siifu in 2014,[6][7] while also producing under the name iiye.[7] Matthews released several projects between 2014 and 2018.[7]

In 2018, Matthews released Ensley under the Pink Siifu moniker to critical acclaim.[6][8] He named the LP after Ensley, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham where his grandmother lived. Ensley received a placement on Pitchfork's best rap albums of 2018 list.[9] His next release was the album NEGRO. Initially titled To Be Angry, the album has been described as a "shrill and abrasive"[6] blend of jazz, punk rock, and rap.[10][11] Siifu's most recent album, Gumbo'!, featured his studio album debut alongside artists Georgia Anne Muldrow and Nick Hakim. It also featured production by Monte Booker, The Alchemist, and others.[12] In 2021, Matthews directed a short film titled 'NATION TYME!', an experimental film centered on an excerpt from famed writer Amiri Baraka's essay 'It's Nation Time'.[13]

Style and influences

Pink Siifu has been described as having a slow and lackadaisical delivery to his vocals, a quality he attributes to the influence of Mos Def, Lil Wayne, and Outkast. Siifu's music has generally been described as alternative hip-hop and neo-soul, but he has experimented with other genres, including punk on his 2020 release, NEGRO. Outside hip-hop, Matthews has listed George Clinton, Alice Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pixies, Radiohead, and Death Grips among his influencers.[14]

Discography

Albums
  • VCR@aol.jazz: A decade's letter to the Galaxy (released under the name VCR@aol.jazz) (2014)
  • Zin (released under the name iiye) (2014)
  • Zen (released under the name iiye) (2014)
  • No/more LOVE (released under the name iiye) (2014)
  • UaReL. (2015)
  • Space ghetto (2016)
  • Ensley (2018)[15]
  • NEGRO (2020)[16]
  • Gumbo'! (2021)[17]

Collaborative albums
  • Twothousandnine (released in collaboration with Swarvy) (2016)[18]
  • BRWN (released in collaboration with Ahwlee as B. Cool-Aid) (2017)[19]
  • Syrup (released in collaboration with Ahwlee as B. Cool-Aid) (2019)
  • Black Sand (released in collaboration with AKAI SOLO) (2019)[20]
  • Bag Talk (released in collaboration with YUNGMORPHEUS) (2020)[21]
  • FlySiifu's (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin) (2020)[22]
  • $mokebreak (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin) (2021)[23]
  • Real Bad Flights (released in collaboration with Real Bad Man) (2022)[24]
  • Leather Blvd (released in collaboration with Ahwlee as B. Cool-Aid) (2023)

Extended plays
  • A maze btw time (released under the name iiye) (2014)
  • Year 19803711967 (released under the name iiye) (2014)
  • Allway[v]ez (released under the name iiye) (2015)
  • Reggie,Ernest,Wester,Rusty (released under the name iiye) (2015)
  • A second definatelycaughtin between love x fear (released under the name iiye) (2015)
  • Bround/brown (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • Giiift Wrap:VoL.1 (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • Black food 1 (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • Old'focus (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • Tape (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • In between. (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • A'lady. 1 (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • Let go (2016)
  • In between. (released under the name iiye) (2016)
  • Black food 2 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • Lil'likeluv.1 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • Grden.1 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • A'lady. 2 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • black food 3 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • Lil'likeluv.2 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • Drnk (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • Head (2017)
  • Slwdwn Vol. 1 (released under the name iiye) (2017)
  • Lil'likeluv.3 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Uptwn.1 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Slwdwn Vol. 2 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Southern. (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • A'lady. 3 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Uptwn.2 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Dollaz.1 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Im still. (2018)
  • Black food 4 (released under the name iiye) (2019)
  • Uptwn.3 (released under the name iiye) (2018)
  • Use. (released under the name iiye) (2019)
  • Slwdwn Vol. 3 (released under the name iiye) (2019)
  • Dollaz.2 (released under the name iiye) (2020)
  • Grden.3 (released under the name iiye) (2020)
  • Lil'SidePeace. (released under the name iiye) (2020)
  • Lil'likeluv.4 (released under the name iiye) (2020)
  • Dollaz.3 (released under the name iiye) (2020)
  • Uptwn.4 (released under the name iiye) (2021)

Singles
  • "Blvck Space Pink vol.1" (released under the name iiye) (2015)
  • "Heart on my face" (2017)
  • "Halos/Bills" (released in collaboration with Swarvy) (2017)[25]
  • "Cocoa" (released in collaboration with B. Cool-Aid and Awhlee) (2018)[26]
  • "Cement" (released in collaboration with Shungu) (2020)[27]
  • "Dollar Dr. Dream" (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin) (2020)[28]
  • "Richard Pryor" (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin) (2020)[29]
  • "Mind Right" featuring Liv.e (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin) (2020)[30]
  • "Blame" (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin) (2021)[31]
  • "Minnie Lives" (released in collaboration with V.C.R) (2021)
  • "Table 42" featuring Pink Siifu (released in collaboration with Taphari) (2021)
  • "lng hair dnt care" (2021)[32]
  • "Bussin' (Cold)" (released in collaboration with Turich Benjy) (2021)[33]
  • "48" (released in collaboration with Maxo) (2022)[34]
  • "Looking for Water" featuring Boldy James (released in collaboration with Real Bad Man and Boldy James) (2022)[35]
  • "Pour The Wine" featuring Peso Gordon & Chuck Strangers (released in collaboration with Real Bad Man, Peso Gordon, and Chuck Strangers) (2022)[36]
  • "L's (Eyedress Remix)" featuring Fousheé (released in collaboration with Fly Anakin & Fousheé) (2022)[37]
  • Bonded (released in collaboration with B. Cool-Aid and Awhlee) (2022)[38]
  • "Cnt Go Back (Tell Me)" (released in collaboration with B. Cool-Aid, Awhlee, Liv.e, Butcher Brown, Rimeta Rose, V.C.R. & Maurice II) (2023)[39]

References
  1. Hobbs, Thomas. "Pink Siifu is one step ahead". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. Bell, Max (August 6, 2018). "An Interview with Pink Siifu". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. "Pink Siifu's Mad-Scientist Melting Pot". stereogum.com. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. Moore, Marcus J. (17 August 2021). "Pink Siifu, a Shape-Shifting Musician With One Demand: Don't Box Me In". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  5. "A Guide to the Prolific Rap, Punk, and Soul of Pink Siifu". bandcamp.com. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. Moore, Marcus (April 15, 2020). "The necessity of Pink Siifu's rage". The Fader. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. Crone, David. "Pink Siifu AllMusic Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. Pacheco, Thomas (August 4, 2021). "Pink Siifu's GUMBO! Is Good For The Soul". Spin. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  9. Aku, Timmhotep (December 18, 2018). "The Best Rap Albums of 2018". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. Joseph, Branden (June 10, 2021). "Fire and Smoke: Pink Siifu Interviewed". Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  11. Pearce, Sheldon (April 15, 2020). "Pink Siifu: Negro". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  12. "Interview: Pink Siifu on His Ever-Shifting Musical Approach". Reverb.com. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. "Watch Pink Siifu's New Short Film NATION TYME!". Pitchfork. February 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  14. "Don't Expect Anything From Pink Siifu at III Points". miaminewtimes.com. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  15. "Ensley - Album by Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  16. "NEGRO - Album by Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  17. "Gumbo! - Album by Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  18. "Twothousandnine - Album by Pink Siifu & Swarvy". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  19. "BRWN - Album by B. Cool-Aid". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  20. "Black Sand - Album by Pink Siifu & AKAI SOLO". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  21. "Bag Talk - Album by Pink Siifu & Yungmorpheus". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  22. "FlySiifu's - Album by Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  23. "$mokebreak - Album by Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  24. "Real Bad Flights - Album by Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  25. "Cocoa - Single by Pink Siifu & Swarvy". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  26. "Cocoa - Single by B. Cool-Aid". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  27. "Cement - Single by Shungu & Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  28. "Dollar Dr. Dream - Single by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  29. "Richard Pryor - Single by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  30. "Mind Right - Single by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  31. "Blame - Single by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  32. "lng hair dnt care - Single by Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  33. "Bussin' (Cold) - Single by Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  34. "48 - Single by Maxo". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  35. "Pour The Wine - Single by Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  36. "Pour The Wine - Single by Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  37. "L's (Eyedress Remix) - Single by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  38. "Bonded - Single by B.Cool-Aid". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  39. "Cnt Go Back (Tell Me) - Single by B.Cool-Aid". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
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