Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson, professionally known as Tory Lanez, is a Canadian singer, rapper, and music producer born on July 27, 1992, in Brampton, Ontario. His journey into music began under the influence of a diverse cultural heritage, with a Bajan father, Sonstar, and a mother from Curaçao, Luella. Following his mother’s death, Lanez’s father became an ordained minister and missionary, causing the family to move frequently across the United States. These experiences, combined with the loss of his mother, significantly shaped Lanez’s early life and his pursuit of music.
Lanez’s musical career gained momentum after he was discovered by Sean Kingston. His initial recognition came from his 2013 mixtape, Conflicts of My Soul: The 416 Story. In 2015, Lanez signed with Benny Blanco’s Mad Love Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, marking a significant milestone in his career. His debut studio album, I Told You (2016), showcased his alternative R&B style and was commercially successful, supported by the singles “Say It” and “Luv,” which peaked at numbers 23 and 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
Lanez continued to build on his success with his second and third albums, Memories Don’t Die and Love Me Now?, both released in 2018. These albums delved deeper into hip hop and, despite mixed reviews, were commercially successful. Memories Don’t Die became his first album to top the Canadian Albums Chart, while Love Me Now? featured the double platinum-certified single “Talk to Me” with Rich the Kid. His fourth album, Chixtape 5 (2019), peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200, further solidifying his place in the music industry. Lanez’s fifth album, Daystar (2020), and his sixth album, Alone at Prom (2021), showcased his versatility and ability to adapt to different musical styles, with Alone at Prom inspired by the 1980s.
Lanez’s career, however, faced a significant setback due to legal issues. On August 8, 2023, he was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. He was found guilty of first-degree assault with a firearm, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, and having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. As of 2024, he is incarcerated at the California Correctional Institution.
Lanez’s early life was turbulent. At the age of 15, he moved to Toronto to live with his grandmother, who refused to take care of him. This led him to fend for himself, living with strangers and navigating life without family support. This period of his life, from fifteen to eighteen, was formative, shaping his character and resilience. He started rapping under the nickname Notorious, later changing it to Tory Lanez, a name given by a friend who commented on his thrill-seeking tendencies.
Tory Lanez’s music is characterized by a blend of R&B and hip-hop, often incorporating autotune and switching between singing and rapping within the same track. He describes his style as “Swavey,” a genre that fuses multiple musical styles. Lanez cites influences such as Brandy, Ray J, Chris Brown, and Lil Wayne.
Throughout his career, Lanez has been involved in several high-profile feuds, notably with Drake and Joyner Lucas, which have kept him in the public eye. Despite his controversial persona and legal issues, Lanez’s impact on the music industry remains significant. His discography, including notable mixtapes like Lost Cause, Sincerely Tory, and the Chixtape series, continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
