Roy Woods
Woods in 2018
Woods in 2018
Background information
Birth nameDenzel Spencer
Born (1996-04-18) April 18, 1996 (age 27)
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2014–present
Labels
Websiteroywoods.com

Denzel Spencer (born April 18, 1996),[1] better known by his stage name Roy Woods (also stylized as Roy Wood$), is a Canadian singer and rapper.[2][3] Woods is signed to OVO Sound, the record label co-founded by fellow Canadian rapper and singer Drake, record producer Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib. Woods is also the founder of his own collective, Unlock The Underground.

Early life

Denzel Spencer was born April 18, 1996, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.[1] For over three years, Woods attended Turner Fenton High School and eventually made a decision to move to St. Augustine Secondary School during his final year.[4] Before his music career took off, he was often recognized for his commitment and talent in the sport of football. The origin of his name "Roy" comes from a youth that lived in the same building as him from Brampton. Woods took a survey throughout his high school and "Roy Wood$" seemed to be the winning ticket.[citation needed]

Career

2014–present: Career beginnings, Say Less, and Mixed Emotions

On July 11, 2015, Drake premiered "Drama", the first song from Woods' EP, Exis. The song was also premiered on Apple's Beats 1 radio during the first OVO Sound radio show.[5] The track also features with the guest appearances from Woods' label boss, Drake. On July 25, 2015, a second song titled "Get You Good" premiered on the second episode of the OVO Sound radio show. On July 31, 2015, Roy released his debut EP Exis digitally through OVO Sound, of which was the record label co-founded by Canadian rapper and singer Drake.[6] On October 9, 2015, Woods released his first music video for his song, "Jealousy".[7] It has since garnered over 9,000,000 views on YouTube.

Woods performing in 2016.

On July 1, 2016, Wood's debut mixtape, Waking at Dawn, was released and promoted by Woods and other artists, including Drake and Wiz Khalifa through social media.[8][non-primary source needed]

On December 23, 2016, Woods released his second EP, titled Nocturnal.[9]

On July 20, 2017, Woods released the track, "What Are You On?", as the lead single from his debut studio album, Say Less.[10] On November 17, 2017, Woods released the title track, "Say Less". On December 1, 2017, Woods released his debut studio album, Say Less.[11]

On June 8, 2018, Woods released two new singles, titled "Russian Cream" and "Snow White", with no prior announcement.[12][13]

On February 8, 2019, Roy Woods released a single titled "Worth It".[14]

On September 18, 2019, Roy Woods released a single titled "Bubbly".[15]

On May 8, 2020, Roy Woods released his newest single titled "I Feel It"

On May 15, 2020, Roy Woods released his third EP, titled Dem Times.[16]

In 2023, he participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health.[17]

On July 28, 2023, Roy Woods released his second studio album, titled Mixed Emotions. The album features guest appearances from Coi Leray, Jada Kingdom, and Vory, and was preceded by the singles "Touch You", "Insecure", "Bad Bad", "Don't Love Me", "Young Boy Problems", "Don't Mind Me", and "Test What I Know".

Artistry

Woods has said some of his biggest influences are Michael Jackson, Drake, Nelly, The Weeknd and PartyNextDoor.[18] Woods has also started an artist collective, titled Unlock The Underground, which is a branch of the OVO Sound. The artists on this collective include In-house Producer/Engineer BATMANONTHEBEATZ, RAYNY, and DOLOINDACUT as Wood's Official DJ.[19]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales figures
Title Album details Peak chart positions
CAN
[20] 		US
[21] 		US
R&B
/HH
[22] 		US
R&B
[23]
Waking at Dawn
  • Released: July 1, 2016[24]
  • Label: OVO, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download
 30 127 11 6
Say Less
  • Released: December 1, 2017[25]
  • Label: OVO, Warner
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 26 92 38 11
Mixed Emotions
  • Released: July 28, 2023[26]
  • Label: OVO, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 – – – –

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and sales figures
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
R&B
/HH
[22] 		US
R&B
[23]
Exis 27 10
Nocturnal — —
Dem Times — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
R&B
[28] 		IRE
[29] 		UK
[30]
"Drama"
(featuring Drake) 		2015 — — — Exis
"Gwan Big Up Urself" 2016 — — — Waking at Dawn
"How I Feel" — — —
"What Are You On?" 2017 — — — Say Less
"Russian Cream" 2018 — — — Non-album singles
"Snow White" — — —
"Worth It" 2019 — — —
"Bubbly" — — —
"Juliet & Romeo"
(with Martin Solveig)[33] 		— 79 51
"Shot Again"[34] 2020 — — —
"Too Much"[35]
(with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Dvbbs) 		2021 — — —
"Touch You" 21 — — Mixed Emotions
"Speeding" 2022 — — — Non-album single
"Insecure" — — — Mixed Emotions
"Bad Bad" — — —
"Luces"
(with Fuego and Polimá Westcoast) 		2023 — — — Non-album single
"Don't Love Me" — — — Mixed Emotions
"Young Boy Problems" — — —
"Don't Mind Me" — — —
"Test What I Know" — — —

Other charted and certified songs

Title Year Certification Album
"Get You Good" 2015 Exis
"Instinct"
(featuring MadeinTYO) 		2016 Nocturnal

Music videos

List of music videos, with directors, showing year released
Title Year Director(s)
"Jealousy" 2015 Jim Joe[36]
"Get You Good" Christo Anesti and Glenn Michael
(Kid. Studio)[37][38][39]
"Gwan Big Up Urself" 2016
"Go Go Go"
"Love You" 2017 Ninja Djacic[40]
"Instinct"
(featuring MadeinTYO) 		Elliot Clancy Osberg[41]
"Say Less" Gab3
"Monday to Monday" Unknown
"Something New" 2018 Elliot Clancy Osberg[42]
"Snow White" Alfy[43]

Tours

Headlining
Supporting

Filmography

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2017 6IX RISING Himself Documentary (non-speaking appearance)

References

  1. ^ a b "Roy Woods – Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  2. ^ "Is Roy Wood$ the Rap Version of Michael Jackson? | NOISEY". April 15, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  3. ^ "Running Through The Six: A Look at Toronto's Emerging Artists". HYPETRAK. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Kumar, Vijai (August 10, 2016). "Brampton Artist Roy Wood$ Shows Love to Turner Fenton in New Music Video". Bramptonist. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "Drake Debuts 3 New Remixes on First Beats 1 Show: Listen Now". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  6. ^ haleemakhan (July 31, 2015). "OVO's Latest Signee Roy Wood$ releases "EXIS" EP". The Source. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "You are being redirected..." theknockturnal.com. October 11, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "Roy Wood$ on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  9. ^ "Stream Roy Woods' "Nocturnal" EP". HipHopDX. December 23, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  10. ^ "Roy Woods – What Are You On?". HotNewHipHop. July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  11. ^ "OVO Signee Roy Woods Releases Debut Album, 'Say Less'". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  12. ^ "Roy Woods Drops Off New Song 'Russian Cream'". HotNewHipHop. June 8, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "Roy Woods Releases A Second Single Called 'Snow White'". HotNewHipHop. June 8, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  14. ^ "Roy Woods releases his new single 'Worth It'". REVOLT TV. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  15. ^ "Roy Woods Returns With Celebratory 'Bubbly': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  16. ^ "Dem Times by Roy Woods". Genius. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  17. ^ Brent Furdyk, "Feel Out Loud: Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder & More Canadian Artists Collaborate On New Single Promoting Youth Mental Health Initiative". Entertainment Tonight Canada, March 2, 2023.
  18. ^ "Meet Roy Wood$: Young Singer/Rapper From Toronto". Hotnewhiphop.com. October 28, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  19. ^ "FOREFRONT: Roy Wood$ | Unlock The Underground". Sidedoor Magazine. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  20. ^ "Roy Woods – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  21. ^ "Roy Woods – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Roy Woods – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Roy Woods – Chart History: R&B Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  24. ^ "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  25. ^ "Instagram post by ROY WOOD$ • Aug 1, 2017 at 9:01 pm UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  26. ^ "Mixed Emotions". Genius. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Exis – EP by Roy Woods". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  28. ^ "Roy Woods Chart History: Hot R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  29. ^ "Discography Roy Woods". irishcharts.com. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  30. ^ "MARTIN SOLVEIG & ROY WOODS | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "British certifications – Roy Woods". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 19, 2021. Type Roy Woods in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  32. ^ a b c "American certifications – Roy Woods". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  33. ^ "Juliet & Romeo – Single by Martin Solveig & Roy Woods" – via Apple Music.
  34. ^ "Roy Woods – Shot Again (Official Audio)". January 30, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ "Too Much - Single by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, DVBBS & Roy Woods on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  36. ^ "Watch OVO's Roy Woods Music Video For 'Jealousy'". The Knockturnal. October 11, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  37. ^ "Get You Good – Music Video". Kid. Studio. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  38. ^ "Gwan Big Up Urself – Music Video". Kid. Studio. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  39. ^ "Go Go Go – Music Video". Kid. Studio. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  40. ^ "Roy Wood$ Drops a New Video for "Love You"". MissBish. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  41. ^ "WATCH ROY WOODS' IMPACTFUL VIDEO "INSTINCT" FEATURING MADEINTYO". The Source. June 28, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  42. ^ "Roy Woods Takes a Trip to Space in His Video for 'Something New'". HighSnobiety. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  43. ^ "Roy Woods Drops New Visual for 'Snow White'". Respect. November 12, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  44. ^ "Roy Wood$ Announces "Unlocked" Tour". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  45. ^ "Roy Woods Plots 'Unlocked Tour'". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  46. ^ "Roy Woods designs 2018 Say Less Tour". AXS. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  47. ^ Berry, Peter A. (February 2018). "Roy Woods Unveils Say Less Tour Dates – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  48. ^ "Drake and Future Announce Summer Sixteen Tour". The Fader. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  49. ^ "Photos of Drake & Migos at Madison Square Garden on Aubrey & The Three Migos Tour: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2019.

External links

Roy Woods
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