Tory Lanez

Early life and origins

Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson was born on July 27, 1992, in Brampton, Ontario. His father, Sonstar, is from Barbados, and his mother, Luella, was from Curaçao. The family initially lived in Montreal before moving to Miami, Florida, making Lanez the youngest of six siblings. A significant personal event occurred when Lanez was eleven years old, as his mother died from anemia. Following her death, his father became an ordained minister and missionary, which led to the family moving frequently across the United States. His father later remarried, and the family settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Lanez met a friend named Hakeem who worked as a janitor. It was Hakeem who gave Peterson the nickname "Lanez," commenting on his thrill-seeking tendencies and habit of playing in the street without regard for traffic.

Due to behavioural issues, Lanez was sent to live with cousins in Jamaica, Queens, New York, in 2006. This arrangement was short-lived, and he was subsequently forced to move to Toronto to live with his grandmother. His grandmother refused to care for him, leading Lanez to move downtown with three strangers. He described this period from ages fifteen to eighteen as a formative and difficult time of fending for himself, which he credits with shaping his character. During this time, he adopted the moniker "Tory Lanez," incorporating a reference to his idol, the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. He dropped out of school in the tenth grade at age sixteen and began performing songs at outdoor concerts. At seventeen, he started singing, an interest he pursued without any formal vocal training.

Career development and breakthrough

Tory Lanez's musical career began in earnest in 2009 with the release of his debut mixtape, T.L 2 T.O. While living in South Florida, he started directing and posting his music videos on YouTube. His break came when fellow artist Sean Kingston saw a video of Lanez freestyling over Lloyd Banks's "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley." Kingston contacted him in February 2010, leading to Lanez performing on Kingston's tour with Justin Bieber. That same year, Lanez released a flurry of mixtapes: Just Landed, One Verse One Hearse, Playing for Keeps, and Mr. 1 Verse Killah. In 2011, he signed a record deal with Kingston's Time is Money Entertainment and released three mixtapes: Mr. Peterson, Chixtape, and Swavey. He later left the label to operate as an independent artist.

Over the next three years, Lanez built his profile with a steady stream of independent releases. Key projects from this period include Sincerely Tory in 2012, Conflicts of My Soul: The 416 Story in August 2013, and Chixtape II in 2014. He also launched his "Fargo Fridays" series in June 2014, promising to release new music exclusively on Fridays via HotNewHipHop. He kicked off his first headlining tour, the "Lost Cause Tour," in the fall of 2014 in conjunction with the mixtape of the same name. During this time, Lanez also claimed to have ghost-written songs for established artists including Akon, Casey Veggies, August Alsina, T.I., and Travis Scott. His independent hustle culminated in a major label signing in July 2015 when he inked a deal with producer Benny Blanco's Mad Love Records, an imprint of Interscope Records.

Major label success and independent era

Lanez's major label debut was propelled by the single "Say It," released in July 2015, which peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100. He followed this with "Luv" in July 2016, which became his biggest hit to date, reaching number 19 on the same chart. His debut studio album, I Told You, was released on August 19, 2016, and explored alternative R&B to commercial success. He promoted the album with the "I Told You" tour. Lanez maintained a prolific release schedule with his second and third studio albums arriving in 2018: Memories Don't Die in March and Love Me Now? in October. Memories Don't Die became his first album to peak at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, while Love Me Now? spawned the double platinum-certified single "Talk to Me" featuring Rich the Kid.

His final major label release was Chixtape 5 in November 2019, which peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200. By early 2020, Lanez had publicly expressed frustration with Interscope Records, threatening to expose internal issues. He announced his departure from the label in February 2020 and released his final project with them, the mixtape The New Toronto 3, on April 10, 2020. As an independent artist under his own One Umbrella imprint, his first single was "Temperature Rising" in May 2020. He surprise-released his fifth album, Daystar, on September 25, 2020, which contained songs addressing the allegations surrounding the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez then began a series of thematic releases he called "capsules," which included the hip hop mixtape Loner in December 2020, the R&B mixtape Playboy in March 2021, and the 1980s-inspired synth-pop album Alone at Prom in December 2021.

Incarceration and continued musical output

Following his conviction in December 2022, Tory Lanez was sentenced on August 8, 2023, to ten years in prison for three felonies related to the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Despite his incarceration, his musical output continued. In 2023, a track from his 2021 album, "The Color Violet," gained renewed popularity on TikTok, leading to the release of a deluxe edition of Alone at Prom with ten additional tracks. Beginning in July 2024, Lanez initiated a series of releases under the Lost Tapes and Prison Tapes monikers, featuring older unreleased material and new recordings made from within prison, respectively. Notable prison recordings "Wish I Never Met You" and "Know What You Need" peaked at numbers 33 and 34 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

In 2025, he released the album Peterson, which was recorded entirely in prison and utilized artificial intelligence technology to enhance the recordings. Lanez described it as the "first ever in-real-time prison album," and it entered the US Billboard 200 at number 25. On May 12, 2025, Lanez was hospitalized after being stabbed by another inmate in his prison cell, sustaining multiple stab wounds and collapsed lungs. His release schedule persisted into 2026 with the extended play Slutty Bass on January 28, featuring the songs "S.L.I.D.E" and "Planet Bass / NBLYB," which he described as a new genre mixing Miami bass with alternative R&B. On July 17, 2026, he released his tenth studio album, Made You Think I Was Gone ...But, a double album divided into a rap-focused disc and an R&B-focused disc.

Artistry and business ventures

Tory Lanez's music is primarily a blend of R&B and hip hop, often fusing both styles within the same song. His vocal performances utilize both singing and rapping, frequently enhanced with autotune. He coined the term "Swavey" to describe his personal genre, which he defines as the fusion of multiple musical styles into one cohesive sound. He has cited Brandy, Ray J, Chris Brown, and Lil Wayne as key musical inspirations. His career is notable for its versatility, as he has released projects spanning straight hip hop, contemporary R&B, and 1980s-inspired synth-pop.

In 2014, Lanez founded One Umbrella, which began as a clothing company under the subsidiary Forever Umbrella before evolving into a full record label and management company. The label's first signee was Mansa in 2018, and it later expanded to include artists like Mariah the Scientist and Kaash Paige. Upon leaving Interscope Records in 2020, Lanez emphasized the importance of owning his masters and publishing through One Umbrella, calling it the culmination of years of work to be his own boss. His business acumen allowed him to maintain a steady stream of releases even after his incarceration, managing his brand and music from prison.

Notable projects and series

• Fargo Fridays (2014 to 2016): A weekly music release series hosted on HotNewHipHop.
• The New Toronto series (2015 to 2020): A trilogy of hip hop-focused mixtapes.
• Quarantine Radio (2020): An Instagram Live series hosted during COVID-19 lockdowns, featuring surprise appearances from artists like Drake and Justin Bieber and setting viewer records for the platform.
• Capsule releases (2020 to 2021): A series of thematic projects including Loner, Playboy, and Alone at Prom.
• Prison-era series (2024 to 2026): Includes Lost Tapes, Prison Tapes, and Twitch Tapes releases.

Public feuds and controversies

Tory Lanez has been involved in several public disputes with fellow musicians throughout his career. His most notable feud was with fellow Canadian rapper Drake. It began in 2010 with a mislabelled YouTube video and escalated in 2015 when Lanez mocked Drake's popularization of "the 6" as a nickname for Toronto. Drake responded with a diss on his 2016 single "Summer Sixteen," leading to a series of exchanged disses across songs and performances by both artists. The feud was officially ended in May 2017 when Lanez and Drake posted friendly pictures of each other on Instagram.

In November 2018, Lanez claimed on Instagram Live to be a better rapper than American artist Joyner Lucas, sparking a short-lived rap battle that involved several diss tracks. Around the same time, New York rapper Don Q accused Lanez of stealing his lyrics, leading to another exchange of diss records. In 2022, singer August Alsina claimed that Lanez punched him backstage at a Chicago event, resulting in visible injuries. Lanez denied the accusations. Beyond these personal conflicts, Lanez faced legal scrutiny for inciting a riot at a concert in Midland, Texas, in March 2016, after he told the crowd to "fuck shit up," which led to arrests and potential legal action from the venue.

Personal life and legal saga

Lanez has a son from his marriage to Raina Chassagne. The couple married on June 25, 2023, but Chassagne filed for divorce in June 2024, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting legal and physical custody of their child. Lanez also uses the alias Argentina Fargo, which he explains as a metaphor for "foreign money," reflecting his status as a Canadian artist working in the United States. In a phone call in August 2024, he revealed that he had completed his high school education and enrolled in college while incarcerated.

The central event shaping his recent life is the legal case stemming from the July 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez was convicted in December 2022 of first degree assault with a firearm, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, and carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. On August 8, 2023, he was sentenced to ten years in prison. He is serving his sentence at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. Despite his incarceration, Lanez's career operations have continued, most notably with the announcement in 2026 of the NOT ON "TOR" TOUR, a multi city series of listening experience events featuring his music, DJs, and special guests while he remains in prison.

Selected discography and chart performance

Questions about Tory Lanez

What is Tory Lanez currently in prison for?

Tory Lanez is currently serving a ten year prison sentence after being convicted in December 2022 of three felonies related to the July 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The specific charges were first degree assault with a firearm, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, and carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. He was sentenced on August 8, 2023, and is incarcerated at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. His incarceration has not halted his musical output, as he has released several albums and projects recorded from within prison.

How did Tory Lanez get discovered?

Tory Lanez was first discovered by fellow musician Sean Kingston. The discovery happened after Kingston saw a video on YouTube of Lanez freestyling over Lloyd Banks's song "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley. In February 2010, Kingston contacted Lanez and invited him to perform on his tour, which was opening for Justin Bieber at the time. This opportunity provided Lanez with significant early exposure. He later signed a record deal with Kingston's label, Time is Money Entertainment, in 2011, releasing several mixtapes before eventually going independent and later signing with Interscope Records.

What are Tory Lanez's most popular songs?

Tory Lanez's most successful singles include "Say It" and "Luv," both from his 2016 debut album I Told You. "Luv" peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his highest charting single, while "Say It" reached number 23. Another notable hit is "Talk to Me" featuring Rich the Kid from his 2018 album Love Me Now?, which was certified double platinum in Canada. More recently, the 2021 track "The Color Violet" from his album Alone at Prom experienced a major surge in popularity in 2023 through the social media platform TikTok.

What is the NOT ON "TOR" TOUR?

The NOT ON "TOR" TOUR is a multi city series of listening experience events announced in 2026 while Tory Lanez is incarcerated. It is not a traditional concert tour, as Lanez will not be physically present at any venues. Instead, the events feature his music played by DJs, along with special guests, in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Pittsburgh. The tour represents an innovative attempt to maintain a touring presence and fan engagement despite the artist's imprisonment, with the first event scheduled for September 25, 2026, in New York.

What record label did Tory Lanez found?

Tory Lanez founded the independent record label and management company One Umbrella in 2014. It originated as a clothing line under the subsidiary Forever Umbrella before expanding into music. The label's first signee was artist Mansa in 2018, and it later added acts like Mariah the Scientist and Kaash Paige. Lanez has emphasized the importance of One Umbrella as a vehicle for artistic independence, particularly after his departure from Interscope Records in 2020, allowing him to own his masters, publishing, and royalties.

Where is Tory Lanez from in Canada?

Tory Lanez was born in Brampton, Ontario, on July 27, 1992. His family later lived in Montreal before moving to the United States. During his teenage years, after a period living in New York, he returned to Canada and resided in Toronto. His early mixtape Conflicts of My Soul: The 416 Story (2013) references Toronto's area code, and his The New Toronto mixtape series further connects him to the city's music scene. Despite his international career and current incarceration in California, his Canadian origins remain a noted part of his identity.

Sources and further reading

• Tory Lanez (Wikipedia)
• Tory Lanez Is Going on “Tour” From Behind Bars (buzz-music.com)
• Tory Lanez, Artist Stats, Streams & Social Analytics (chartmetric.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-24.