Roy Woods Explained

Roy Woods
Birth Name:Denzel Spencer
Birth Date:18 April 1996
Birth Place:Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Years Active:2014–present

Denzel Spencer (born April 18, 1996),[1] better known by his stage name Roy Woods (also stylized as Roy Wood$), is a Canadian singer, rapper, and songwriter.[2] [3] He signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records in 2014. His first two albums, Waking at Dawn (2016) and Say Less (2017), both moderately entered the Canadian Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. Woods has also founded his own collective, Unlock the Underground.

Early life

Denzel Spencer was born April 18, 1996, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. 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.

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.

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]

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

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
CAN
[20]
US
[21]
US
R&B<br />/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

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
R&B<br />/HH
US
R&B
Exis 27 10
Nocturnal
Dem Times
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
R&B
[28]
IRE
[29]
UK
[30]
"Drama"
2015 Exis
"Gwan Big Up Urself"2016Waking at Dawn
"How I Feel"
"What Are You On?"2017Say Less
"Russian Cream"2018rowspan="7"
"Snow White"
"Worth It"2019
"Bubbly"
"Juliet & Romeo"
(with Martin Solveig)[33]
7951
  • BPI: Silver
"Shot Again"[34] 2020
"Too Much"[35]
2021
"Touch You"21Mixed Emotions
"Speeding"2022
"Insecure"Mixed Emotions
"Bad Bad"
"Luces"
2023
"Don't Love Me"Mixed Emotions
"Young Boy Problems"
"Don't Mind Me"
"Test What I Know"

Other charted and certified songs

TitleYearCertificationAlbum
"Get You Good"2015
  • RIAA: Gold
Exis
"Instinct"
2016
  • RIAA: Gold
Nocturnal

Music videos

Title! scope="col" style="width:1em;"
YearDirector(s)
"Jealousy" 2015Jim 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" 2017Ninja Djacic[40]
"Instinct"
(featuring MadeinTYO)
Elliot Clancy Osberg[41]
"Say Less" Gab3
"Monday to Monday"
"Something New" 2018Elliot Clancy Osberg[42]
"Snow White" Alfy[43]

Tours

Headlining
Supporting

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Roy Woods – Biography, Credits and Discography . . July 22, 2015.
  2. Web site: Is Roy Wood$ the Rap Version of Michael Jackson? NOISEY. April 15, 2015 . July 26, 2015.
  3. Web site: Running Through The Six: A Look at Toronto's Emerging Artists. HYPETRAK. July 26, 2015.
  4. Web site: Brampton Artist Roy Wood$ Shows Love to Turner Fenton in New Music Video. Kumar. Vijai. August 10, 2016. Bramptonist. July 25, 2019.
  5. Drake Debuts 3 New Remixes on First Beats 1 Show: Listen Now . Billboard. July 13, 2015.
  6. Web site: OVO's Latest Signee Roy Wood$ releases "EXIS" EP. haleemakhan. July 31, 2015. The Source. July 25, 2019.
  7. Web site: You are being redirected.... theknockturnal.com. October 11, 2015 . July 25, 2019.
  8. Web site: Roy Wood$ on Twitter. Twitter. May 3, 2016.
  9. Web site: Stream Roy Woods' "Nocturnal" EP. December 23, 2016. HipHopDX. July 25, 2019.
  10. Web site: Roy Woods – What Are You On?. HotNewHipHop. July 21, 2017 . July 25, 2019.
  11. OVO Signee Roy Woods Releases Debut Album, 'Say Less'. Billboard. July 25, 2019.
  12. Web site: Roy Woods Drops Off New Song 'Russian Cream'. HotNewHipHop. June 8, 2018 . July 25, 2019.
  13. Web site: Roy Woods Releases A Second Single Called 'Snow White'. HotNewHipHop. June 8, 2018 . July 25, 2019.
  14. Web site: Roy Woods releases his new single 'Worth It'. REVOLT TV. July 25, 2019.
  15. Roy Woods Returns With Celebratory 'Bubbly': Listen. Billboard. September 26, 2019.
  16. Web site: Dem Times by Roy Woods. July 17, 2020. Genius. en.
  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. Web site: Meet Roy Wood$: Young Singer/Rapper From Toronto . Hotnewhiphop.com . October 28, 2014 . March 9, 2020.
  19. Web site: FOREFRONT: Roy Wood$ Unlock The Underground. Sidedoor Magazine. July 25, 2019.
  20. Roy Woods – Chart History: Canadian Albums. Billboard. December 12, 2017.
  21. Roy Woods – Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. December 12, 2017.
  22. Roy Woods – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. December 12, 2017.
  23. Roy Woods – Chart History: R&B Albums. Billboard. December 12, 2017.
  24. Web site: Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods. iTunes Store. July 1, 2016.
  25. Web site: Instagram post by ROY WOOD$ • Aug 1, 2017 at 9:01 pm UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BXQ_hybD9jS . December 24, 2021 . limited. Instagram. August 2, 2017.
  26. Web site: Mixed Emotions . Genius. August 1, 2023.
  27. Web site: Exis – EP by Roy Woods. iTunes Store. July 31, 2015.
  28. Roy Woods Chart History: Hot R&B Songs . May 28, 2023 . Billboard.
  29. Web site: Discography Roy Woods . May 28, 2023 . irishcharts.com.
  30. Web site: MARTIN SOLVEIG & ROY WOODS full Official Chart History . May 28, 2023 . Official Charts Company.
  31. United Kingdom. Roy Woods. September 19, 2021.
  32. United States. Roy Woods. January 22, 2022.
  33. Web site: Juliet & Romeo – Single by Martin Solveig & Roy Woods. Apple Music.
  34. Web site: Roy Woods – Shot Again (Official Audio) . YouTube . January 30, 2020 . March 9, 2020.
  35. Web site: Too Much - Single by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, DVBBS & Roy Woods on Apple Music . Apple Music . February 18, 2021.
  36. Web site: Watch OVO's Roy Woods Music Video For 'Jealousy'. October 11, 2015 . The Knockturnal. July 26, 2019.
  37. Web site: Get You Good – Music Video. Kid. Studio. December 14, 2015.
  38. Web site: Gwan Big Up Urself – Music Video. Kid. Studio. July 26, 2019.
  39. Web site: Go Go Go – Music Video. Kid. Studio. July 26, 2019.
  40. Web site: Roy Wood$ Drops a New Video for "Love You". MissBish. July 26, 2019.
  41. Web site: WATCH ROY WOODS' IMPACTFUL VIDEO "INSTINCT" FEATURING MADEINTYO. June 28, 2017 . The Source. July 26, 2019.
  42. Web site: Roy Woods Takes a Trip to Space in His Video for 'Something New'. HighSnobiety. July 26, 2019.
  43. Web site: Roy Woods Drops New Visual for 'Snow White'. November 12, 2018 . Respect. July 25, 2019.
  44. Web site: Roy Wood$ Announces "Unlocked" Tour. HotNewHipHop. July 25, 2019.
  45. Web site: Roy Woods Plots 'Unlocked Tour'. Exclaim!. July 25, 2019.
  46. News: Roy Woods designs 2018 Say Less Tour. AXS. July 25, 2019.
  47. Web site: Roy Woods Unveils Say Less Tour Dates – XXL. Berry. Peter A.. XXL Mag. February 2018 . July 25, 2019.
  48. Web site: Drake and Future Announce Summer Sixteen Tour. The Fader. April 25, 2016 . April 25, 2016.
  49. Photos of Drake & Migos at Madison Square Garden on Aubrey & The Three Migos Tour: Exclusive. Billboard. July 25, 2019.