Tyga's Real Name: Michael Ray Stevenson

Quick answer: The rapper is known professionally as Tyga. AllMusic's biography identifies him as Michael Ray Stevenson and gives the birth date November 19, 1989, in Compton, California; its fact box lists the shorter alias Michael Stevenson and the same date and city. A Biography.com profile independently records Michael Ray Stevenson, born November 19, 1989, in Compton, California.

Real name and early life

AllMusic's fact box lists the birth as November 19, 1989, in Compton, California, and the alias Michael Stevenson. Its biography independently uses the longer form Tyga (Michael Ray Stevenson), says the name Tyga stands for Thank You God Always, and describes him as born in Compton and raised in South Central Los Angeles until his family moved to Gardena just before his teens. Biography.com independently records Michael Ray Stevenson, born November 19, 1989, in Compton, and says his family later moved him to Gardena around the turn of the millennium. Those two accounts of the move to Gardena are close but not identically worded. Both also discuss early mixtape work and a later connection to his cousin Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes.

Career highlights

AllMusic and Biography.com both record the 2008 debut album No Introduction. AllMusic independently names later Top Ten work including "Rack City," the 2012 album Careless World: Rise of the Last King, 2013's Hotel California, the 2015 Chris Brown collaboration Fan of a Fan: The Album, the 2018 Offset collaboration "Taste," and 2019's Legendary. Biography.com independently discusses the early single "Coconut Juice," a later association with Lil Wayne and Young Money Entertainment, and later high-profile collaborations, and it also names "Rack City." AllMusic independently also describes early work that moved from self-funded mixtapes to a featured role on Chris Brown's "Deuces" before the later solo hit "Rack City." Biography.com independently notes that a remix of "Coconut Juice" featured Lil Wayne, who later sought to sign him, and that Tyga later left Young Money before a later association with Kanye West's GOOD Music imprint, details that are not independently developed in the AllMusic account used here. AllMusic independently also mentions the later 2023 set Hit Me When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist with YG.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Tyga, Michael Ray Stevenson, or Michael Stevenson are looking for the same rapper. AllMusic's biography and Biography.com both record Michael Ray Stevenson; AllMusic's fact box uses the shorter form Michael Stevenson.