Bryson Gray (born May 24, 1991) is an American rapper, known for his work in the Christian hip hop and political hip hop genres.[1][2] In 2021, his song "Let's Go Brandon", a diss track against President Joe Biden, reached the number one slot on iTunes.[3][4][5][6]

Bryson Gray
Born (1991-05-24) May 24, 1991 (age 33) High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Other names
  • B.Surius
  • KingVodka
OccupationRapper
Years active2000–present
Known for

Career

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Prior to becoming a conservative Christian rapper, Gray had made snap rap music under the stage name B.Surius, as well as electropop under the alias KingVodka. He first began his music career at 9 years old when he started going to his father's recording studio as a way to become proficient in rapping and producing beats. During high school, he started the snap group 336 Boyz with the assistance of his dad, his cousin and his six friends which included DJ Luke Nasty. Gray was gaining traction in his home state of North Carolina by getting his music played on local radio stations and was even featured on the BET series 106 & Park's Wild Out Wednesday segment with his group on a couple occasions.[7][8][9] In 2020, he explained he began putting his political beliefs in his songs after he "redpilled [himself] after going on conservative platforms and trying to debate them".[10]

In October 2021, Gray's upload of his song "Let's Go Brandon" was removed from YouTube for allegedly sharing "false medical information", although the song is still available through numerous reuploads.[11] His Twitter account was temporarily suspended in December 2022 after making comments about Elton John's sexuality. His account was subsequently reinstated after complaints by notable figures such as Jake Shields.[12]

Gray was invited to an interview on the BBC Scotland on a segment in November 2022. The question asked to him was in regard to Kanye West and allegations of West's antisemitism, Gray claimed that he thought the allegations were "without foundation". When asked about Kanye's comments on Jewish people, he began discussing Jewish businessmen Lucian Grainge of Sony Music Entertainment and Michael Lynton of Warner Music Group as proof that Jews controlled the music industry, leading to the host of the radio show ending the call and issuing an apology to viewers.[13]

In 2023, Gray released a song with singer Jimmy Levy and rapper Shemeka Michelle, "Reclaim the Rainbow", which debuted at the top of both R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and Rap Digital Song Sales charts for Billboard,[14] as well as number 3 on the iTunes charts.[15]

He was set to perform at the 2023 Lee County, Florida GOP Lincoln Reagan Dinner, but his performance was allegedly cancelled due to complaints by members that he had been critical of former President Donald Trump in the recent past. In response, he asserted that "only trumpers" are "ruining their own agenda" by engaging in cancel culture.[16]

On Christmas Eve of that year, Gray tweeted that the use of Christian imagery in the pin-up-style pictures of young conservative women, some clad in swimwear or lingerie, in "Conservative Dad's Real Conservative Women of America 2024 Calendar" was "demonic".[17] This started Calendargate, a controversy among conservatives online that continued into 2024.[18]

Personal life

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Gray has stated that his grandmother was a Black Panther. His father is an English teacher.[19]

Following the storming of the Capitol, Gray's father Gary took to social media to share that his son, Bryson, had been questioned by the FBI. Bryson retweeted him alleging that they questioned him as a result of people reporting him as a "terrorist".[20] In an April 2023 documentary short from Vice, he claimed to have been celibate for more than a decade.[21]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • 2018: My Life Is a Mess: Season 1
  • 2018: Genre: No Genre
  • 2018: Album About Mariah
  • 2020: Maga Ain't Got No Color
  • 2020: Maga Szn
  • 2020: Can't Cancel God
  • 2020: Maga Christmas
  • 2021: 1776
  • 2021: God Wins
  • 2021: Bold as a Lion: Season 1
  • 2021: Letters to the Church
  • 2022: Us VS the Industry
  • 2021: Bars 4 Christ, Vol. 1
  • 2022: Lion Music
  • 2023: Letters to the Church 2
  • 2023: Super Bigot
  • 2024: Bryson, the Demon Slayer
  • 2024: 777

Collaborative albums

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  • 2007: 2 The Point (with 336 Boyz)
  • 2008: Club 336 (with 336 Boyz)
  • 2010: I Told You So (with 336 Boyz)
  • 2012: Full Cups & Empty Bottles (with 336 Boyz)
  • 2020: Line in the Sand (with Tyson James)
  • 2022: Jan6ers (with Forgiato Blow)
  • 2023: Bible Rap (with Don Trochez)
  • 2023: Black & White (with Tyson James)
  • 2014: My Team EP (with 336 Boyz)
  • 2018: Album About Fortnite - EP
  • 2018: Random Freestyles to Youtube Beats Lol
  • 2018: Album About Fortnite, Pt. 2 - EP
  • 2019: Big Surius
Title Details
Singles
Shake 4 Da Money (ft. P-Wonda) (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released June 1, 2008
Twerk Time (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released December 24, 2011
Heartbreak & Tequila (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released January 8, 2012
One More Time (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released December 3, 2012
My Team (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released January 27, 2013
Role Model (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released June 9, 2013
Matter (with 336 Boyz)
  • Released August 12, 2014
Crazy (ft. LilZa)
  • Released September 9, 2014
Stranger (ft. Jay Hayden)
  • Released February 10, 2015
Go Harder (ft. FurchesTwins)
  • Released May 5, 2015
Feeling Sounds (ft. Will Gittens)
  • Released November 13, 2015
Everything Is OK (ft. FurchesTwins, B-Wall, Jordan Hunter)
  • Released October 14, 2016
Slow Down (ft. DJ Luke Nasty)
  • Released February 3, 2017
Snakes
  • Released October 27, 2017
Savage (ft. Jay Hayden and DJ Luke Nasty)
  • Released October 27, 2017
Fuck Alorica
  • Released February 16, 2018
Maga Boy
  • Released November 19, 2019
Dog Cage
  • Released July 10, 2020
Hate Speech
  • Released October 2, 2020
Maga Party
  • Released October 30, 2020
Patriots vs Everybody
  • Released November 6, 2020
Ain't Over Yet
  • Released November 27, 2020
Bringing God Back
  • Released November 27, 2020
Game Over
  • Released November 27, 2020
Maga Forever
  • Released November 27, 2020
False Teachers
  • Released December 18, 2020
Menace 2 Society
  • Released March 26, 2021
I Do Not Comply
  • Released August 24, 2021
Let's Go Brandon (Joe Biden Diss)
  • Released October 15, 2021
Thanks, Youtube.
  • Released November 12, 2021
Maga Icons
  • Released November 19, 2021
Like Kyle
  • Released November 22, 2021
Elon Musk
  • Released April 16, 2022
Ultra Maga (ft. Forgiato Blow, Topher, Tyson James)
  • Released May 13, 2022
Kanye Was Right
  • Released May 20, 2022
Run
  • Released May 27, 2022
Happy
  • Released June 10, 2022
Kingdom at Hand
  • Released June 17, 2022
Drag Queens (ft. Alex Stein #99)
  • Released June 24, 2022
God Save America
  • Released July 1, 2022
Patriot Anthem (ft. Forgiato Blow)
  • Released July 8, 2022
Overturned (ft. DC Capital)
  • Released July 10, 2022
Hunter Biden Hacked (Hunter Biden Diss)
  • Released July 13, 2022
Gun Control Questions
  • Released July 15, 2022
Woman of the Year
  • Released July 22, 2022
Biden Blame Putin
  • Released July 29, 2022
Liberal World Order
  • Released August 5, 2022
FBI Raid (ft. Tyson James)
  • Released August 10, 2022
Jesus (ft. Tyson James)
  • Released August 19, 2022
Brittney Griner (Brittney Griner Diss)
  • Released August 26, 2022
Jesus Take the Wheel
  • Released September 2, 2022
Soul of the Nation
  • Released September 4, 2022
Ashley's Diary
  • Released September 9, 2022
Bars for Christ
  • Released September 16, 2022
Martha's Vineyard
  • Released September 20, 2022
Evil Rulers
  • Released September 30, 2022
Remnant Coming (ft. Isaiah Robin & Kieran the Light)
  • Released October 7, 2022
Alex & Ye
  • Released October 19, 2022
Fed Up (ft. Forgiato Blow)
  • Released October 28, 2022
Shut Up and Dribble (LeBron James Diss)
  • Released November 11, 2022
Bryson 2028
  • Released November 18, 2022
Burn Balenciaga (Balenciaga Diss)
  • Released November 28, 2022
Maga Party 24
  • Released December 7, 2022
Feature with Ye
  • Released December 15, 2022
Slaying Demons
  • Released December 23, 2022
Kevin McCarthy (Kevin McCarthy Diss)
  • Released January 6, 2023
Homemakers
  • Released March 17, 2023
All of Me
  • Released March 17, 2023
Cinco de Mayo
  • Released April 21, 2023
Message to CHH
  • Released June 7, 2023
Reclaim the Rainbow (ft. Jimmy Levy, Shemeka Michelle)
  • Released June 16, 2023
All the Way
  • Released October 6, 2023
Just Got Married
  • Released October 27, 2023
Fruit
  • Released October 31, 2023
Way Truth Life
  • Released November 9, 2023
Gay Demon
  • Released December 7, 2023
Everybody Get Exposed
  • Released January 12, 2024
Features
Title Main Artist Details
Twenty in the Tank DJ Luke Nasty
  • Released May 13, 2016
Fall in Love Jordan Hunter
  • Released May 12, 2017
  • Also featuring LiveLikeDavis
Mt. Rushmore Rocky Luciano
  • Released August 11, 2020
Keep on Truckin' KillWill
  • Released February 18, 2022
2 Maga DANRYZ1
  • Released May 27, 2022
  • Also featuring Gri!ff The GOP and CarlosRossiMC
Save America Playboy the Beast
  • Released June 29, 2022
Votes Overnight Stoney Dudebro
All My Friends are Shadowbanned An0maly
  • Released October 14, 2022
Kyrie Mode Forgiato Blow
  • Released November 7, 2022
  • Also featuring Stoney Dudebro
Gun Totin Bible Thumper Tyson James
  • Released May 19, 2023
Cancel Pride Tyson James
  • Released June 29, 2023
  • Also featuring ASAP Preach
Conservative Bezz Believe
  • Released July 3, 2023
  • Also features Forgiato Blow

References

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  1. ^ Elliards, Xander (November 26, 2022). "MAGA rapper Bryson Gray fumes at BBC Scotland amid antisemitism row". The National. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Witkowski, D'Anne (March 20, 2023). "So About Christian Conservative 'Rapper' Bryson Gray's Anti-LGBTQ+ Diss Track: I Don't Know Her". Between the Lines. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Stieb, Matt (October 29, 2021). "How the Anti-Biden Song 'Let's Go Brandon' Became a Shadow Smash". New York. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Evon, Dan (October 29, 2021). "How Popular Are 'Let's Go Brandon' Songs, Really?". Snopes. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Richardson, Valerie (October 29, 2021). "Not one, not two: Four anti-Biden 'Let's Go Brandon' songs reach iTunes top 10". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Unterberger, Andrew; Denis, Kyle; Lipshutz, Jason (August 16, 2023). "Oliver Anthony's Viral Success Has Already Spread to His Whole Catalog". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Tim Clodfelter (August 21, 2009). "TV Tidbits Rap group from High Point to compete on BET's 106 & Park". www.journalnow.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Tim Clodfelter (August 27, 2009). "Rap group from High Point will return to BET program for an 'All-Star Week'". www.journalnow.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Digital Production Group (July 30, 2010). "336 Boyz Commercial". www.youtube.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  10. ^ 97.1 FM Talk (July 10, 2020). "Youtuber Bryson Gray became an outcast in the North Carolina". www.audacy.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Nath, Sayantani (October 21, 2021). "'Let's Go Brandon': YouTube deletes Bryson Gray's MAGA hit for 'false medical info'". MEAWW. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  12. ^ Soni, Mayur (December 12, 2022). ""Considering the Fact Elton John Is Gay" – Bryson Gray's Permanent Twitter Suspension by Elon Musk Questioned by UFC Veteran". EssentiallySports. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "US rapper fumes at BBC Scotland after interview cut off amid antisemitism row". The National. November 26, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  14. ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "This Anti-LGBTQ+ Song Blocked BTS's Jimin From Billboard's No. 1 Spot". Forbes. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  15. ^ Chamberlain, Dale (July 13, 2023). "Christian Singer Denies He Is Homophobic After Anti-LGBTQ+ Pride Songs Chart on iTunes, Billboard". ChurchLeaders. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Cooper, Amber (March 20, 2023). "Bryson Gray canceled from Lee County GOP performance: 'You can't cancel me'". Florida's Voice. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  17. ^ @RealBrysonGray (December 24, 2023). "The fact that conservatives made a calendar with half naked women then decided to put Christian imagery on the photos is demonic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Beauchamp, Zack (January 10, 2024). "How a horny beer calendar sparked a conservative civil war". Vox. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Bethea, Charles (December 16, 2019). "His Grandma Was a Black Panther, but Bryson Gray Is Pro-Life and Pro-Trump". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "MAGA Rapper Bryson Gray Questioned by FEDS After Capitol Riots". SC Herald. January 14, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Yes, MAGA Rap Is Real And Trump Supporters Love It". YouTube. Vice Media. April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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