Lud Foe, also known as Will James Akins, is a renowned American drill rapper known for his gritty lyrics and captivating music videos. Hailing from Chicago, Lud Foe draws inspiration from the challenges faced by African-American communities in underdeveloped neighborhoods, as well as the flashy culture of hip-hop. Influenced by iconic artists like N.W.A., Gucci Mane, and Ice Cube, Lud Foe burst onto the hip-hop scene with hits such as ‘I’m Da Man’ and ‘Cutting Up’. With chart-topping tracks like ‘Recuperate’, ‘Alphabet’, ‘No Chill’, and ‘Hustle In Me’, Lud Foe has established himself as one of the most talented and promising rappers of his generation. What sets him apart is his aggressive lyrics and infectious beats.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Will James Akins
- Age: 27 Years, 27 Year Old Males
- Family: children: Zayden
- Rappers
- American Men
- City: Chicago, Illinois
- U.S. State: Illinois
Early Beginnings
Lud Foe was born in one of the worst African-American neighborhoods on the west side of Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, he faced many challenges, including carrying a gun and experiencing racial profiling by the police. He dropped out of school after assaulting faculty members and another boy, which led to him being sent to a juvenile detention center. However, it was during his time in the center that Lud Foe discovered his passion for music. He started writing multiple rap songs every day, using his difficult upbringing as inspiration for his creativity.
Career & Fame
After being released from prison, Lud Foe had a chance encounter with music producer Kid Wond3r at a tattoo shop. Kid Wond3r recognized Lud Foe’s talent and gave him his contact details, leading to a long-lasting friendship and collaboration. Kid Wond3r produced Lud Foe’s first song and has continued to produce most of his discography. Lud Foe initially rapped over instrumentals he found on YouTube, and once they were happy with the combination of his rap and Kid Wond3r’s beats, their music was born.
Lud Foe gained recognition in the hip-hop scene after releasing music videos on the YouTube channel ‘Elevator’ in 2015-2016. His mixtape ‘Boochie Gang’ was a major success, and his music video for the song ‘Cutting Up’ went viral, accumulating over 27 million views. Other music videos like ‘Cooling With My Shooters’ and ‘Still’ further solidified his reputation as one of the best upcoming rappers from Chicago.
In 2017, Lud Foe created his own YouTube channel and released his first video ‘Kill Sum’. Although it didn’t receive much attention, he found success with his single ‘Fvcked Up’. Throughout the year, Lud Foe released several successful singles, including ‘Ghetto Love’, ‘No Chill’, and ‘Recuperate’, which became some of the best-selling singles of the year. ‘Recuperate’ became his biggest hit after he recovered from a near-fatal car accident in March 2017.
At the end of 2017, Lud Foe released his second album ‘No Hooks II’, which included chart-topping singles like ‘Alphabet’, ‘Water’, and ‘Suffer’. His music video for ‘New’ also gained over 5.5 million views on YouTube. In 2018, Lud Foe continued to release music videos, including ‘Hit A Lick’ and ‘Hustle in Me’, with the latter on its way to becoming his first major hit of the year.
Controversy
Lud Foe faced controversy in his personal life. In March 2017, he was involved in a life-threatening car accident that resulted in surgeries and therapy for his recovery. In December 2017, he was arrested on charges of domestic violence after getting violent with his then-pregnant girlfriend and her mother. He was released on bail a few days later, and the matter was resolved quietly.
Personal Life
Lud Foe, whose real name is Will James Akins, was born on July 15, 1996, in Chicago, Illinois. He has not shared much about his parents or his girlfriend on social media. However, he does have a son named Zayden, who was born on March 3, 2018, with his partner.