Royce Davison, better known as Ugly God, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He gained fame with his viral single ‘Water’ in 2016 and has since made a name for himself in the hip hop industry. Despite facing controversy early on in his career, Ugly God’s talent and unique style have earned him recognition, including being selected as a member of XXL’s ‘2017 Freshman Class’. With millions of views on his ‘Freshman Freestyle’, Ugly God continues to make waves in the music scene.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Royce Davison, Pussy Bacon, Royce Rodriguez
- Age: 27 Years, 27 Year Old Males
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm), 5’9″ Males
- U.S. State: Indiana
- Education: University of Southern Mississippi
Ugly God’s Early Career
Ugly God developed an interest in music at a young age and began rapping while still in school. Initially, he went by the name ‘Pussy Bacon’, but the explicit nature of the moniker caused problems with his parents and school principal. He eventually changed his stage name to ‘Ugly God’, a reflection of his own self-image.
Controversy and Popularity
Ugly God uploaded his first single, ‘I Beat My Meat’, which caused controversy and led to his school principal asking him to take it down. He complied, but later re-uploaded the song, facing the same consequences. However, the controversy actually helped the single gain popularity. When Ugly God started college at the University of South Mississippi, he uploaded the song once again, and it has remained online since then.
Breakthrough with ‘Water’
On March 16, 2016, Ugly God uploaded his single ‘Water’ to his SoundCloud account. The song was later released for digital download by Asylum Records on November 19, 2016. ‘Water’ debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 100 and eventually peaked at number 80.
‘The Booty Tape’ and Collaborations
Following the success of ‘Water’, Ugly God released his mixtape ‘The Booty Tape’ on August 4, 2017, under Asylum Records. He wrote all the lyrics himself, and the album featured a guest appearance from rapper Wiz Khalifa. ‘The Booty Tape’ reached number two on the New Zealand Heatseekers Albums chart, number 15 on the US Independent Albums chart, and number 18 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also reached number 27 on the US Billboard 200.
Ugly God has collaborated with other popular artists, including PnB Rock, appearing on one of the singles from PnB Rock’s debut album ‘Catch These Vibes’.
Personal Life and Education
Ugly God, born as Royce Davison on September 19, 1996, in Indiana, USA, initially had aspirations of becoming a computer engineer. He enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi but later dropped out to pursue his dream of becoming a musician.