Ghanaian-American rapper (born 1996)
Merlyn Wood
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![Wood performing in 2018 in Quebec City](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/FEQ_July_2018_Brockhampton_%284428738171%29_%28cropped%29.png/220px-FEQ_July_2018_Brockhampton_%284428738171%29_%28cropped%29.png) |
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Birth name
| William Anku Kraka Mawuli Andoh Wood Jr.
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Born
| (
1996-05-01
)
May 1, 1996
(age 28)
Accra
,
Ghana
|
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Genres
| Rap
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Occupation(s)
| |
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Years active
| 2012-present
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Formerly of
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Musical artist
William Anku Kraka Mawuli Andoh Wood Jr.
[2]
(born May 1, 1996), known by his stage name
Merlyn Wood
, is a Ghanaian-American rapper and songwriter. Born in
Accra
and raised in
Texas
, Wood is best known for his work as a member of hip-hop collective and
boyband
Brockhampton
, with whom he released eight studio albums from 2012 to 2022.
[3]
During his time with Brockhampton, Wood was recognized as the groups
hype man
, with his verses being noted for their energy and Ghanaian accent.
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
Early life
[
edit
]
Wood was born in Accra and raised in Austin, Texas. Wood credits his Ghanaian ancestry as influencing his musical style.
[2]
In the 7th grade, Wood was sent by his parents to a boarding school in Ghana, where he developed a passion for music. While a student of
The Woodlands High School
, Wood met future bandmates
Kevin Abstract
,
Matt Champion
,
Ameer Vann
, and Russell "Joba" Boring.
[8]
Prior to joining Brockhampton full time, Wood was studying architecture at the
University of Texas
, which he dropped out from twice.
[9]
After realizing he could not feasibly pass one of his classes, he decided to relocate to
Los Angeles
with the rest of the band.
[8]
Wood derived his stage name, Merlyn, from the mythical figure
Merlin
, as he admired the character's success despite his eccentricity.
[2]
Career
[
edit
]
2012-2022: Brockhampton
[
edit
]
Wood joined
San Marcos, Texas
based hip-hop group AliveSinceForever in 2012, while developing his solo career. On June 30, 2015, Wood released his debut single "Fye".
[10]
In September 2016, it was followed by "Cul de Sac".
[11]
When AliveSinceForever reformed as Brockhampton in 2014, Wood remained part of the group, and was a key member during the recording of the groups critically acclaimed 2017 album trilogy
Saturation
,
Saturation II
, and
Saturation III
.
[12]
[13]
[14]
After signing to
RCA Records
and removing Ameer Vann from the group amidst allegations of sexual misconduct, Brockhampton released their fourth studio album,
Iridescence
, in September 2018.
Iridescence
debuted atop the Billboard charts and was followed by
Ginger
and
Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine
in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
In a 2021 interview for
Apple Music
, Brockhampton revealed that between the release of
Ginger
and
Roadrunner
, work had begun on a Merlyn Wood solo album in collaboration with
RZA
of
Wu-Tang Clan
, although the project was never released.
[19]
Later in 2021, Wood released the single "S.Y.K" alongside producer Connie, his first solo release since the release of
Saturation
in 2017.
[20]
Following the cancellation of the groups "Here Right Now" tour on January 14, 2022, Brockhampton's final studio albums,
The Family
and
TM
were released on November 17 and 18, respectively.
[21]
[22]
[23]
2022-present: Solo work
[
edit
]
"Green Light", another collaboration with Connie, was released on May 31, 2022, as Wood's first single following Brockhampton's dissolution.
[24]
It was followed by "One of Us" on September 5.
[24]
In April 2023, Wood was a featured artist on
Dreamer Isioma's
sophomore album
Princess Forever
.
[25]
In June, he released the collaborative single "Formula" with Dumb Buoys Fishing Club and Joe Unknown, off of the former's debut album
Wrecked
.
[26]
Wood was also featured on "Skeleton Town", on the same record.
[27]
Wood released his debut solo EP
Dirty Thunder
on October 6, 2023.
[28]
[29]
Shortly afterwards,
Slime In The Ice Machine
, a collaborative album with former Brockhampton member Ameer Vann, was released on October 27.
[30]
[31]
In December of that year, Wood was featured on
Dark Songs To Drive To
, by Montreal rapper
Nate Husser
.
[32]
Discography
[
edit
]
Collaborative albums
[
edit
]
List of collaborative studio albums
Title
|
Album details
|
Slime In The Ice Machine
(with
Ameer Vann
)
|
- Released: October 27, 2023
- Label: Blacksmith Recordings
- Formats: Streaming, digital download
|
Extended plays
[
edit
]
Title
|
Album details
|
Dirty Thunder
|
- Released: October 6, 2023
- Label: Don't Be Greedy
- Formats: Streaming, digital download
|
Singles
[
edit
]
As lead artist
[
edit
]
Title
|
Year
|
Album
|
"Fye"
|
2015
|
Non-album singles
|
"Culdesac"
|
2016
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"Forget Me Not"
|
2017
|
"S.Y.K"
(with Connie)
|
2021
|
"Green Light"
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2022
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"One of Us"
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"Blackout"
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2023
|
Dirty Thunder
|
"Mazza"
(feat. Adetola)
|
As featured artist
[
edit
]
Title
|
Year
|
Other performer(s)
|
"Breath"
|
2017
|
Reverse
|
"Get Out"
|
2022
|
Nate Husser
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"Chains"
|
2022
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Gidi, SoGone SoFlexy
|
"I Got The Love"
|
2023
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Tommy Richman, Nate Dae
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Guest appearances
[
edit
]
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title
|
Year
|
Other performer(s)
|
Album
|
"Show You Off" (Remix)
|
2021
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Michael Kirby
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The Lion Inside You
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"Get Out"
|
2022
|
Nate Husser
|
All Time High
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"Touch Your Soul"
|
2023
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Dreamer Isioma
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Princess Forever
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"Formula"
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Dumb Buoys Fishing Club, Joe Unknown
|
Wrecked
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"Skeleton Town"
|
Dumb Buoys Fishing Club, Qhairo
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"Up The Pipe"
|
Nate Husser
|
Dark Songs To Drive To
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Filmography
[
edit
]
Year
|
Title
|
Role
|
Medium
|
2015
|
Dreams Die Young
|
Himself
|
Short Series
|
2016
|
All-American Trash Documentary
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Documentary
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2017
|
American Boyband
|
Documentary Series
|
Jennifer's Tour, A Live Show By Brockhampton
|
Billy Star
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"South Central" Crew
|
Short Film
|
Saturation
|
Himself
|
Documentary
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2018
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Love Your Parents Tour
|
Documentary Series
|
The Longest Summer In America
|
Documentary
|
2019
|
Keeping The Band
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Himself (fictionalized depiction)
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Series
|
Music videos
[
edit
]
List of music videos as Merlyn Wood
Title
|
Year
|
Album(s)
|
Director(s)
|
"S.Y.K"
|
2021
|
?
|
Connie, WellKnownStudios
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"Green Light"
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2022
|
Miggy
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"One of Us"
|
Sean Russo
|
"Mazza"
(feat. Adetola)
|
2023
|
Dirty Thunder
|
Evijan John
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References
[
edit
]
- ^
Nast, Conde (2019-10-03).
"The Oral History of Brockhampton... as Told by Brockhampton"
.
GQ
. Retrieved
2024-04-28
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Merlyn Wood - Audible Treats"
. 2022-12-05. Archived from
the original
on 2022-12-05
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
Cubit, Brea (2019-11-06).
"Merlyn Wood, 23"
.
POPSUGAR Celebrity UK
. Retrieved
2024-04-04
.
- ^
"A look at BROCKHAMPTON, a hip-hop anti-collective All-American Boyband"
. 2017-11-14
. Retrieved
2024-04-04
.
- ^
"BROCKHAMPTON: ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE"
.
Pitchfork
. Retrieved
2024-04-04
.
- ^
Rick, Vince (2018-08-12).
"Each Brockhampton Member's Best Verse"
.
HotNewHipHop
. Retrieved
2024-04-04
.
- ^
"Fast-rising 13-member crew Brockhampton is unlike anything you've seen or heard - Las Vegas Weekly"
.
lasvegasweekly.com
. 2018-12-05
. Retrieved
2024-04-04
.
- ^
a
b
"Get To Know The Members Of Brockhampton, A New Kind Of American Boy Band"
.
The FADER
. 2017-05-12
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
In-Studio Concert Series: Brockhampton Perform + Talk New Album & Removing A Group Member
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
– via www.youtube.com.
- ^
Tanners, Jon.
"Premiere: Merlyn Wood - "Fye"
"
.
Complex
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
Dazed (2016-09-05).
"Hear an emotional new song from Brockhampton's Merlyn Wood"
.
Dazed
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
Bradley, Brent (2018-02-12).
"BROCKHAMPTON 'Saturation' Cheat Code Album Review"
.
DJBooth
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
SATURATION II by BROCKHAMPTON on Apple Music
, 2017-08-25
, retrieved
2024-03-10
- ^
"Brockhampton announces "last studio album," shares release date"
.
The FADER
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
"BROCKHAMPTON Kick Out Ameer Vann Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations"
.
Pitchfork
. 2018-05-27
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
"BROCKHAMPTON's New Album Out in September"
.
Pitchfork
. 2018-08-27
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
"Brockhampton Announce New Album 'Ginger' Out In August"
.
Stereogum
. 2019-07-18
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
"ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE by BROCKHAMPTON"
.
Apple Music
. Retrieved
2021-04-06
.
- ^
BROCKHAMPTON: 'ROADRUNNER,' Meeting A$AP Rocky, and Message Behind their Lyrics | Apple Music
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
– via www.youtube.com.
- ^
Legaspi, Althea (2021-11-11).
"Brockhampton's Merlyn Wood Branches Out With New Song 'S.Y.K.'
"
.
Rolling Stone
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
Mier, Tomas (2022-01-14).
"Brockhampton Announce 'Indefinite Hiatus' Following Coachella Performance, Cancel Tour"
.
Rolling Stone
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
"BROCKHAMPTON Drop Final Album The Family: Stream"
. 2022-11-17
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
Curto, Justin (2022-11-18).
"Brockhampton Isn't Quite Ready to Say Good-bye"
.
Vulture
. Retrieved
2024-03-10
.
- ^
a
b
"BROCKHAMPTON's Merlyn Wood returns with "GREEN LIGHT"
"
.
The FADER
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
"Dreamer Isioma Announces Sophomore Album 'Princess Forever,' Shares 2 Hypnotic New Tracks"
.
Hypebeast
. 2023-03-31
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
"Alongside Merlyn and joe unknown, Dumb Buoys Fishing Club raise anchor on "FORMULA" | Tracks"
.
The Line of Best Fit
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
"Dumb Buoys Fishing Club: Wrecked review - explosive alt-pop duo strike gold | Dumb Buoys Fishing Club"
.
The Line of Best Fit
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
"Kevin Abstract Announces First Solo Album Since Brockhampton's Indefinite Hiatus"
.
Pitchfork
. 2023-10-11
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
Dirty Thunder - EP by Merlyn Wood on Apple Music
, 2023-10-06
, retrieved
2024-04-04
- ^
Rampertab, Lilith (2024-03-25).
"
'Mika's Laundry:' Matt Champion of BROCKHAMPTON is a lover, not a fighter"
.
The Daily Campus
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
- ^
Slime In the Ice Machine by Ameer Vann Merlyn Wood, Merlyn Wood & Ameer Vann on Apple Music
, 2023-10-27
, retrieved
2024-04-04
- ^
MacIntyre, Dave (2023-12-27).
"Montreal rapper Nate Husser on life in L.A. and his latest album Dark Songs to Drive To"
.
Cult MTL
. Retrieved
2024-04-03
.
|
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- Ameer Vann
- Rodney Tenor
- Albert Gordon
- Anish Ochani
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Studio albums
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Singles
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Other songs
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Tours
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Related articles
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