Juaquin James Malphurs a.k.a. Waka Flocka Flame is 30 years old today.
The Atlanta based rapper established himself in Hip Hop after his releasing three hit singles: “O Let’s Do It,” “Hard in da Paint” and “No Hands.”
“No Hands” landed on Billboard’s Hot 100, residing in the number 13 spot. Following his successful singles, Waka released his debut album Flockaveli in 2010 and his sophomore album Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family in 2012, which featured another one of his hit singles, “Round of Applause.”
Waka Flocka Flame was a product of a family well known in the industry. His mother, Debra Antney, is Gucci Mane’s former manager and was also the CEO of So Icey/Mizay Entertainment. Gucci Mane is also attributed to adding the “Flocka Flame” to the end of Waka’s name.
But Waka’s life certainly didn’t always reflect great fortune. In January 2010, the rapper was shot two times during an attempted robbery in Atlanta. That event preceded his younger brother, Kay O Redd’s death in 2013 and it was confirmed as suicide.
On the brighter side of Waka’s life, he married his longtime girlfriend, Tammy Rivera in 2014. He and his now wife also star in the hit reality television show, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.
In addition to his first two albums, the Brick Squad member also dropped Flockaveli 2 and a collaborative album with Gucci Mane, Ferrari Boyz.
History has shown yearly projects from Waka since his debut, so there’s a good chance new music is on the way.
