Ugly God: From Viral Comedy Rapper To Chart-Topping Star
Explore the rise of Ugly God, the internet sensation behind “Water” who turned humor and honesty into hip-hop success. Learn how his breakout mixtape The Booty Tape made waves across the charts and reshaped rap’s new wave.
Jul 22, 202516.6K Shares227.5K Views
Ugly God is an American rapper and producer whose free-spirited style grabbed attention fast. He first went viral in 2015 with the humorous track “I Beat My Meat,” which racked up over 30 million plays on SoundCloud. His next hit, “Water,” climbed onto the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016 and became his signature breakout song. Professionally signed by Asylum Records, he released the mixtape The Booty Tapein 2017 and his debut album Bumps & Bruisesin 2019, both of which reached the Billboard 200 charts. Known for his bold lyrics and online presence, he has become a unique voice in comedy hip hop.
Early Life
Royce Cornell Davison‑Rodriguez was born on September 19, 1996, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He moved at a young age and spent most of his childhood in Houston, Texas, and later lived in Gulfport, Mississippi, where he played basketball during high school.
His father is Afro‑Dominican and his mother is African‑American. He grew up speaking both English and Spanish and described his upbringing as a mix of Black and Latino cultures.
Between seventh and tenth grade, he used the stage name “Pussy Bacon.” He later changed it to Ugly God for social reasons and after his parents raised concerns about the original name.
He enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi to study computer engineering, but dropped out to focus fully on his music. It was during college that he began producing beats and writing songs in earnest.
These early years, moving across states, balancing different cultures, and shifting from athletics and engineering toward music, shaped his confident and playful artistic voice.
Career
Royce Davison‑Rodriguez, known as Ugly God, started gaining attention in 2015 with his funny song “I Beat My Meat” on SoundCloud—it got over 30 million plays. In March 2016, he released “Water,” which became his breakout hit, peaking at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later earning platinum certification.
In June 2017, Ugly God was named to XXL’s prestigious Freshman Class. That August, he released his first commercial mixtape, The Booty Tape, under Asylum Records. He produced most of the project himself and it reached #27 on the Billboard 200.
He continued growing his career by collaborating with artists like Lil Yachty (“Boom!” in 2018). In 2018, he self-released the EP Just a Lil Something Before the Album...
On August 9, 2019, Ugly God released his first studio album Bumps & Bruises through Asylum Records. This album entered the Billboard 200 charts, with guest appearances from Takeoff, Wintertime, and Lil Pump.
Through every step, Ugly God has built a name for himself with his mix of humor, self‑production, and bold lyrics—making him a unique voice in hip‑hop.
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