George Albert Stone III (born May 11, 1994), known professionally as EST Gee, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, he signed with Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group (CMG), an imprint of Interscope Records in a joint venture with Warlike in early 2021.[2][3] His fifth mixtape, Bigger Than Life or Death, released in July of that year and peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200.[4][5] It spawned the Billboard Hot 100-charting songs "Lick Back" and "5500 Degrees" (featuring Lil Baby, 42 Dugg, and Rylo Rodriguez). His debut studio album, I Never Felt Nun (2022) was met with similar success, peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200.[6]

EST Gee
Birth nameGeorge Albert Stone III[1]
Also known as
  • Big Gee
  • Lamborghini Geeski
  • Riata Dada
  • 5500 king
  • El Toro
Born (1994-05-11) May 11, 1994 (age 30) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2017–present
Labels
Websiteest-gee.com

Early life

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George Albert Stone III was born on May 11, 1994, in Louisville, Kentucky to George and Sheila Stone. He grew up in the now demolished Clarksdale Projects before moving to Tubman Court & Ellington Avenue in the southeastern region of the city.[7] After graduating St. Xavier High School in 2012, Stone received a football scholarship to Indiana State University and majored in communications. He spent two years there before transferring to Sac City College. After just a year he transferred again to Stephen F. Austin University. Stone dropped out of college in 2016.[8] He was arrested for drug trafficking in the same year and was sentenced to four months of house arrest.[2][9]

During 2017, he was briefly on the CFL team the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[10]

Career

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During his house arrest, Stone became motivated to pursue a rap career after watching rapper and future collaborator Lil Baby perform on TV.[11] He initially adopted the name "Big Gee" before switching to "EST Gee", in which EST is an acronym for "Everybody Shines Together".[12] He released his debut song "Stains" as "Big Gee" on YouTube on December 17, 2017.[13] He continued to release consistently through YouTube, gaining himself a local fanbase. He released his first and second mixtapes El Toro and Die Bloody in June and August 2019, respectively.

EST Gee gained mainstream attention with his third mixtape Ion Feel Nun on March 6, 2020, following it up with his fourth mixtape I Still Don't Feel Nun on December 18, 2020.[14] In January 2021, EST Gee signed a deal with Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group (CMG), Interscope Records and Warlike. He featured on Lil Baby's single "Real as It Gets", which became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 34.[15]

His fifth mixtape Bigger Than Life or Death was released on July 21, 2021. It features guest appearances from Future, Young Thug, Pooh Shiesty, and Lil Durk.[16] He explained the meaning of the project to Audiomack: "It's just telling you what's going on. And what I got going on right now is bigger than life or death. Can't nothing affect me or stop me. Even if I die, that ain't gonna do nothing but make me bigger. I'm not dying until I make a hundred million, make that two hundred million".[6] The mixtape debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 with roughly 30,000 units.[6]

It was followed by the release of a deluxe edition, Bigger Than Life or Death, Pt. 2, on December 3, 2021, containing no features, as well as an additional three tracks on December 17 with features from Yo Gotti, Future, and Moneybagg Yo.[6]

Personal life

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EST Gee's mother died in March 2020 due to leukemia and his brother died a week later in a shooting in Louisville.[17]

EST Gee was shot five times in September 2019 following a music video shoot for his song "Taught Different", getting hit in the stomach four times and once on his left eye.[18] His brother was hit in the leg. They were transported to a hospital and Gee was discharged after two weeks. Following surgery, Gee has retained most vision in his eye.[17]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[19]
I Never Felt Nun 8

Compilation albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Gangsta Art
(with CMG the Label)
  • Released: July 15, 2022[20]
  • Label: CMG, Interscope
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
11
[21]

Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[22]
US
R&B
/HH

[23]
El Toro
Die Bloody
  • Released: August 10, 2019[25]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Ion Feel Nun
  • Released: March 6, 2020[26]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
I Still Don't Feel Nun
  • Released: December 18, 2020[27]
  • Label: Interscope, Warlike
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Bigger Than Life or Death
  • Released: July 21, 2021[28]
  • Label: CMG, Interscope, Warlike
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
7 5
Bigger Than Life or Death, Pt. 2
  • Released: December 3, 2021[30][6]
  • Label: CMG, Interscope, Warlike
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
65
[31]
Last Ones Left[32]
(with 42 Dugg)
  • Released: April 8, 2022
  • Label: CMG, Warlike, Interscope
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
7
[33]
3
Mad
  • Released: March 17, 2023[34]
  • Label: CMG, Interscope
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
25 9
El Toro 2
  • Released: August 18, 2023
  • Label: CMG, Interscope
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
57
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[35]
US
R&B/HH

[36]
"Special (Remix)"
(featuring Moneybagg Yo)
2020 I Still Dont Feel Nun
"Lick Back"[37] 2021 89 32 Bigger Than Life or Death
"Lamborghini Geeski"[6] Bigger Than Life or Death, Pt. 2
"Free the Shiners"[32]
(with 42 Dugg)
2022 Last Ones Left
"Everybody Shooters Too"[32]
(with 42 Dugg)
[A] 47
"Thump Shit"[39]
(with 42 Dugg)
79 26
"Shoot It Myself"
(featuring Future)
[B] 40 I Never Felt Nun
"Backstage Passes"
(featuring Jack Harlow)
98 28
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[41]
US
R&B/HH

[42]
CAN
[43]
"Real as It Gets"
(Lil Baby featuring EST Gee)
2021 34 17 52 Non-album single
"At Will"[45]
(G-Eazy featuring EST Gee)
These Things Happen Too (Deluxe)
"Lurkin"[46]
(Mozzy featuring EST Gee)
2022 Survivor’s Guilt
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

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List of other charted songs, with year released, and album name shown
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[35]
US
R&B/HH

[42]
CAN
[47]
NZ
Hot

[48]
"5500 Degrees"
(featuring Lil Baby, 42 Dugg and Rylo Rodriguez)
2021 92 34 Bigger Than Life or Death
"Switches & Dracs"
(Moneybagg Yo featuring Lil Durk and EST Gee)
69 25 A Gangsta's Pain
"Ice Talk"
(with 42 Dugg)
2022 [C] Last Ones Left
"Chickens"
(Future featuring EST Gee)
26 15 62 I Never Liked You
"Back and Forth"
(with Lil Baby)
68 30 It's Only Me
"Ball Like Me Too" 2023 49 Mad

Notes

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  1. ^ "Everybody Shooters Too" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[38]
  2. ^ "Shoot It Myself" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[40]
  3. ^ "Ice Talk" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[38]

References

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  1. ^ "Offender Information - Kentucky Department of Corrections - Offender Online Lookup System". Kool.corrections.ky.gov.
  2. ^ a b Robby Seabrook III (March 3, 2021). "The Break Presents: EST Gee". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "EST Gee Is Having a Breakout Year, So Why Is He So Apathetic?". Pitchfork. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Sykes, Calvin (July 21, 2021). "Louisville's EST Gee learned how to focus on the football field". Andscape. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Jay-Z Told EST Gee Not To Bring His Ghostwriter To The Studio". Uproxx. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Walker, Joe (November 30, 2021). "EST Gee Announces 'Bigger Than Life Or Death Part 2' Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "George Stone III - Football". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "George III - Football". Stephen F. Austin State University Athletics. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "EST Gee On Quitting Athletic Scholarship For Football To Facing 10 Years For Trafficking Marijuana". June 19, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "George Stone". Cfl.ca. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  11. ^ III, Robby Seabrook (March 3, 2021). "The Break Presents: EST Gee". XXL Mag. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Shazam". Shazam. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "EST Gee - Stains (Official Video)". December 17, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Vigil, Dom (December 18, 2020). "EST Gee Shares New Project, "I Still Don't Feel Nun"". Preludepress.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Lil Baby Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "Listen to EST Gee's new mixtape Bigger Than Life Or Death". The Fader. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "EST Gee Talks About Getting Shot 5 Times, Louisville Police Not Wanting Him To Perform In The City". March 13, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "EST Gee On Linking With Yo Gotti, Repping Kentucky, Getting Shot, New Project + More". July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "BLACKPINK's 'Born Pink' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "Yo Gotti and CMG The Label paints some 'Gangsta Art' on new album". Revolt.
  21. ^ @billboardcharts (July 25, 2022). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)..." (Tweet). Retrieved July 26, 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 1, 2021). "The Kid LAROI's 'F**k Love' Jumps to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  23. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart: Week of August 7, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  24. ^ "El Toro by EST Gee". June 22, 2019 – via Apple Music.
  25. ^ "Die Bloody by EST Gee". August 10, 2019 – via Apple Music.
  26. ^ "Ion Feel Nun by EST Gee". March 6, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  27. ^ "I Still Dont Feel Nun by EST Gee". December 18, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  28. ^ "Bigger Than Life or Death by EST Gee". July 21, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  29. ^ a b c "American certifications – EST Gee". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  30. ^ "Bigger Than Life Or Death, Pt. 2 by EST Gee". December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  31. ^ @billboardcharts (December 13, 2021). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)..." (Tweet). Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ a b c Saponara, Michael (April 5, 2022). "42 Dugg & EST Gee Reveal Last Ones Left Release Date & Cover Art". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  33. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 17, 2022). "Lil Durk's '7220' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  34. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (March 4, 2023). "EST Gee's Mad Album Trailer Teases a Personal Look Into His Harrowing Life Experiences". Uproxx. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  35. ^ a b Peaks on the Hot 100: "Backstage Passes": @billboardcharts (September 26, 2022). "@ESTGEE's "Backstage Passes," featuring @jackharlow, debuts at No. 98 on this week's #Hot100" (Tweet). Retrieved September 27, 2022 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart: Week of August 7, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  37. ^ "EST Gee hits the streets in "Lick Back" visual". Revolt.tv. April 19, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  38. ^ a b "42 Dugg Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  39. ^ A., Aron (April 6, 2022). "EST Gee & 42 Dugg's Hot Streak Continues With "Thump Shit"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  40. ^ "Future Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  41. ^ "Lil Baby Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  42. ^ a b "Lil Baby Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  43. ^ "Lil Baby Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  44. ^ "American certifications – EST Gee". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  45. ^ "At Will (feat. EST Gee) - Single by G-Eazy". July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  46. ^ A., Aron (July 1, 2022). "Mozzy & EST Gee Join Forces On "Lurkin"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  47. ^ "Future Chart History: Canadian Hot 200". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  48. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.