Golden Landis Von Jones, widely known by his professional moniker 24kGoldn, emerged as a prominent figure in the American rap scene, born on November 13, 2000. His initial rise to prominence was significantly fueled by his 2019 single "Valentino."
Early Life and Influences
Born in San Francisco, California, 24kGoldn's heritage is a blend of cultures. His mother, Kimberly Landis, is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, while his father, Torino Von Jones, is an African-American Catholic. This diverse background influenced his upbringing, with celebrations of both Christmas and Hanukkah and attendance at Hebrew school. Both of his parents had careers as fashion models prior to his birth. He also has a younger sister, Sage Landis Von Jones.
From a young age, 24kGoldn showed an early inclination towards performance, acting in commercials as a child. His musical journey began in earnest with his involvement in choir during middle and high school, which fostered a growing appreciation for music as he matured.
Education and Fraternity Life
Demonstrating a commitment to both his burgeoning music career and academic pursuits, 24kGoldn enrolled at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. He humorously suggested his acceptance might have been influenced by a double entendre in his hit song "Valentino." During his time at USC, he became an initiate of the Beta-Sigma Chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity in the Spring of 2019.
Musical Beginnings and Breakthrough
24kGoldn's foray into music production began in 2017 with the release of his first music video for the song "Trappers Anthem." The year 2019 proved to be a pivotal one, marked by the release of the single "Valentino" in January. This track garnered significant attention, accumulating over 350 million plays on Spotify and marking his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of "Valentino" also led to a record deal with Barry Weiss' Records, an imprint of Columbia Records, secured through producer D.A. Doman.
Rise to Stardom
The rapper's "high-energy" single "Valentino" is widely credited as his big break. His growing influence was further recognized when he was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class, securing the tenth position after receiving the highest number of fan votes. Later in 2020, his July single "Mood," featuring Iann Dior, achieved remarkable success, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"Halloween in Hell" and "El Dorado"
In October 2020, 24kGoldn ventured into acting with his role in "Halloween in Hell," a fictionalized musical horror podcast that released four episodes. The following year, on March 26, 2021, he released his debut studio album, titled El Dorado. This thirteen-track project featured collaborations with notable artists such as Future, Iann Dior, Swae Lee, and DaBaby.
Musical Style and Future Endeavors
24kGoldn's musical output is characterized by its diversity, as he expresses a desire "never ... to be constricted by one genre." This genre-bending approach allows him to explore various sounds and styles within his music.
In March 2024, 24kGoldn announced an upcoming EP titled Growing Pains, also revealing its cover artwork.
Discography Highlights and Certifications
24kGoldn's career has been marked by numerous charting singles and albums, alongside significant certifications from industry bodies.
Key Singles and Chart Performance:
- "Valentino": Achieved double platinum certification by the RIAA and marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
- "Mood" (featuring Iann Dior): Reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
- Other notable charting singles include entries on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and Canadian Hot 100.
Album Releases:
- El Dorado (2021): His debut studio album, featuring collaborations with prominent artists.
Certifications:
His music has received numerous certifications, including:
- RIAA (United States): Double Platinum for "Valentino," and multiple Gold and Platinum certifications for other singles.
- Music Canada: Various Gold and Platinum certifications for singles.
- BPI (United Kingdom): Gold and Platinum certifications for singles, including "Tick Tock."
- ARIA (Australia): Multiple Platinum and Gold certifications for singles.
- BVMI (Germany): Gold and Platinum certifications for singles.
- IFPI (Sweden): Various certifications for singles.
- RMNZ (New Zealand): Multiple Platinum and Gold certifications for singles.
- FIMI (Italy): Gold and Platinum certifications for singles.