Ant Clemons
Anthony Clemons Jr. (born September 26, 1991) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer from Willingboro Township, New Jersey.[1][2] Clemons first gained widespread recognition through vocal features on Kanye West's albums, including "All Mine" from ye (2018), "Selah" from Jesus Is King (2019), and multiple tracks on Donda (2021), such as "Everything We Need" and "Water."[3][4] His songwriting credits extend to commercial successes like Camila Cabello's "My Oh My" (featuring DaBaby), SZA's "Hit Different," and contributions to Mary J. Blige's Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe), earning him four Grammy Award nominations, including for Album of the Year in 2023.[3][5] In 2020, Clemons released his debut project Happy 2 Be Here, an eight-track album blending R&B, hip-hop, and soul elements that received critical praise and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.[6][7] Subsequent releases and collaborations with artists like Chlöe ("Have Mercy") and ZAYN ("Better") have solidified his role in contemporary R&B production.[8]Early life and education
Upbringing and family background
Anthony Clemons Jr. was born on September 26, 1991, in Willingboro Township, New Jersey, a suburb approximately 15 miles east of Philadelphia.[9][10] Clemons grew up in a close-knit family consisting of his parents—father Anthony Clemons Sr., recognized locally for his falsetto singing voice, and mother Kim Clemons-Smith, a trained dancer—and two younger sisters, Ashley and Amber.[4][10] Music permeated the household environment, with frequent performances by family members that fostered early exposure to performance arts; the siblings occasionally performed together as the Clemons Trio.[10][11] His mother's encouragement played a key role in his initial forays into performing, as she supported his development of skills through local gigs starting at age four, including impersonations of Michael Jackson at birthday parties, where adult performers noted his proficiency.[10][12] This family-backed structure provided a foundational environment for self-directed musical exploration amid a typical suburban New Jersey setting lacking formal institutional advantages.[13]Initial musical development
Ant Clemons exhibited precocious musical aptitude from age four, performing as a Michael Jackson impersonator at birthday parties in his native New Jersey, which honed his vocal mimicry and stage presence.[14][10] These early gigs, alongside participation in the youth choir at Sharon Baptist Church, cultivated his singing skills in a communal setting.[15] A supportive family dynamic further nurtured this talent, as Clemons and his two sisters frequently sang and danced together at home, inspired by their father's enthusiasm for music.[16] During high school at Burlington County Institute of Technology, Clemons immersed himself in school talent shows, consistently rehearsing and delivering Michael Jackson impersonations that showcased his developing performative abilities.[17] He later attended White Hall Arts Academy in South Los Angeles, where enrollment in its programs for young students—encompassing vocal training, songwriting, and performance—served as a pivotal educational step in refining his musical craft amid a curriculum geared toward emerging artists.[18][19] Lacking initial formal instruction, Clemons relied on self-directed practice and these experiential opportunities to build foundational skills in singing and basic composition.[11]Career trajectory
Relocation and early struggles
After experiencing stagnation in his local music scene in New Jersey, where he worked shifts at a chain restaurant, Ant Clemons relocated permanently to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue a professional music career, supported by his mother.[16][12][11] Upon arrival, Clemons faced significant hardships, including couch surfing and sleeping on floors, as he lacked stable housing and financial resources.[11][10][4] To secure shelter, he arranged to write one original song per day in exchange for a place to stay, demonstrating disciplined output amid instability.[12][20][21] He supplemented this by waiting tables to cover basic expenses, underscoring a reliance on self-sustained effort without evident external connections or aid.[10][22] These early years involved persistent rejections and a grinding routine, with Clemons persisting through periods verging on homelessness, prioritizing daily songwriting as a core survival and creative strategy.[4][23] This phase highlighted the causal role of individual perseverance in navigating industry barriers, absent nepotism or institutional support.[16][11]Breakthrough collaborations
Ant Clemons gained significant exposure through his contributions to Kanye West's ninth studio album, Jesus Is King, released on October 25, 2019. He provided featured vocals on the tracks "Everything We Need," alongside Ty Dolla $ign, and "Water," delivering the chorus line "take the chlorine out our conversation."[24][25] Clemons also contributed backing vocals to additional songs, including "Selah," during sessions marked by West's shift toward gospel music amid ongoing public scrutiny of his personal and artistic decisions.[26] These collaborations elevated Clemons' profile, transitioning him from lesser-known sessions to a role in a project that earned Grammy Award eligibility in contemporary Christian music categories. Jesus Is King won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021, recognizing contributions like Clemons', despite West's polarizing statements on faith and culture that drew media attention away from the music.[4] Clemons emphasized his commitment to the artistic process, focusing on vocal delivery and songwriting amid the album's production at West's Calabasas ranch.[26] Prior to the Jesus Is King sessions, Clemons established foundational credits through co-writing Camila Cabello's "My Oh My," featuring DaBaby, released as a single from her 2019 album Romance on January 10, 2020, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[14] He also appeared as a featured vocalist on G-Eazy's "Full Time Cappers," from the EP Scary Nights released on October 18, 2019, alongside Moneybagg Yo and French Montana, marking early hip-hop integrations that honed his versatility.[27] These partnerships underscored Clemons' emerging role in bridging R&B, pop, and rap, predating his deeper gospel explorations.[10]Solo artistry and independent releases
Clemons transitioned to lead artist with the release of his debut EP Happy 2 Be Here on February 28, 2020, an eight-track project that showcased his songwriting and vocal range as the primary focus.[6] The EP included singles such as "4 Letter Word," featuring production by Timbaland and released October 1, 2019, and "Aladdin," with Pharrell Williams, which highlighted Clemons' ability to blend introspective R&B with collaborative production while maintaining narrative control.[28] [29] Happy 2 Be Here earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021, recognizing its polished execution and Clemons' emergence as an independent voice in contemporary R&B.[4] Building on this momentum, Clemons issued the four-track EP 4Play on January 14, 2022, positioned as a precursor to a forthcoming full-length album and demonstrating his continued self-directed output with a runtime of approximately 11 minutes.[30] [31] Tracks like "Stix & Stones" underscored his production involvement alongside co-writers James Fauntleroy and Kennedy, emphasizing concise, thematic song structures without reliance on external lead features.[32] Throughout these independent releases, Clemons' lyrics maintained a consistent emphasis on gratitude and resilience, evident in the titular optimism of Happy 2 Be Here and reflective pieces like "Blessings," where he repeatedly expresses thanks for personal triumphs amid adversity.[33] This approach reflected a deliberate artistic progression, prioritizing authentic emotional narratives over commercial trends.[12]Recent endeavors and future projects
In April 2025, Clemons released the collaborative EP 4PIECE with Ty Dolla $ign, consisting of four tracks that extended his earlier 4Play EP series from 2022 by emphasizing intimate R&B production and vocal harmonies.[34][35] Earlier that year, on March 26, 2025, he co-wrote Ari Lennox's single "Soft Girl Era," produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, which debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart in May and highlighted his role in crafting empowering, melodic hooks for contemporary R&B.[36][37] Clemons followed with his full-length album Happy 2 Be Here with You on September 25, 2025, a sequel to his 2020 debut Happy 2 Be Here featuring contributions from James Fauntleroy and Ty Dolla $ign, focusing on themes of gratitude and relational introspection through soulful arrangements.[38] In a October 17, 2025, interview with Studio Talks, Clemons discussed his artistic growth, crediting mentors like Fauntleroy for emphasizing consistent craftsmanship over promotional spectacle, and expressed intent to prioritize sustained releases amid ongoing songwriting demands from established collaborators.[39]Songwriting and featured work
Key songwriting credits
Ant Clemons has established himself as a prolific songwriter, contributing lyrics and melodies to tracks by major artists in hip-hop and R&B genres. His writing emphasizes soulful hooks and versatile structures adaptable to collaborative production environments. Notable credits demonstrate his ability to integrate with high-profile projects, often enhancing emotional depth in fast-paced recording sessions.[3] Key songwriting contributions include co-writing "All Mine" for Kanye West's 2018 album Ye, a track featuring layered vocals and produced by West alongside Mike Dean and others, released on June 1, 2018.[40] Clemons also co-wrote "Everything We Need" on West's 2019 gospel album Jesus Is King, which incorporates choir elements and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.[41] For "Hit Different" by SZA featuring Ty Dolla $ign, released September 4, 2020, Clemons provided songwriting alongside Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Rob Bisel, resulting in a neo-soul influenced single that peaked at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.[42] Clemons co-wrote "MOOD 4 EVA" for Beyoncé's 2019 companion album The Lion King: The Gift, a song blending African rhythms with contemporary R&B, featured in the film's end credits.[14] Additional credits encompass tracks for Ty Dolla ign, including writings on the 2020 compilation *Featuring Ty Dolla ign*, such as "Dead" with Kanye West and Skrillex.[43] These efforts highlight Clemons' range across producers like Skrillex and Pharrell, though his Grammy recognition stems primarily from performance nominations rather than songwriting wins, with four total nods as of 2023.[44]| Song Title | Primary Artist(s) | Release/Album | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Mine | Kanye West | Ye | 2018 | Co-written with West, Mike Dean, Ty Dolla $ign et al.[40] |
| Hit Different | SZA feat. Ty Dolla $ign | Single | 2020 | Co-written with The Neptunes, Rob Bisel.[42] |
| MOOD 4 EVA | Beyoncé et al. | The Lion King: The Gift | 2019 | Part of Disney soundtrack ensemble.[14] |
| Dead | ¥([Kanye West](/page/Kanye_West) & Ty Dollaign) feat. Skrillex | Vultures 1 | 2024 | Collaborative writing in hip-hop/electronic fusion.[43] |
Prominent features and production roles
Ant Clemons first rose to prominence via featured vocals on Kanye West's Ye (2018), delivering the hook on "All Mine" with a soulful, energetic delivery that amplified the track's chaotic production and thematic intensity.[26] His performance marked an early breakthrough, transitioning him from obscurity to high-profile collaboration amid West's Wyoming sessions.[45] Clemons extended his involvement with West on Jesus Is King (2019), providing lead vocals on "Water," where his gospel-infused singing intertwined with the Sunday Service Choir to evoke spiritual upliftment and emotional depth, enhancing the album's praise-oriented sound.[26] [25] This role underscored his versatility in blending R&B phrasing with West's experimental gospel framework, contributing to the project's cohesive aesthetic.[26] Beyond West, Clemons featured on SZA's "Hit Different" (2020), offering harmonious backing vocals and ad-libs that added a layer of introspective warmth to the track's introspective trap-soul production, helping it achieve commercial success with over 100 million streams by mid-2021.[3] His input similarly elevated Camila Cabello's "My Oh My" (2020) featuring DaBaby, where Clemons' smooth tenor provided melodic contrast to the pop-rap hybrid, bolstering its chart performance peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] In production capacities, Clemons participated in key sessions yielding hits, including early demos for West's tracks like the original "Hurricane" iteration on Donda (2021), where his vocal and creative contributions shaped prototypes before final revisions, demonstrating efficient collaboration in high-stakes environments.[46] Instances of multifaceted involvement, such as combining vocals with co-writing and arrangement input on West projects, highlight his role in streamlining workflows and infusing tracks with authentic emotional texture.[26]Discography
Extended plays
Happy 2 Be Here, Ant Clemons' debut extended play, was released independently on February 28, 2020, comprising 10 tracks with a runtime of approximately 30 minutes.[47] The project includes guest appearances from Pharrell Williams on "Aladdin" and Ty Dolla $ign on "Excited," alongside production contributions from Timbaland.[48] An anniversary edition followed on February 26, 2021, via A Blessing LLC, appending the bonus track "June 1st" to the original tracklist.[49] On January 14, 2022, Clemons issued 4Play, a four-track extended play totaling 11 minutes, distributed through Human Re Sources and A. Blessing.[31] This release features self-produced cuts emphasizing R&B introspection, bridging his earlier collaborative work toward more autonomous output.[50] Neither project achieved notable positions on major charts such as the Billboard 200.Singles as lead artist
"4 Letter Word", featuring Timbaland and produced by The Roommates alongside Timbaland, marked Clemons' debut official single, released on October 1, 2019.[51] The track functioned as a promotional release to showcase his solo R&B style amid rising visibility from prior collaborations.[52] On February 28, 2020, Clemons issued "Aladdin", featuring Pharrell Williams, as a single from his EP Happy 2 Be Here.[53] This upbeat track, blending trap elements with R&B, contributed to building anticipation for his independent project.[54] "Better Days", a collaboration with Justin Timberlake released on December 3, 2020, served as another key lead single under Clemons' name.[55] The song, co-written by Clemons and Timberlake, achieved the record for most Shazams in a single day following its performance tied to the U.S. presidential inauguration events, though it did not register peaks on major Billboard charts.[56] Subsequent promotional singles included "Past" in 2022 and "All Summer" in 2024, released independently to sustain his solo catalog and fan engagement without notable chart entries.[57] These efforts emphasized Clemons' focus on streaming platforms over traditional radio promotion.Guest features and collaborations
Ant Clemons has contributed guest vocals to several prominent tracks by established artists, primarily in hip-hop and R&B genres. These appearances highlight his role as a backing and featured vocalist in high-profile productions.[26]- Kanye West featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Ant Clemons – "All Mine" from the album ye (released June 1, 2018).[45]
- Kanye West featuring Ant Clemons and Sunday Service Choir – "Water" from the album Jesus Is King (released October 25, 2019).[25]
- Kanye West featuring Ant Clemons, Sunday Service Choir, and Ant Clemons on additional vocals – "Everything We Need" from Jesus Is King (released October 25, 2019).[58]
- G-Eazy featuring French Montana, Moneybagg Yo, and Ant Clemons – "Calm Down" from the album These Things Happen Too (released October 23, 2020).[57]
- Justin Timberlake featuring Ant Clemons – "Better Days" (released January 25, 2021, as a standalone single).[39]
- Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, and Dinner Party featuring Ant Clemons – "Insane" (released 2020, single).[59]
- Robert Glasper featuring various artists including Ant Clemons on Black Radio III (released February 25, 2022).[57]