Blueface Bio
Johnathan Michael Porter, known professionally as Blueface, is an American rapper and professional boxer born on January 20, 1997, in Los Angeles, California. He first drew widespread public attention in October 2018 after releasing the music video for his song “Respect My Cryppin’,” which became a viral meme thanks to his offbeat rapping style. His 2018 single “Thotiana” later broke into the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, establishing him as a recognizable figure in contemporary hip-hop. In addition to music, Porter has pursued a boxing career and, in 2021, opened a soul food restaurant in Santa Clarita.
Signed to Cash Money West, the California branch of the historic Cash Money Records label, Blueface released his debut studio album, Find the Beat, in 2020. He is also known by the alternate stage name Blueface Bleedem, a reference to his ties to the School Yard Crips. Beyond music and boxing, his public life has frequently made headlines through both personal relationships and legal matters.
Early Life and Background
Johnathan Michael Porter was born on January 20, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the Mid-City neighborhood of central Los Angeles. He attended multiple elementary schools during his childhood. He initially lived with his mother in the Santa Clarita Valley before later relocating to Oakland, where he settled with his father. These early moves between different parts of California shaped much of his upbringing and later creative outlook.
After relocating to the San Fernando Valley, Porter attended Arleta High School, where he joined the marching band and played the alto saxophone. He also played on the school football team. During his sophomore year, a significant growth spurt brought his height to six feet four inches, and he became the team’s starting quarterback. In 2013, he threw for 1,234 yards and 17 touchdowns, improving to 1,724 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2014, when he led the team to an East Valley League championship.
Following high school, Porter committed to play college football at Fayetteville State University. He briefly played for the school before leaving in 2016 to return to Los Angeles. His football background later resurfaced in his music videos, where he often referenced his past as an athlete.
Path to Music
Blueface began rapping in January 2017 under the name Blueface Bleedem, a reference to his ties to the School Yard Crips street gang. After leaving Fayetteville State University, he moved back to Los Angeles and was invited by a friend named Laudiano to visit his music studio to retrieve a phone charger. Once inside, he was challenged to rap over a beat, which led to his first recorded song, “Deadlocs,” produced by Laudiano and released on SoundCloud.
In June 2018, Blueface released his first full-length project, Famous Cryp, followed by a second EP titled Two Coccy in September 2018. Both releases helped him build a local following in California. In October 2018, he released a music video for his song “Respect My Cryppin'” on WorldStarHipHop’s YouTube channel, which quickly spread on Twitter and became a viral meme.
The viral success of “Respect My Cryppin'” brought renewed attention to other Blueface tracks, including “Thotiana” and “Next Big Thing.” He further expanded his audience through Instagram polls that asked followers to vote on which high school he should visit, a social media challenge that grew his following significantly. In November 2018, he signed with Cash Money Records’ California affiliate, Cash Money West, marking his formal entry into the major-label hip-hop industry.
Blueface Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Blueface’s earliest independent releases included the song “Deadlocs” in 2017 and the project Famous Cryp in June 2018, followed by the EP Two Coccy in September 2018. These efforts laid the groundwork for his later mainstream breakthrough. While his early work circulated mostly on SoundCloud and Spotify, it helped him cultivate a dedicated local audience in California.
His career shifted dramatically in late 2018, when the music video for “Respect My Cryppin'” went viral after being posted to WorldStarHipHop and then shared widely on Twitter. The track’s quirky delivery turned Blueface into a viral meme and set the stage for broader industry recognition. Within weeks, he caught the attention of Cash Money West, leading to his signing in November 2018.
Breakthrough (2019–2020)
Blueface’s single “Thotiana,” originally released in 2018, debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 75 on January 26, 2019, marking his first entry on a Billboard chart. The song eventually peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, bolstered by remixes featuring YG and Cardi B, each paired with music videos directed by Cole Bennett. On May 1, 2019, he released the music video for “Stop Cappin’,” which amassed over five million views in its first four days on YouTube.
In June 2019, Blueface was announced as the fan-voted eleventh entrant in XXL’s 2019 Freshman Class, a notable honor in the hip-hop world. In August 2019, he released the EP Dirt Bag, an eight-track project featuring guest appearances from The Game, Rich the Kid, Offset, Lil Pump, and Mozzy. The EP peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200, with the single “Daddy” featuring Rich the Kid reaching number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In October 2019, Blueface announced his debut studio album, Find the Beat, releasing singles such as “Close Up” featuring Jeremih, “First Class” featuring Gunna, “Obama” featuring DaBaby, and “Holy Moly” featuring NLE Choppa. After multiple delays caused by trademark issues and scheduling changes, the album was released on March 13, 2020. It featured collaborations with artists including Polo G, Ambjaay, Lil Baby, Stunna 4 Vegas, YBN Nahmir, Gunna, Jeremih, NLE Choppa, and DaBaby, totaling 16 songs.
In 2021, Blueface expanded beyond music by opening Blue’s Fish and Soul, a soul food restaurant in Santa Clarita, California. That same year, he also announced his entry into professional boxing, signing with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Notable Works and Milestones
Blueface’s signature work remains “Thotiana,” which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned remixes with Cardi B and YG. His debut studio album, Find the Beat, marked a major milestone in his recording career, while his inclusion in XXL’s 2019 Freshman Class cemented his place among that year’s rising hip-hop talents.
Blueface Award Nominations
Verified award nominations for Blueface are limited within the available sources, and no comprehensive nomination history can be confirmed at this time. Public recognition of his work has primarily come through commercial chart performance, viral cultural impact, and inclusion in XXL’s 2019 Freshman Class rather than through formal award nominations.
Blueface Awards Won
Verified award wins for Blueface are not documented within the available sources. His career achievements have largely been measured by chart performance and streaming numbers rather than by formal industry award wins.
Blueface Family
Blueface has been publicly associated with his former partner, Chrisean Malone, known professionally as Chrisean Rock, whom he dated from 2020 to 2023. In January 2023, Malone announced that she was pregnant with Porter’s child, and their son, Chrisean Jesus Malone Jr., was born on September 3, 2023. Porter has publicly stated on social media that he is not the biological father of Chrisean Jesus Malone Jr.
Public sources indicate that Porter has three children in total. Beyond this, additional verified details about his immediate family remain limited.
Personal Life
Blueface has pursued interests beyond music, including a professional boxing career that began in 2021 when he signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He made his debut against TikToker Kane Trujillo at BKFC 19 on July 23, 2021, winning by unanimous decision after three rounds. He later fought English TikToker Ed Matthews in April 2023 at Wembley Arena in London, securing a fifth-round technical knockout victory.
In 2021, Blueface opened Blue’s Fish and Soul, a soul food restaurant in Santa Clarita, California. He has also faced several legal challenges, including arrests in 2018 and 2019, an attempted murder charge in Las Vegas in 2022, a probation violation arrest in January 2024, and a four-year prison sentence in August 2024 related to a 2021 battery incident and probation violation. He was released from prison on November 3, 2025, after serving two years.