454

Born in Orlando, Florida, Willie Wilson, better known as 454, spent his youth immersed in skate culture and music from artists such as DJ Screw and Curren$y. Honing his freestyling skills to video games alongside his sister, Pig The Gemini, he soon started producing his own music, a distinctive blend of influences ranging from trap, Atlanta plugg, jungle, R&B, Miami bass, and experimental electronics. Complementing his music, he developed a unique vocal style that skillfully juxtaposes the depth and flow of his introspective lyrics with a helium drenched, high-pitched – out of this world – delivery.

In 2021, shortly after moving to Brooklyn, 454 dropped his debut project, 4 REAL, earning initial critical acclaim and catching the attention of Frank Ocean, who featured a section „Listen to 454” on the new website for his luxury brand Homer, redirecting visitors to the release.

With the 2022 release of Fast Trax 3, 454 cemented his status as a pioneer in underground hip-hop. The project appeared on „Best Album of the Year“ lists from The Fader and Pitchfork and was followed by collaborations with Denzel Curry, Freddie Gibbs, and an EP with Surf Gang’s evilgiane and Eera. He performed his first shows in London, Paris, and Tokyo, as well as a major tour across the US with Aminé and AJ Tracey.

Most recently, 454 released his third project, Casts of a Dreamer, praised by Pitchfork media for its youthful urgency: „a joyride…far more infatuated with the thrill of movement than the finality of arrival,” as well as its fearless and exuberant playfulness. 2025 will see 454 team up with Denzel Curry for an extensive US tour, as well as his first return to Europe and the UK since 2022.