Symere Bysil Woods (Sai-MIYER) (born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Woods is characterized by his facial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous fashion, imagery built on a melodic emo approach to trap. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lil Uzi Vert gained initial recognition following the release of the commercial mixtape Luv Is Rage (2015), which led to a recording contract with Atlantic Records, to whom he signed under DJ Drama's Generation Now imprint.