{{Short description|American rapper and record producer (born 2007)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | birth_name = Semaj Nelson | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2007|09|27}} | birth_place = New Jersey, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|R&B|trap|plugg}} | occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|songwriter|rapper|singer}} | years_active = 2021–present | label = | current_member_of = StepTeam,<ref name="pfc">{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=2025-02-28 |title=The Most Exciting Beats in Underground Rap Can Be Traced Back to Chicago's Heyday |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-most-exciting-beats-in-underground-rap-can-be-traced-back-to-chicago-heyday/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> 1500 }}
'''Semaj Nelson''' (born September 27, 2007), professionally known as '''Maajins''' (stylized in lowercase), is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He is known for producing Slump6s and Tana's song "Antisocial" and its sequel, both of which gained significant traction online.
==Early life== Semaj Nelson was born on September 27, 2007, in New Jersey. His parents were music-influenced,<ref>{{cite web |last=Darville |first=Jordan |date=2025-03-24 |title=Maajins' symphony splits Jersey Club like an atom |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/03/24/maajin-symphony-jersey-club-review |website=The Fader |access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref> with his mother being a former singer while his father was a former DJ. He started making music at the age of ten, using his dad's spare equipment. He would also watch Nick Mira tutorial videos on how to use FL Studio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=2022-10-25 |title=Maajins Interview: Teenage phenom balances school, producing, rapping |url=https://ourgenerationmusic.com/exclusive/maajins-interview/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Our Generation Music |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == He first started gaining traction with the release of American rapper Tana's single "Antisocial" with fellow American rapper Slump6s.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Johri |first=Antonio |date=2025-05-16 |title=The 15 Best Rage Rap Songs of All Time |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/antonio-johri/best-rage-rap-songs-of-all-time |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref> As well as the sequel to it, dubbed "Antisocial 2", which featured the duo of Slump6s and tana, but also saw them recruit SSGKobe, Yung Fazo, and Xhulooo. Around this time, Nelson would also begin rapping. On August 16, 2021, Maajins would release "8Lbs", a collaborative track featuring rapper Xhulooo. In December, he would release "MILLIONS?" with Shyllomoo and Jonoftf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leight |first=Elias |date=2023-02-03 |title=These Rising Rappers Are Pushing Rage Music Into the Mainstream |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/rage-music-hip-hop-subgenre-yeat-sofaygo-rap-1235211126/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2022, Nelson released his debut album ''Lost Files V1'', which had eight tracks and a feature from Jaydes. The same year, on November 25, 2022, he would go on to release his second album, ''Forgiveness'', which would also have eight tracks, and features from Jonoftf and Slump6s.
In 2023, Nelson released the album ''Teenage Feelings''.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |title=Listen to Maajins' “Outlaw”: The Ones |website=Pitchfork |date=8 September 2023 |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/maajins-outlaw-new-song-listen/ |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> According to Alphonse Pierre of ''Pitchfork'', he wrote how the album saw Nelson "polish up his elastic melodic style" and that the track was "the must-hear rap song of the day" off the album was "Outlaw".<ref name=":2" />
In 2024, Nelson released his solo album, ''Ivy'', which had ten tracks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Medithi |first=Vivian |title=How ivvys and #stepTeam unlocked new rhythms in rap production |website=The FADER |date=1 May 2025 |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/05/01/ivvys-stepteam-producer-interview |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> He later released ''Enjoy the Ride'' in September.<ref>{{cite web |last=Medithi |first=Vivian |title=Rap Blog: Maajins wants you to stay hopeful on “ocho” |website=The FADER |date=15 October 2024 |url=https://www.thefader.com/2024/10/15/rap-blog-maajins-ocho-song-review |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref>
== Discography == ===Studio albums===
* ''Teenage Feelings'' (2023) * ''Ivy'' (2024) * ''Enjoy the Ride'' (2024) * ''No, Superhero'' (2025)
===Singles===
* "Outlaw" (2023)<ref name=":2" /> * "Antisocial" (With tana and Slump6s) (2021) * "Antisocial 2" (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Michael |date=August 18, 2023 |title=YUNG FAZO Drops 'Starboy' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/YUNG-FAZO-Drops-Starboy-20230818 |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=2022-10-25 |title=Maajins Interview: Teenage phenom balances school, producing, rapping |url=https://ourgenerationmusic.com/exclusive/maajins-interview/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Our Generation Music |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Awards== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Certification ! scope="col"| Certified units/sales ! scope="col"| Ref. |- ! scope="row"| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000 | <ref>{{cite web |title=Tana & Slump6s' song produced by CGM Beats and Maajins certified Gold |url=https://x.com/forthespeakers/status/1727367758927839428 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |date=November 17, 2023 |access-date=28 August 2025 |publisher=For The Speakers}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist|refs=}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:maajins}} Category:2007 births Category:Living people Category:Rappers from New Jersey Category:American record producers Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers