From Chicago Roots to Rising Star
Ravyn Lenae Washington was born on January 22, 1999, on
Chicago's South Side. Growing up in West Pullman, she was brought up in a
tight-knit family where her grandfather, Richard Williams, was the pastor at “Pullman
Christian Reformed Church” for over 30 years. Her mother is Panamanian and her
maternal grandfather was a singer in a doo-wop group, contributing to Ravyn's
musical influence from a young age. She sang in church choirs and wrote her
first songs in middle school (at Roseland Christian School), before she
perfected her craft at Chicago High School of Art where she trained in
classical music and then graduated in May 2017 at age 18.
EP Beginnings: Moon Shoes, Midnight Moonlight & Crush
At the age of 16, Ravyn spent $300 of her own money on her
very first studio session to record her debut song "Greetings". Later
in that year, she was featured on Monte Booker's "Baby" and joined
the Zero Fatigue collective with Smino and Booker. In August 2015, she self-released
her debut EP "Moon Shoes".
She dropped a sophomore EP, “Midnight Moonlight”, which she
co-produced with Booker in early 2017 and got signed to Atlantic Records before
finishing high school. In February 2018, “Crush” was released, produced by
Steve Lacy, which stamped her sound and made her an industry breakout star.
Touring & Festival Breakthrough
On the heels of EP success, Lenae opened Telefone tour dates
for Noname (Jan–Mar 2017) and subsequently supported SZA on her Ctrl Tour in
2017. In addition to touring, she also performed at festivals like SXSW and
Chicago's Winter Block Party.
Her work earned critical acclaim with Rolling Stone naming
her among the "10 New Artist You Need to Know" in 2017.
Full Length Debut: Hypnos (2022)
Ravyn released her debut studio album “Hypnos” on May 20,
2022, under Atlantic Records. With four years to create this masterpiece, it
took on a "cosmic journey" aesthetic, featuring guests like Steve
Lacy, Monte Booker, Kaytranada, and others. Critics applauded its sincere,
painstaking craft and mature sound.
Bird's Eye (2024)
Following the “Hypnos” album, Lenae released her second
album named “Bird's Eye” on August 9, 2024. With a genre-defying mix—R&B,
funk, soul, indie, pop and with hints of country. The album included singles
like "One Wish" (feat. Childish Gambino) and "Dream Girl"
(w/ Ty Dolla $ign).
The single "Love Me Not," released on May 3, 2024,
gained viral momentum on TikTok and other sites, entering the Billboard Hot 100
at #36 in April 2025. It also reached the top charts in Australia, Ireland,
New Zealand and the UK. This pushed her into higher visibility, including a debut
Coachella performance, a performance at San Francisco's de Young Museum and an
opening act for Sabrina Carpenter's tour.
Net Worth
Ravyn Lenae's net worth is $12.3 million as of early 2025
Conclusion
Ravyn Lenae's journey is a fascinating mix of intention and
evolution. Born into a church choir, she invested in her artistry early on,
aligning with Chicago's creative collective and steadily building momentum
through EPs, riveting features, and thoughtful artistry. With two acclaimed
albums, a viral hit, and growing global reach, she exemplifies how dedication,
melodic intuition and emotional honesty can propel a modern artist toward
enduring relevance.
