The Wrldfms Tony Williams Explained

The WRLDFMS Tony Williams
Birth Name:Antony Von Williams[1]
Origin:Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Birth Place:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Years Active:2003–present
Current Member Of:
Child:yes
Label1:Management
Data1:David Bullock (2020–present)

Antony Von Williams, known professionally as the WRLDFMS Tony Williams, is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Williams is the first cousin of American rapper Kanye West and has contributed vocals or songwriting to most of his albums, beginning with The College Dropout (2004).[2] [3] [4]

Early life

Williams grew up an only child in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Both his mother and father had musical backgrounds, and Williams was given his first instrument, a saxophone, at the age of eight. He grew up singing in youth choirs at church and played in the marching band through his tenth grade year of high school. Williams love for music continued throughout his early adulthood as he went on to form several bands that ranged in style from funk, rock, alternative, and Christian alternative, and took on the role as lead vocalist.

Musical career

Songwriter

Williams' name appears on Kanye West's albums as Tony "Penafire" Williams which is the pseudonym he uses when crediting himself as a writer. He was a co-writer of two songs on The College Dropout, the Grammy Award winning 2004 album, following which Williams was invited to write for all of West's subsequent albums.

On the 2005 MTV documentary, Composing History The Making of Late Registration, he was featured producing vocals for Brandy on the song "Bring Me Down", which he co-wrote. During that documentary, West described Williams as being "a great writer with a cutting edge voice."

Singer

Tony Williams first became noticed as a singer when he debuted on Kanye West's Grammy winning album The College Dropout, singing a version of the gospel hymn "I'll Fly Away". By the second album, Late Registration, Kanye was giving Williams shout outs on the song, "We Major" which gave rise to the line Kanye fans use in reference to Williams, "I gotta say what's up to Tony Williams". On that same album Tony wrote the hook for the song, "Roses", which featured him singing with Patti LaBelle. This album not only promoted Tony Williams name, but for the first time fans were able to match his voice and name with a face. He was featured on the song and the video for "Drive Slow". Later, he was seen singing with Kanye when West was featured on the MTV television series, Life and Rhymes of Kanye West.

By the time Kanye went on the Touch the Sky Tour, Williams was known as the background singer that always accompanied West, including on several world tours.[5]

Williams is one of a few performers who have performed at two different Inaugural Balls; the Neighborhood Ball where he performed with Jay-Z on the song, History, and the Youth Ball where he performed with Kanye West. His voice is recognized on some popular Hip Hop songs, having performed with, for example, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nas, Game, and Rick Ross.[6]

In March 2010, Williams released his first mainstream project in the form of a mixtape, The World Famous Tony Williams: Finding Dakota Grey which was released with the GOOD Music stamp.[7] This project was a collection of original music, covers, and remixes, including the "Dreaming of your love remix" with the French rapper Matt Moerdock.

In October 2010, Williams released his first single "Everything About You" from his debut studio album, King or the Fool, which was released on February 14, 2012.

Featured artist

The first time Williams experienced artistic autonomy was in 2007 when he made an appearance on Kanye's Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape, singing a song he had written and that was produced by Kanye, "Dreaming of Your Love". This legitimized him as a featured artist. It was at that time that Williams added "The World Famous" to his name to differentiate himself from the famous drummer with the same name, and because in the vocal sample of the song "Dreaming of Your Love" the intro says, "You're listening to the world famous". Williams has had songs played on Brazilian airwaves, where he sang some of the vocals in Portuguese, and some musical chart success in France.

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" style="width:16em;"
Album details
King or the Fool: An Opera, Vol. 1
  • Released: February 14, 2012[8]
  • Label: The High Society
  • Formats: CD, digital download
A Fish Without a Bicycle
  • Released: June 16, 2023[9]
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download

EPs

Title! scope="col" style="width:16em;"
Album details
The 7th Day
  • Released: July 22, 2017[10]
    • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes

Title! scope="col" style="width:16em;"
Album details
Finding Dakota Grey
  • Released: March 2, 2010[11]
    • Format: Digital download
Some of My Best Rappers Are Friends
  • Released: January 13, 2012[12]
    • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbum
"Everything About You"[13] 2010rowspan="1"
"Sleepover"[14] 2012King or the Fool: An Opera, Vol. 1
"Another You"[15]
(featuring Kanye West)
"Stuck in the Middle"[16]
2016rowspan="3"
"Deck the Halls"[17]
2020
"Amen (Reborn)"[18]
2021
"Everybody Knows"[19]
A Fish Without a Bicycle
"Anymore"[20]

Other charted songs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[21]
AUS
[22]
CAN
[23]
"Donda"
(Kanye West featuring Stalone and the World Famous Tony Williams)
2021 58 38 48Donda
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Album credits

Year Album Song Credits
1999 Rashani – Positive and Progress
"All Ah Dem" Vocals
"How long" Vocals
"Conspiracy" Vocals
"Mickey Mouse Lovin" Vocals
2004 Kanye West – The College Dropout
"I'll Fly Away" Vocals
"Spaceship" Vocals/Writer
"School Spirit" Vocals
"Lil Jimmy Skit" Vocals
"Last Call" Vocals/Writer
2005 Kanye West – Late Registration
Late Registration & The People's Champ "Drive Slow" Vocals
"Crack Music" Vocals
"Roses" Vocals/Writer
"Bring Me Down" Writer/Vocal Producer
"We Major" Vocals/Writer
"Late" Vocals
2007 Kanye West – Graduation
"Good Morning" Vocals
"Champion" Vocals/Writer
"Flashing Lights" Vocals
"Everything I Am" Vocals
"Homecoming" Writer
2007 ConsequenceDon't Quit Your Day Job!
"Don't Forget Em" Vocals
"Disperse" Vocals
"Who Knew My Luck Would Change?" Vocals
2008 Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
"Say You Will" Vocals
"Amazing" Vocals
"RoboCop" Vocals/Writer
"Street Lights" Vocals/Writer
2009
"History" Vocals/Writer
2009 Jay-ZThe Blueprint 3
"A Star Is Born" Vocals
2010 Kid SisterUltraviolet (U.K. release)
"Daydreaming" Vocals
2010 Rick RossTeflon Don
"Live Fast, Die Young" Vocals
2010 Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
"Dark Fantasy" Vocals
"Gorgeous" Vocals
"All of the Lights" Vocals
"Runaway" Vocals
"Hell of a Life" Vocals
"Lost in the World" Vocals
2011 OutlawzPerfect Timing
"Remember Me" Vocals
2011 PromiseAwakening
"Everyone Knows" Vocals
2013 Kanye West – Yeezus
"Blood on the Leaves" Vocals/Writer
2016 Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
"Waves" Vocals/Writer
2018 Pusha T – Daytona
"Hard Piano" Vocals/Writer
"Santeria" Writer
2018 Nas – NASIR
"Bonjour" Vocals/Writer
2018 Teyana TaylorK.T.S.E.
"3Way" Writer
2021 Kanye West – Donda
"Donda" Vocals

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACE Repertory.
  2. Web site: STOLI CHILLS WITH G.O.O.D MUSIC ARTIST TONY WILLIAMS / MP3 / VIDEO . January 26, 2009 . Skopemag.com. October 13, 2010.
  3. Web site: SABRINA VAZ-HOLDER TOOK OUR FAVE PIC OF CHANCE: DIGGING THROUGH THE GREATS. April 3, 2017. Green Label. April 3, 2017.
  4. Web site: Tony Williams (@TWFTonyWilliams) Twitter. twitter.com. en. March 20, 2020.
  5. Web site: Kanye West Made Sure To Touch The Sky At Tour Launch . https://web.archive.org/web/20051029191129/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1511361/20051012/west_kanye.jhtml . dead . October 29, 2005 . Shaheem Reid . . . October 13, 2010.
  6. News: Rick Ross – Live Fast Die Young . Djbooth . djbooth.net . October 13, 2010.
  7. Web site: FREE Download: The World Famous Tony Williams: Finding Dakota Grey (G.O.O.D Music) . M. Gosho Oakes . March 12, 2010 . Soul Culture Media . October 13, 2010.
  8. Web site: King or the Fool by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States . . . August 13, 2012.
  9. Web site: A Fish Without a Bicycle . .
  10. Web site: G.O.O.D. Music's The World Famous Tony Williams Drops 'The 7th Day' EP Featuring Kanye West. Hypebeat.com. July 22, 2017. January 12, 2020.
  11. Web site: The World Famous Tony Williams – Finding Dakota Grey // Free Mixtape . . Idle Media Inc . March 2, 2010 . March 14, 2013 . May 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130524050636/http://www.datpiff.com/The-World-Famous-Tony-Williams-The-World-Famous-Tony-Williams-Finding-Dakota-Gre-mixtape.102561.html . dead .
  12. Web site: The World Famous Tony Williams – Some of My Best Rappers Are Friends // Free Mixtape . . Idle Media Inc . May 3, 2009 . March 14, 2013 . May 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130521110952/http://www.datpiff.com/The-World-Famous-Tony-Williams-Some-Of-My-Best-Rappers-Are-Friends-mixtape.305187.html . dead .
  13. Web site: Everything About You – Single by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States . . . April 2, 2012.
  14. Web site: Sleepover – Single by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States . . . August 13, 2012.
  15. Web site: Another You – Single by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States . . . August 13, 2012.
  16. Web site: Stuck in the Middle (feat. Cyhi The Prynce) - Single by The WRLDFMS Tony Williams on Apple Music . October 7, 2016 . . United States . . January 4, 2022.
  17. Web site: Deck the Halls - Single by Wyn Starks, The WRLDFMS Tony Williams & Jay-Way on Apple Music . November 20, 2020 . . United States . January 4, 2022.
  18. Web site: Amen (Reborn) - Single by for KING & COUNTRY, Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Williams on Apple Music . January 29, 2021 . . United States . January 4, 2022.
  19. Web site: Everybody Knows - Single by The WRLDFMS Tony Williams & Wale on Apple Music . April 16, 2021 . . United States . January 4, 2022.
  20. Web site: Anymore - Single by The WRLDFMS Tony Williams & Chandler Moore on Apple Music . December 10, 2021 . . United States . January 4, 2022.
  21. Kanye West – Chart History: Hot 100 . . September 8, 2021.
  22. Web site: Discography Kanye West . australian-charts.com . Hung Medien . September 7, 2021.
  23. Kanye West – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100 . Billboard . September 8, 2021.