Rising from the streets of East Oakland, California, rapper Cookie Money spins hardened street tales with a lithe but menacing monotone. Raised in a single-parent household and shaped by a tough upbringing, he spent his younger years hustling for his family and surviving gun violence. He started rapping after receiving encouragement from DJ Mustard, issuing early singles like "Hatin' on Me," "Turnt Up" with YG, and "Yo Bitch" and "Gold Rims on My Aston" with frequent collaborator Philthy Rich. His debut mixtape, Cookie World, arrived in 2014. A sequel, Cookie World 2, was issued in 2016 and featured guests like Boosie Badazz and Rich the Kid. His breakthrough came in 2017 with the stirring single "Pops Died Last Week" and Cookie World 2.5, which recruited Young Dolph and E-40, and featured production from Zaytoven. ~ Neil Z. Yeung