Quelle Chris
Tennille performing in 2019
Tennille performing in 2019
Background information
Birth nameGavin Christopher Tennille
Also known as
  • Quelle
  • Awesome in Outer Space
Born (1984-10-19) October 19, 1984
New York, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
LabelsMello Music Group
Formerly of
  • Crown Nation
  • Wasted Youth
  • Temps

Gavin Christopher Tennille (born October 19, 1984), known as Quelle Chris, is an American record producer, rapper and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan.[1] He has released over 15 albums as a solo act and with his collaborative projects.[2] He has been described as a student of Detroit hip hop.[3]

Career

Tennille was born in Johnson City, New York to a shoe designer.

Tennille's career began expanding as he joined Wasted Youth and attracted the attention of hip hop recording artists in Detroit such as J Dilla and Proof. He later formed a musical group with Denmark Vessey called Crown Nation and soon began using the pseudonyms Q-Life and Quelle, the latter of which means "source" in German.[2] With credit as a songwriter on several songs on Danny Brown's early albums, he began working on a solo career.[1]

His debut studio album, Shotgun & Sleek Rifle, was released in 2011, featuring guest appearances from artists such as Brown, Roc Marciano and Big Tone. He signed with Mello Music Group after releasing two extended plays with the music group Racehorses are Resources, which also consisted of poet John Sinclair. With two studio albums Niggas Is Men and Ghost at the Finish Line released on the label in 2013, Tennille produced for musicians such as Pharoahe Monch, Diamond District and Open Mike Eagle.[1]

His fourth studio album Innocent Country was released in 2015, followed by the 2016 instrumental album Lullabies for the Broken Brain. His fifth studio album Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often was released in 2017.[1][4] He described the album as "about being human. Being great, being flawed, being you".[5] His debut collaborative album titled Everything's Fine with his life partner Jean Grae was released on March 30, 2018, via Mello.[6] On March 29, 2019, Tennille released his acclaimed sixth solo album Guns.[7] On March 16, 2020, Tennille released his seventh solo album Innocent Country 2 and released it on April 24. It features guest appearances from Earl Sweatshirt, billy woods, Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus, Denmark Vessey, Homeboy Sandman, Pink Siifu, and Josh Gondelman.[8] Tennille returned with his seventh album, Deathfame on May 13, 2022. The 14-track album was primarily produced by himself.[3]

Personal life

In December 2017, he proposed to his longtime partner who is also his frequent collaborator, Jean Grae.[9][10] The two married on August 5, 2018.[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Shotgun & Sleek Rifle[1]
Ghost at the Finish Line
  • Released: October 29, 2013
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD
Innocent Country (with Chris Keys)
  • Released: July 10, 2015
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD
Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often
  • Released: February 10, 2017
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD, streaming
Guns
  • Released: March 29, 2019[12]
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD, 2xLP, streaming
Innocent Country 2 (with Chris Keys)
  • Released: April 24, 2020
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD, streaming
Deathfame[3]
  • Released: May 14, 2022
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD, streaming

Collaborative albums

Title Details
Everything's Fine (with Jean Grae)
  • Released: March 30, 2018
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD, streaming
Death Tape 1: Black Cottonwood (with Cavalier)
  • Released: December 2022
  • Label: Self Released
  • Format: Digital Download

Instrumental albums

Title Details
Lullabies for the Broken Brain
  • Released: February 26, 2016
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD, streaming

Mixtapes

Title Details
Niggas Is Men
  • Released: March 19, 2013
  • Label: Mello, Sony
  • Format: Download, CD

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Special Grammy Award for Album of the Year Nominated [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Simpson, Paul. "Quelle Chris: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Fintoni, Laurent (February 6, 2017). "How Quelle Chris Turned His Self-Doubt Into A Stellar Album". The Fader. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Gomez, Jade (May 7, 2022). "Quelle Chris Announces Deathfame, Shares New Single". Paste. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ Weingarten, Christopher (December 22, 2017). "40 Best Rap Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ Aku, Timmhotep (February 2, 2017). "Review: Quelle Chris, 'Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often'". National Public Radio. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Stream Jean Grae and Quelle Chris' 'Everything's Fine' Album". XXL Mag. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ Guns by Quelle Chris, retrieved March 17, 2020
  8. ↑ "Quelle Chris Announces New Album Innocent Country 2, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ India, Lindsey. "Jean Grae and Quelle Chris Prep 'Everything's Fine' Joint Album". XXL. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  10. ↑ Eustice, Kyle (December 3, 2017). "Jean Grae & Quelle Chris Say They're Engaged". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ Burks, Tosten (August 9, 2018). "Jean Grae and Quelle Chris Get Married". XXL. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  12. ↑ Setaro, Shawn (February 12, 2019). "Premiere: Quelle Chris Examines "Guns" on First Single From Upcoming Album". Complex. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Quelle Chris | Artist | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
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