Rob $tone: What a Difference a Decade Makes

WHO IS ROB $TONE?

Calling yourself one of the “greatest artists of this generation” requires a whole lot of braggadoccio, but that confidence has been well-earned for Rob $tone. A native of San Diego (Lemon Grove to be more exact), $tone first developed a keen interest in music thanks in part to his dad’s record collection, helping him discover a litany of new genres.

“My dad was heavy into music so he had a crazy collection. He had these big ass speakers in the garage. Him and his homies used to come over and work out, just be blasting everything. I got a lot of my music taste from my dad. When I was in elementary school, he’d sit me at the computer and we’d make CDs on Limewire.” - Rob $tone (Flaunt)

As he entered high school, his focus began to shift from playing sports in his youth to pursuing a music career. Now, he’s one of Xposure’s newest artist clients, and he’s ready to keep adding to the legacy he started building a whole decade ago. Here’s more about Rob $tone’s journey, how he got to where he is today, and where he’s going from here.

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HOW ROB $TONE GOT ON THE MAP

Having played trumpet as a child, $tone’s rap career didn’t begin in earnest, however, until he moved to Atlanta for university, where he first learned how to rhyme. $tone’s first hit — and first song he ever recorded— would be “Chill Bill”, released nearly a full decade ago. The track would blow up on SoundCloud in 2015, and would be featured on $tone’s first mixtape, Straight Bummin, released that same year. Following that viral success, “Chill Bill” would climb all the way to #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually being certified four times platinum by the RIAA. The song also reached the top 10 on the American rap and R&B charts, #53 in Canada, and would be certified silver in the U.K. 

Right before the release of his second mixtape, I’m Almost Ready, in 2016, $tone inked a record deal with RCA. His debut album, Don’t Wait for It, was released in October 2017, with features from Gucci Mane and the Flatbush Zombies’ Meechy Darko, plus production from Zaytoven and CashMoneyAP. He has also since released two more mixtapes, 2018’s Young Rob $tone, and 2021’s Solitaire Stone (the latter released on Grove Town Records).

ROB $TONE’S KEYS FOR SUCCESS

The rise to prominence Rob $tone has seen over the past decade has been a combination of hard work, luck (especially with regards to the Internet), and working with familiar faces to expand his reach and profile. Social media has also played a role, and $tone currently has more than 197,000 Instagram followers, 266,000 likes on TikTok, and 3.2 million monthly Spotify listeners. $tone also boasts more than 1.1 million YouTube subscribers. “Chill Bill” remains by far his most streamed track on the platform, with the original and remix version boasting more than 833 million and just under 57 million respectively.

“Chill Bill” also features a sample from the score to Kill Bill Vol. 1, which gives listeners a sense of familiarity especially if they’re fans of the film ($tone himself loves Quentin Tarantino’s movies). He’d re-release the track in remix form to further capitalize on its initial success, with guest verses from Denzel Curry, Cousin Stizz, and DRAM. Other big-name rappers have hopped on the same track as $tone too, including none other than Snoop Dogg for the remix of 2018’s “Too Faded”.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ROB $TONE

A lot of time (and a global pandemic) may have passed since we first caught wind of Rob $tone, but the 29-year-old is far from done making music. He released his sophomore album, Stone Cold, in 2020, with his third album, BONA FIDE, released in January 2024 with guest appearances from Rubi Rose and Too $hort. Music videos he’s released for the album thus far include “Put My Ice On”, “Around the Way”, and “Free the Homie”. The most successful one, though, is “Used to Love You”, which has garnered nearly 220,000 views since being uploaded in mid-January.

Aside from the recent release of BONA FIDE, $tone has been on the road finishing a run of U.S. tour dates, which started April 20 in Eugene, OR and will end May 4 in El Paso, TX. Back in 2022, $tone — himself a film buff — teased a mini-documentary to go along with BONA FIDE’s release, though this has yet to see the light of day. In any case, you can follow Rob $tone on his socials (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) or keep up with new releases on his SoundCloud, his YouTube channel, and all streaming platforms.

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FAQS ABOUT ROB $TONE

Where is Rob $tone from?

• Rob $tone hails from San Diego, California.

How old is Rob $tone?

• Rob $tone was born on January 25, 1995, and is 29 years of age.

What is Rob $tone’s real name?

• Rob $tone’s real name is Jaylen Anthony Robinson.

Who is Rob $tone signed to?

• Rob $tone is currently signed to Grove Town Records. $tone also signed with RCA, though it’s not clear if he’s still with that label or not.

What was Rob $tone’s breakout song?

• Rob $tone’s breakout song was “Chill Bill”, the first song he ever put to tape. After uploading it to SoundCloud in 2014, it would go viral the following year, and both the original and its remix version have roughly 890 million plays on Spotify combined. The song would also peak at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and be certified four times platinum by the RIAA.

Who influenced Rob $tone's music?

• Rob $tone has counted a number of artists and genres as influencing his work, including Future, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, 2Pac, Erykah Badu, classic rock acts like Pink Floyd, and genres like roots reggae (e.g. Gregory Isaacs and Steel Pulse).

What’s next for Rob $tone?

• Though it’s not clear what exactly $tone will be doing next, he’s just finishing a run of U.S. tour dates while promoting his newest album BONA FIDE, released in January.

How can I stay updated with Rob $tone’s music?

• You can keep track with everything Rob $tone does by following him on social platforms like Instagram, Facebook and  TikTok, or keeping up with new releases wherever he uploads music (SoundCloud, YouTube, all streaming platforms).

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