The Rise of EST Gee: Tragedy, Resilience, and Success in Hip Hop

A lot of people could name an artist who might body a remix of Flashing Lights by Kanye West—but EST Gee had the nerve to actually do it, and he killed it. That was the first time I heard EST Gee, and I’ve been a fan ever since. His flow is unlike anyone else’s; he’s not confined by regional styles, he’s free, and he bodies every beat he touches. I had to learn more, who is he, and where did he come from?

George Albert Stone III, professionally known as EST Gee, was born on May 11, 1994, in Louisville, Kentucky. Raised in difficult circumstances—including time in the Clarksdale Projects and neighborhoods like Tubman Court and Ellington Avenue—his early life was marked by hardship and resilience.

A Promising Football Path Diverted

A talented linebacker, EST Gee earned a football scholarship out of St. Xavier High School (Class of 2012), beginning his collegiate athletic journey at Indiana State University, studying communications. He later transferred to Sac City College and Stephen F. Austin University, but ultimately dropped out in 2016 to focus on music.

Turning Point: Legal Challenges to Music Drive

In 2016, legal trouble struck—EST Gee was arrested on drug trafficking charges and served four months of house arrest. During this period, he reinvented himself artistically, adopting the moniker EST Gee (“Everybody Shines Together”) and launching his music career via YouTube.

Building Momentum: Mixtapes and Breakthroughs

• December 2017: Debuted as Big Gee with the song “Stains”.

• 2019: Released two self-produced mixtapes—El Toro (June) and Die Bloody (August)—that introduced his raw storytelling.

• March 2020: Ion Feel Nun marked his arrival in the mainstream underground scene.

• December 2020: Followed up with I Still Don’t Feel Nun, further establishing his gritty style.

From Local Talent to Major Label Artist

In early 2021, EST Gee signed with Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) in partnership with Interscope Records and Warlike.

His feature on Lil Baby’s single “Real as It Gets” became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 34.

That July, he released his fifth mixtape, Bigger Than Life or Death, which climbed to #7 on the Billboard 200. It included hits like “Lick Back” and “5500 Degrees” (featuring Lil Baby, 42 Dugg, and Rylo Rodriguez).

Studio Run and Evolving Sound

EST Gee’s debut studio album, I Never Felt Nun, dropped on September 16, 2022, via Interscope, CMG, and Warlike. The album featured appearances from Future, Jack Harlow, Bryson Tiller, Machine Gun Kelly, and Jeezy. Among its singles, “Backstage Passes” with Jack Harlow was released to rhythmic contemporary radio on October 11, 2022.

Progress continued in 2023 with the mixtape El Toro 2, where he began experimenting by blending his signature hardcore trap with melodic and soul-infused production. Critics noted the shift as ambitious, though occasionally inconsistent.

Following up in January 2025, he released his second studio album, I Ain’t Feeling You, featuring collaborations with Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Veeze, Rylo Rodriguez—and a bonus edition including BloodHound Q50. Later that year, in June 2025, his album My World debuted on the Billboard 200.

Trauma, Resilience, and Authenticity

EST Gee’s music is deeply rooted in the personal tragedies he’s endured: surviving a harrowing 2019 shooting—hit four times in the stomach and once in the eye during a video shoot—then losing his mother to leukemia and his brother to violence shortly after in 2020. A Pitchfork profile described his rap as "gloomy and brutal", reflecting trauma, fatalism, and street realism—and how those experiences shaped him into an unapologetically stoic presence.

A Reddit fan summed up the transformation:

“He got shot and almost died then his mom died and brother got shot and killed not much longer.” Reddit

Financial Picture

Exact figures for EST Gee’s net worth vary widely:

• One estimate places it around $3 million, noting a CMG signing bonus of $750,000, YouTube views revenue, and strong streaming presence.

• Other sources offer different estimates: approximately $600,000, or up to $4 million.

• A notably high figure appears—$83 million—but it comes from a speculative modeling site and should be treated with extreme caution.

What’s clear is that his income stems from music sales, streaming, touring, label deals, and front-facing visibility—though public data remains speculative.

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Discography Snapshot

Mixtapes

El Toro (2019), Die Bloody (2019), Ion Feel Nun (2020), I Still Don’t Feel Nun (2020), Bigger Than Life or Death (2021), Bigger Than Life or Death Pt. 2 (2021), Last Ones Left w/ 42 Dugg (2022), Mad (2023), El Toro 2 (2023)

I Never Felt Nun (2022), I Ain’t Feeling You (2025), My World (2025)

Lil Baby (“Real as It Gets”), “5500 Degrees” (Lil Baby, 42 Dugg, Rylo Rodriguez), Jack Harlow (“Backstage Passes”).

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Conclusion: The Realness That Resonates

EST Gee’s trajectory—from a football field to a life-altering shooting, amidst family tragedy—to cementing himself in rap’s upper tiers is a testament to his raw talent and resilience. His music is not escapism but a stark reflection of survival: dark, authentic, and emotionally unflinching. With major-label backing and evolving artistry, his story isn't just of ascent—it's of transformation and survival.