After co-founding legendary D.C. gogo band TOB as Boogie, Gleesh changed his stage name and rose to local rap prominence since 2010 through the release of several skrong street mixtapes that showcase his sometimes dark, sometimes comedic, but always original style of street rap, aptly titled “Shitbag Music.” Since he began, Gleesh frequently collaborated with new MMG-signee Fat Trel, and in early 2013 he fielded an offer to join Gucci Mane’s 1017 Bricksquad outfit and featured on tracks with 1017 members PeeWee Longway and Young Thug.

In the summer of 2013, Gleesh made appearances at the Under the Influence Tour’s Chicago stop with GBE and A$AP Mob, and in Chief Keef’s “Citgo” video. He headlined a packed event in Brooklyn, NY, and performed with GrandeMarshall at Fools Gold Records annual Day Off (pictured above) along with Tayyib Ali at Delaware’s Foxtail Festival. Between shows, Gleesh dropped visuals for a handful of singles from 1-8 Zone Shawty and Ain’t Shit Changed (ASC). In July, Complex Magazine premiered 1-8 Zone’s “Root of All Evil,” and Fader Magazine premiered ASC’s “Which 1 U Worken” video in October. ASC’s Zaytoven-produced “Please” premiering via XXL Magazine also proved to be a breakout single, as its success earned him another headlining show in DC during Howard’s 2013 Homecoming.