崔维·麦考伊

Travis "Travie" Lazarus McCoy (born August 5, 1981) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and tattoo artist. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the rap rock band Gym Class Heroes.

McCoy formed Gym Class Heroes with his classmate Matt McGinley in 1997, after the two became acquainted with the East Coast punk rock scene. Gym Class Heroes recorded independently before signing to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's Decaydance Records to release their second album, The Papercut Chronicles (2005). Their third album As Cruel as School Children (2006) spawned the hit singles "Cupid's Chokehold" and "Clothes Off!!," both featuring Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump. In 2007, McCoy launched the label BatSquad to sign rapper Tyga. After releasing the albumThe Quilt (2008), Gym Class Heroes took a hiatus, and McCoy shifted focus to his solo work.

McCoy signed with Decaydance in a joint venture with T-Pain's Nappy Boy Entertainment to release his debut studio album, Lazarus (2010). The lead single, "Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received quadruple platinum certification by the RIAA. In 2011, Gym Class Heroes had a hit single with "Stereo Hearts" featuring Adam Levine. McCoy's 2015 single, "Golden" featuring Sia, was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In 2022, McCoy signed with Hopeless Records to release his second solo album, Never Slept Better. Gym Class Heroes were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2025.

Early life and education

Travis Lazarus McCoy was born and raised in Geneva, New York. His father is Haitian and his mother is of Native American and Irish descent.

Around the fifth grade, McCoy struggled with his weight, which led him to develop his artistic and songwriting talents as a way to attract girls. He recalled writing love letters, drawing pictures, and singing to girls he liked, although their relationships were often kept secret because they didn't want to be seen with him.

As a teenager, McCoy was a fan of hardcore punk bands such as Snapcase and Earth Crisis, as well as underground rap acts such as Company Flow and the Arsonists. He later said, "I was never a typical hip-hop kid. I didn't want to be pigeonholed." McCoy frequently took buses down to Manhattan, New York, throughout high school to participate in battle raps at the indie rap club Fat Beats. McCoy also played the drums in high school and created a rap group with his father and his brother called "True Life Playas." He later recalled, "It was so bad! The tapes exist somewhere but hopefully they'll never be found."

When he was 15, McCoy worked in a tattoo parlor as an apprentice, and shortly after, he began tattooing his friends. He also taught art at a Boys & Girls Club in the daytime, and working at a gas station at night. McCoy decided to quit all three jobs and work on art full-time, putting together an art show with his friend where he sold several paintings.

After graduating from Geneva High School, McCoy attended Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York and majored in fine arts and illustration. He dropped out of school at age 20 to focus on his tattoo work and his musical career.