Fetty Wap. You remember the summer of 2015. You couldn’t walk ten feet without hearing that melodic, warbling "Yeaaah baby" blasting from a car window or a backyard barbecue. It felt like he came out of nowhere, conquered the Billboard charts with a string of top-ten hits, and then sort of stepped into a different kind of spotlight. But as the years pass and the music industry moves at lightning speed, fans are checking their watches. People are constantly asking, how old is Fetty Wap, and why does it feel like he’s been around forever yet still seems so young?
He’s currently 34 years old.
Born on June 7, 1991, in Paterson, New Jersey, Willie Junior Maxwell II—the man we know as Fetty—hit the big time right as he was entering his mid-twenties. It’s a weird age for a rapper to blow up. You aren't a teen prodigy like Lil Wayne, but you aren't a "late bloomer" in the Jay-Z sense either. He was just a guy from Jersey with a unique sound and a missing eye that he refused to hide, which, honestly, became a badge of authenticity in an era of overly polished pop stars.
The Paterson Roots and the 1738 Mystery
To understand his age is to understand the era he represents. Fetty grew up in a rougher part of Paterson. He wasn't always a rapper. Actually, he started out more interested in the business side of things, hence the "Fetty" (slang for money) and "Wap" (a tribute to Gucci Mane’s nickname, Guwop).
When "Trap Queen" dropped, he was 23. Think about that for a second. At 23, most people are barely figuring out how to pay their own phone bills. He was suddenly the focal point of global pop culture. By the time he turned 24, he had "679" and "My Way" dominating the airwaves. It was a statistical anomaly. No artist had ever had their first four singles hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart simultaneously until he did it.
His age during this peak period is important because it shaped his "1738" brand. A lot of people thought 1738 was a gang or a street number. It wasn't. It’s a reference to Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cognac. He and his crew, the Remy Boyz, considered it the finest liquor. It was a status symbol for a group of guys in their early twenties who finally had some cash in their pockets.
Life Hits Hard in Your Thirties
Transitioning from your twenties to your thirties is hard for anyone. For Fetty Wap, it’s been a gauntlet. Since hitting the 30-year milestone in 2021, his life has looked drastically different from those "Trap Queen" days.
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The legal troubles are the elephant in the room. In October 2021, just months after his 30th birthday, he was arrested at Citi Field during the Rolling Loud music festival. The federal government doesn't play around. He was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances.
Specifically, the feds alleged he was part of a million-dollar drug trafficking ring that moved heroin and fentanyl across Long Island and New Jersey.
It’s a grim reality.
In May 2023, at the age of 31, he was sentenced to six years in federal prison. If you’re doing the math on how old is Fetty Wap when he gets out, he’ll likely be around 36 or 37, depending on credit for time served and good behavior. That’s a massive chunk of his prime years gone. It’s a stark contrast to the infectious joy of his music. One minute you’re the king of the prom playlist, the next you’re wearing a jumpsuit in a federal facility.
The Personal Toll and the Loss of Alaiya
Age isn't just a number on a birth certificate; it's measured in the miles of grief you’ve walked. Fetty has had a heartbreaking few years. In 2021, his four-year-old daughter, Lauren Maxwell, passed away. It was a devastating blow that played out in the public eye.
He’s a father of several children. Navigating fatherhood while being a global superstar is a tightrope walk. Navigating it while facing a prison sentence is a whole different beast. His age—being in his early thirties—means he’s at a crossroads where he has to decide what the second half of his life looks like.
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Why We Still Care About Fetty’s Age
There is a certain nostalgia attached to Fetty Wap. He represents the "SoundCloud transition era." He wasn't quite the mumble rap generation, and he wasn't the lyrical miracle era either. He was the "Melodic Trap" pioneer.
When people search for his age, they’re often trying to place him in a timeline of their own lives.
- Did you graduate high school to "Trap Queen"?
- Was "679" the song playing when you met your ex?
- Do you remember the 2015 XXL Freshman Class?
He was in that class alongside Vince Staples, Raury, and Shy Glizzy. Looking back at that roster, Fetty was the commercial juggernaut of the group.
Health and the Glaucoma Misconception
Since we're talking about his physical life and age, let's clear up the eye thing once and for all. A lot of people still think he was shot or lost his eye in a fight. Nope. He lost his left eye to congenital glaucoma when he was a little kid. Doctors couldn't save the eye, so he had a prosthesis for a long time.
As he got older and gained more confidence, he just stopped wearing the fake eye. He decided he didn't want to look "normal" for the sake of other people’s comfort. That decision, made in his early twenties, was actually a huge cultural moment. It gave a lot of people with physical differences a reason to feel cool.
The Future for a 34-Year-Old Fetty
What happens next? Six years is a long time in hip-hop. By the time he’s released, the landscape will have shifted five more times. But here is the thing about Fetty Wap: his voice is unmistakable. You can't replicate that rasp.
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He’s currently serving his time at FCI Elkton in Ohio. Reports from those who have visited or spoken with him suggest he’s staying productive. He’s been working on music behind bars, though recording in prison is obviously a logistical nightmare.
His age gives him a chance at a second act.
He isn't 50. He isn't 60. When he walks out of those gates in his late thirties, he will still be younger than many rappers currently at the top of the charts. Future is in his 40s. 2 Chainz didn't even truly blow up until he was in his mid-thirties. There is a path for Fetty to return, provided he can stay away from the elements that landed him in a cell in the first place.
Practical Steps for Fans and Observers
If you’re following the Fetty Wap saga, don't just look at the headlines. If you want to support the artist or stay updated, here’s the reality of where things stand:
- Check the Official Commissary Channels: There are ways to support incarcerated artists through official legal funds or family-verified channels. Be wary of "Free Fetty" merch that isn't connected to his actual camp.
- Stream the Catalog: The best way to ensure an artist has a career to come back to is to keep their numbers up. His self-titled debut album is still a masterclass in pop-trap structure.
- Monitor the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Website: If you’re truly curious about his status, the BOP inmate locator is public record. You can see his projected release date and location using his name or register number.
- Listen to the Features: Even from prison, Fetty has had a few verses drop that were recorded prior to his surrender. These give a glimpse into the headspace he was in before going in.
Fetty Wap’s story is a quintessential American arc. Rapid rise, massive wealth, tragic loss, and a significant fall. At 34, he’s currently in the "valley" part of that arc. Whether he climbs back up the other side is something only time—and his own choices—will determine. But for now, he remains one of the most influential "one-eyed wonders" the music world has ever seen, waiting for his clock to restart.