# Quelle Chris

Gavin Christopher Tennille (born October 19, 1984), known as Quelle Chris, is an American record producer, rapper and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. He has released over 15 albums as a solo act and with his collaborative projects.

## Career

Tennille was born in Johnson City, New York to a shoe designer.
Tennille began his music career in the Detroit hip hop scene. His career began expanding as he joined Wasted Youth, where he attracted the attention of other Detroit-based artists such as J Dilla and Proof. Tennille and fellow rapper Denmark Vessey later formed a musical group called Crown Nation, in which Tennille soon adopted the pseudonyms Q-Life and Quelle, the latter of which means "source" in German. With credit as a songwriter on several songs on Danny Brown's early albums, he began working on a solo career.
His debut studio album, Shotgun & Sleek Rifle, was released in 2011, featuring guest appearances from artists such as Brown, Roc Marciano and Big Tone. He signed with Mello Music Group after releasing two extended plays with the music group Racehorses are Resources, which also consisted of poet John Sinclair. With two studio albums Niggas Is Men and Ghost at the Finish Line released on the label in 2013, Tennille produced for musicians such as Pharoahe Monch, Diamond District and Open Mike Eagle.
His fourth studio album Innocent Country was released in 2015, followed by the 2016 instrumental album Lullabies for the Broken Brain. His fifth studio album Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often was released in 2017. He described the album as "about being human. Being great, being flawed, being you". His debut collaborative album titled Everything's Fine with his life partner Jean Grae was released on March 30, 2018, via Mello. On March 29, 2019, Tennille released his acclaimed sixth solo album Guns. On March 16, 2020, Tennille released his seventh solo album Innocent Country 2 and released it on April 24. It features guest appearances from Earl Sweatshirt, Billy Woods, Tune-Yards' Merrill Garbus, Denmark Vessey, Homeboy Sandman, Pink Siifu, and Josh Gondelman. Tennille returned with his seventh album, Deathfame on May 13, 2022. The 14-track album was primarily produced by himself.

## Personal life

In December 2017, he proposed to his longtime partner who is also his frequent collaborator, Jean Grae. The two married on August 5, 2018.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Details |
| Shotgun & Sleek Rifle | Released: November 15, 2011 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD |
| Ghost at the Finish Line | Released: October 29, 2013 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD |
| Innocent Country (with Chris Keys) | Released: July 10, 2015 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD |
| Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often | Released: February 10, 2017 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD, streaming |
| Guns | Released: March 29, 2019 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD, 2xLP, streaming |
| Innocent Country 2 (with Chris Keys) | Released: April 24, 2020 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD, streaming |
| Deathfame | Released: May 14, 2022 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD, streaming |

### Collaborative albums

| Title | Details |
| Everything's Fine (with Jean Grae) | Released: March 30, 2018 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD, streaming |
| Death Tape 1: Black Cottonwood (with Cavalier) | Released: December 2022 Label: Self Released Format: Digital Download |
| Death Tape 2: We 'Gon Need Each Other (with Cavalier and Denmark Vessey) | Released: September 2024 Label: Self Released Format: Digital Download |

### Instrumental albums

| Title | Details |
| Lullabies for the Broken Brain | Released: February 26, 2016 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD, streaming |

### Mixtapes

| Title | Details |
| Niggas Is Men | Released: March 19, 2013 Label: Mello, Sony Format: Download, CD |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2023 | Special | Grammy Award for Album of the Year | Nominated | |