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Kidd Kenn
Kidd Kenn in 2023
Kidd Kenn in 2023
Background information
Birth nameDontrell Smith
Born (2003-01-16) January 16, 2003 (age 21)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2018–present[3]
Labels
Websitekiddkennworld.com

Dontrell Smith (born January 16, 2003), known professionally as Kidd Kenn, is an American rapper and singer from Chicago, Illinois.[5][6] He rose to prominence with his singles "No Brakes" and "Moves" (featuring Rico Nasty).[7]

Early life

[edit]

Dontrell Smith[8] was born on January 16, 2003, in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, Chicago.[9] He dropped out of high school during his freshman year.[10] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he moved to Los Angeles, where he took on great responsibilities, paying bills and doing everything on his own.[11][12] This situation led him to start making song covers, which eventually provoked him to take his rap career seriously.[13]

Career

[edit]

Kidd Kenn's first released track, "Eriod", served as his debut commercial single, accompanied by a music video.[14] After the success of his hit single "No Brakes", which received millions of streams across various platforms, he considered rapping as a full-time career.[15] On August 11, 2018, Kenn released his debut mixtape, Childish, featuring a guest verse from Katie Got Bandz.

A year later, Smith's career began to take off with his hit singles, leading to his signing with Island Records.[16] After signing a recording deal, he released his second mixtape, Child's Play, in 2020.[17] In September 2020, he released "Freestyle", featuring Delli Boe, accompanied by a music video.[18] On June 11, 2021, he released his debut extended play, Problem Child.[19] Since then, he has collaborated with Rico Nasty on the song "Moves".[20] On October 5, 2021, Kidd Kenn made history by appearing as the first gay male rapper in the BET Hip Hop Awards Rap Cypher, performing alongside Toosii, Lakeyah, Symba, and DJ Hed.[21] On May 20, 2022, he released the song "Body" as a promotional single for his EP Celebrating Pride, which later became the lead single.[22] On June 17, 2022, Kenn released his single "At It Again", a collaboration with Belize singer Delli Boe, accompanied by a music video.[23]

On June 29, 2022, Kidd Kenn released a single titled "Want Not A Need" featuring Baby Tate.[24] He also released an EP titled Celebrating Pride that same year. After the release, he went on to release another extended play titled Grown in July 2022.[25] In August 2022, Kidd Kenn released a cover version of "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X, lending a glamorous, feminine touch to the song.[26] In December 2022, Grown was ranked at number 16 on The Triibe's 25 best Chicago hip hop and R&B albums of 2022.[27] He released his fifth EP, Busy Being Bad, on October 20, 2023.[28]

Discography

[edit]

Mixtapes

[edit]
List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details
Childish
  • Released: August 11, 2018
  • Label: Fam1st Music Group
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Child's Play
  • Released: February 14, 2020
  • Label: Island Records
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Extended play details
Problem Child
  • Released: June 11, 2021
  • Label: 4th & B'way, Island Records
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Celebrating Pride
  • Released: June 3, 2022
  • Label: 4th & B'way Records, Def Jam
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Grown
  • Released: July 22, 2022
  • Label: 4th & B'way Records, Def Jam Recordings
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Busy Being Bad
  • Released: October 20, 2023
  • Label: 4th & B'way Records, Def Jam Recordings
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Nandi, Howard (January 24, 2019). "Kidd Kenn is Chicago's next teen sensation". The Fader. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. ^ Hot, Staff (June 30, 2022). "Celebrating Pride w/ Rapper Kidd Kenn Breaking Into Hip Hop + Signing to Def Jam!". Hot97. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Britt, Julious; Brendon, Carroll (January 24, 2020). "It's a Good Time to Be Kidd Kenn". Paper Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Stephen, Daw (July 7, 2019). "16-Year-Old Queer Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Signs to Island Records". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Making His Lollapalooza Debut Thursday". Block Club Chicago. August 3, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Kidd Kenn". Narrow Magazine. June 14, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Malcolm, Trapp (May 27, 2022). "Kidd Kenn Is On The Rise To Stardom". Raydar. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Kidd Kenn Biography". The Masquerade. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Khaty, Iandoli (July 22, 2019). "Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Talks Solidifying His Career". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Stephen, Daw (September 25, 2019). "How Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Went From Unknown to Major Label Signee in One Year". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Jax, Samsell (June 11, 2021). "A Conversation with Up and Coming Rapper Kidd Kenn". Berkeleyside. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  12. ^ Tre'vell, Anderson (June 11, 2021). "Kidd Kenn Red Bull Interview". Red Bull. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Jen, Hussien (September 27, 2019). "Meet Kidd Kenn: The Queer Rapper Taking Hip Hop By Storm". COOLS. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Phlash, Gordon (August 1, 2018). "PREMIERE: Kidd Kenn and Queen Key link for "Eriod" video". Fake Shore. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Queer Voice Of Chicago Hip Hop: Kidd Kenn's Journey To Success". Bowie. January 9, 2023. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Michael (July 29, 2019). "Openly Gay 16-Year-Old Rapper Kidd Kenn Just Signed a Major Deal with Island Records". Paper. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "On The Scene: Kidd Kenn 'Child's Play' Release Party". The Knock. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kidd Kenn Releases Music Video for Viral Hit, 'Freestyle' ft. Delli Boe". Courtney Creative. September 18, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Alexis, Rabadam (July 21, 2021). "Kidd Kenn Claims His Space with "Problem Child"". Finessed Media. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Tara, Mahadevan (May 21, 2021). "Rico Nasty Joins Kidd Kenn on New Song "Moves"". Complex Networks. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Justin, Moran; Johntavis, Mclean (October 5, 2021). "Kidd Kenn Makes History at the BET Hip Hop Awards". Paper Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kidd Kenn drops new single "Body" from forthcoming EP". Def Jam. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  23. ^ "KIDD KENN AND DELLI BOE REUNITE ON "AT IT AGAIN,"". Def Jam. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  24. ^ Regina, Cho (June 29, 2022). "Baby Tate joins Kidd Kenn for new "Want Not A Need" single". Revolt. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  25. ^ Sam, Armstrong (July 23, 2022). "Kidd Kenn Releases New EP, 'Grown". Udiscover Music. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  26. ^ Carena, Liptak (August 24, 2022). "ReImagined At Home: Kidd Kenn's "Old Town Road" Cover Tips Its Cowboy Hat To Lil Nas X's Country Trap Classic". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  27. ^ Mark, Braboy (December 19, 2022). "Here are the 25 best Chicago hip-hop and R&B albums of 2022". The Triibe. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  28. ^ Will, Schube (October 22, 2023). "Kidd Kenn Shares New EP 'Busy Being Bad". Udiscover Music. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
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