Kidd Kenn Explained

Kidd Kenn
Birth Name:Dontrell Smith
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Years Active:2018–present[2]

Dontrell Smith (born January 16, 2003), known professionally as Kidd Kenn, is an American rapper and singer from Chicago, Illinois.[3] [4] He rose to prominence with his singles "No Brakes" and "Moves" (featuring Rico Nasty).[5]

Early life

Dontrell Smith[6] was born on January 16, 2003, in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, Chicago.[7] He dropped out of high school during his freshman year.[8] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he moved to Los Angeles, where he took on great responsibilities, paying bills and doing everything on his own.[9] [10] This situation led him to start making song covers, which eventually provoked him to take his rap career seriously.[11]

Career

Kidd Kenn's first released track, "Eriod", served as his debut commercial single, accompanied by a music video.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] After signing a recording deal, he released his second mixtape, Child's Play, in 2020.[15] In September 2020, he released "Freestyle", featuring Delli Boe, accompanied by a music video.[16] On June 11, 2021, he released his debut extended play, Problem Child.[17] Since then, he has collaborated with Rico Nasty on the song "Moves".[18] 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.[19] On May 20, 2022, he released the song "Body" as a promotional single for his EP Celebrating Pride, which later became the lead single.[20] On June 17, 2022, Kenn released his single "At It Again", a collaboration with Belize singer Delli Boe, accompanied by a music video.[21]

On June 29, 2022, Kidd Kenn released a single titled "Want Not A Need" featuring Baby Tate.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24] In December 2022, Grown was ranked at number 16 on The Triibe's 25 best Chicago hip hop and R&B albums of 2022.[25] He released his fifth EP, Busy Being Bad, on October 20, 2023.[26]

Discography

Mixtapes

Title! scope="col" style="width:19em;"
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

Title! scope="col" style="width:26em;"
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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kidd Kenn is Chicago's next teen sensation. Nandi. Howard. The Fader. January 24, 2019 . February 9, 2024. March 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230302171231/https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/24/kidd-kenn-chicago-interview-2019/amp. live.
  2. Web site: It's a Good Time to Be Kidd Kenn. Britt. Julious. Brendon. Carroll. Paper Magazine. January 24, 2020. February 10, 2024.
  3. Web site: Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Making His Lollapalooza Debut Thursday. . August 3, 2023 . February 9, 2024.
  4. Kidd Kenn. Narrow Magazine. June 14, 2021 . February 10, 2024.
  5. Web site: Kidd Kenn Is On The Rise To Stardom. Malcolm. Trapp. Raydar . May 27, 2022 . February 10, 2024.
  6. Web site: Kidd Kenn Biography. The Masquerade. February 9, 2024. February 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201212928/http://www.masqueradeatlanta.com/attraction/kidd-kenn/. live.
  7. Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Talks Solidifying His Career. Khaty. Iandoli. Teen Vogue. July 22, 2019 . February 9, 2024. October 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231030173155/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/chicago-rapper-kidd-kenn-interview. live.
  8. How Chicago Rapper Kidd Kenn Went From Unknown to Major Label Signee in One Year. Stephen. Daw. Billboard. September 25, 2019 . February 9, 2024.
  9. Web site: A Conversation with Up and Coming Rapper Kidd Kenn. Jax. Samsell. Berkeleyside. June 11, 2021 . February 9, 2024.
  10. Web site: Kidd Kenn Red Bull Interview. Tre'vell. Anderson. Red Bull. June 11, 2021 . February 9, 2024. April 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404010442/https://www.redbull.com/us-en/kidd-kenn-interview. live.
  11. Web site: Meet Kidd Kenn: The Queer Rapper Taking Hip Hop By Storm. Jen. Hussien. COOLS. September 27, 2019. February 9, 2024.
  12. Web site: PREMIERE: Kidd Kenn and Queen Key link for "Eriod" video.. Phlash. Gordon. Fake Shore. August 1, 2018 . February 9, 2024. March 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210302102028/https://www.fakeshoredrive.com/2018/08/premiere-kidd-kenn-and-queen-key-link-for-eriod-video.html/. live.
  13. Web site: The Queer Voice Of Chicago Hip Hop: Kidd Kenn's Journey To Success. Bowie. January 9, 2023 . February 9, 2024. December 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231201173937/https://www.bowiecreators.com/project/the-queer-voice-of-chicago-hip-hop-kidd-kenns-journey-to-success. live.
  14. Openly Gay 16-Year-Old Rapper Kidd Kenn Just Signed a Major Deal with Island Records. Michael. Paper. July 29, 2019 . February 9, 2024. October 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231029160755/https://www.papermag.com/kidd-kenn-island-records. live.
  15. Web site: On The Scene: Kidd Kenn 'Child's Play' Release Party. The Knock. February 24, 2020 . February 9, 2024.
  16. Web site: Kidd Kenn Releases Music Video for Viral Hit, 'Freestyle' ft. Delli Boe. Courtney Creative. September 18, 2020. February 10, 2024.
  17. Web site: Kidd Kenn Claims His Space with "Problem Child". Alexis. Rabadam. Finessed Media. July 21, 2021 . February 9, 2024.
  18. Web site: Rico Nasty Joins Kidd Kenn on New Song "Moves". Tara. Mahadevan. . May 21, 2021 . February 10, 2024.
  19. Kidd Kenn Makes History at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Justin. Moran. Johntavis. Mclean. Paper Magazine. October 5, 2021 . February 10, 2024.
  20. Web site: Kidd Kenn drops new single "Body" from forthcoming EP. . February 10, 2024.
  21. Web site: KIDD KENN AND DELLI BOE REUNITE ON "AT IT AGAIN,". Def Jam . February 10, 2024.
  22. Web site: Baby Tate joins Kidd Kenn for new "Want Not A Need" single. Regina. Cho. . June 29, 2022 . February 10, 2024.
  23. Web site: Kidd Kenn Releases New EP, 'Grown. Sam. Armstrong. Udiscover Music . July 23, 2022 . February 10, 2024.
  24. Web site: ReImagined At Home: Kidd Kenn's "Old Town Road" Cover Tips Its Cowboy Hat To Lil Nas X's Country Trap Classic. Carena. Liptak. Grammy.com. August 24, 2022 . February 10, 2024. January 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240118103059/https://www.grammy.com/news/kidd-kenn-lil-nas-x-old-town-road-cover-performance-video-reimagined-at-home. live.
  25. Web site: Here are the 25 best Chicago hip-hop and R&B albums of 2022. Mark. Braboy. The Triibe. December 19, 2022. February 10, 2024.
  26. Web site: Kidd Kenn Shares New EP 'Busy Being Bad. Will. Schube. Udiscover Music. October 22, 2023 . February 10, 2024.

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