| Sy Ari da Kid | |
| Birth Name: | Sy Ari Brockington |
| Alias: | Sy Ari da Kid |
| Birth Date: | 8 January 1986 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, U.S. |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
| Label: | Arrogant Music, Cash Money, Republic |
Sy Ari Brockington (born January 8, 1986), known professionally as Sy Ari da Kid, is an American singer, songwriter and rapper.
Brockington was born in The Bronx, New York City but moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the age of nine.[1] As a child he dreamed of being a professional basketball player, but soon turned to rap after the influence of his brother and cousin. He attended Robert L. Osborne High School, alongside rapper K Camp. After graduation, Brockington would appear in battle raps on Atlanta's HOT 107.9 FM, where he was noted for 11 consecutive victories.[2]
Brockington taught himself to produce and record with Pro Tools, which soon caught the attention of Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer Brian Michael Cox. Signed to December First Publishing Group, Brockington later launched his independent label. Arrogant Music was launched in 2006, for which he serves as the CEO and main recording artist.[3]
He released some mixtapes in 2011, including The Ultrasound, his first formal solo project. A further three mixtapes came in January 2012, including The Best of Da Kid Part One and Part Two. The collective mixtapes featured 106 tracks, used by Brockington to showcase his lyrical ability and versatility.[4]
In the following years, he continued to release multiple mixtapes while working with artists including Waka Flocka Flame, Future, Travis Porter and Roscoe Dash. On February 4, 2016, Brockington released B4 the Heartbreak, which featured Bryson Tiller on "Priorities". The mixtape also included features from Chasity, Lewis Sky and Tink.[5] He later confirmed a follow-up album was in the making, titled 2Soon. It was released through Cash Money in 2017.[6]
Talking about his musical process, Brockington said, "I don't write. I like to freestyle until I come off with a good hook or a good start to a verse. I don't like creating from scratch with other artists and producers as much as I should." He also felt he was not narrowed down by a single genre. He said, "I'm not an Atlanta or New York rapper, I feel I'm beyond a rapper. I like all genres of music and can create them as well".[7]
In late 2015, rumours circulated that Brockington was ghostwriting for Canadian rapper Drake. After releasing a song with Quentin Miller, who Meek Mill exposed as a co-writer for Drake, Brockington was forced to distance himself from the suggestions.
Brockington is a single father, something he regularly discusses in interviews. He describes how he wants to be a voice for single fathers, of which there are few in his industry who openly speak about the topic.[8]