In December 2013, Kodak Black released his first mixtape, Project Baby, followed in December 2014 with the mixtape Heart of the Projects, and in December 2015 with the mixtape Institution. He then joined a local rap group called The Kolyons. In 2009, at age 12, Kodak Black joined a rap group called Brutal Youngnz, under the stage name J-Black. Career 2009–2015: Beginnings and Project Baby When he joined Instagram he chose the username "Kodak Black", ".'cause you know Kodak, that's pictures and all that." This later became his stage name when he started to rap and a name favored by his fans. įrom the age of six, Kodak Black used the nickname "Black". About his upbringing, he said that he was given two options: "sell drugs with a gun on his hip or rap". He was expelled from school in the fifth grade for fighting and was arrested for auto theft while in middle school. Kodak Black frequently participated in brawls and breaking and entering with his friends. He spent his youth reading thesauruses and dictionaries to further his vocabulary. Kodak Black started rapping in elementary school and began to go to a local trap house after school to record music. Kodak Black was raised by his mother in Golden Acres, a public housing project in Pompano Beach. He later legally changed his name to Bill Kahan Kapri. Kodak Black was born Dieuson Octave on June 11, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida, the son of a Haitian immigrant, Marcelene Octave. 2.3 2018–present: Heart Break Kodak, Dying to Live, Bill Israel, Haitian Boy Kodak, and Happy Birthday Kodak.2.2 2016–2017: Breakout, Painting Pictures, and Project Baby 2.
2.1 2009–2015: Beginnings and Project Baby.In 2016, Kodak Black appeared on French Montana's hit single "Lockjaw" before releasing fourth mixtape Lil B.I.G. After signing a deal with Atlantic, his third mixtape Institution appeared at the end of the year. The mixtape Heart of the Projects followed in 2015, featuring "SKRT," a hit track that got massive exposure when superstar Drake shared it on the Web and played in on his OVO Sound Radio show. Recording demos in the back of a drug house and repeated visits to juvenile court gave weight to his violent lyrics and stories of inner-city life - two things that fueled his 2014 mixtape Project Baby. In 2013, he introduced his Lil' Boosie-influenced, snarly vocals to the world, but what surprised the audience was his Master P-like music and the heavy, often dark, lyrics, both of which seemed odd coming from a then-16-year-old. In 2013, he introduced his Lil'Īn MC who broke out of Pompano Beach, Florida when he was just 18 years old, Kodak Black (Dieuson Octave) attracted listeners with a sound that hailed back to the Dirty South of the '90s. An MC who broke out of Pompano Beach, Florida when he was just 18 years old, Kodak Black (Dieuson Octave) attracted listeners with a sound that hailed back to the Dirty South of the '90s.