Kodak Black
Biography
Bill Kahan Kapri (born Dieuson Octave; June 11, 1997), known professionally as Kodak Black, is an American rapper from Pompano Beach, Florida. He garnered initial recognition with his 2014 single "No Flockin". Raised by a single Haitian immigrant mother in a public housing project, he began rapping in elementary school.
Music Career
At age 12, under the name J-Black, he joined a rap group called Brutal Youngnz. He later released a series of mixtapes that gained him traction in the underground scene. In 2015, his song "Skrt" gained significant exposure after Canadian rapper Drake shared a video of himself dancing to it. This led to a record deal with Atlantic Records.
Studio Albums and Notable Singles
Kodak Black's debut studio album, "Painting Pictures" (2017), peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. It included the hit single "Tunnel Vision," which reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, "Dying to Live" (2018), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. This album featured the highly successful single "Zeze" (featuring Travis Scott and Offset), which peaked at number two on the Hot 100. His subsequent albums include "Bill Israel" (2020), released while he was incarcerated, and "Back for Everything" (2022), which featured the hit single "Super Gremlin".
Mixtapes
Throughout his career, Kodak Black has released several mixtapes that have been crucial to his success. His early projects like "Project Baby" (2013), "Heart of the Projects" (2014), and "Institution" (2015) helped build his fanbase. Later mixtapes such as "Lil B.I.G. Pac" (2016) and "Project Baby 2" (2017) continued to produce popular tracks like "Roll in Peace" and "Transportin'".
Legal Issues
Kodak Black's career has been consistently marked by numerous legal troubles and periods of incarceration. His legal issues began in his youth and have included charges such as robbery, battery, false imprisonment, and weapons possession. In 2019, he was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for making false statements on federal forms to purchase firearms. His sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in January 2021. He has also faced charges of sexual assault, which were resolved with a plea to a lesser charge of first-degree assault and battery, resulting in probation. More recent arrests have involved drug possession charges.
Personal Life
In 2018, he legally changed his name from Dieuson Octave to Bill Kahan Kapri. He has five children. Kodak Black is also known for his philanthropic efforts, which have included paying rent for families in his old neighborhood and donating to various charitable causes.