Ken Carson | |
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Birth name | Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr. |
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Born | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | April 11, 2000
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Discography | Ken Carson discography |
Years active | 2015–present |
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Formerly of | |
Website | kencarson |
Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr. (born April 11, 2000), known professionally as Ken Carson, is an American rapper, singer, and record producer from Atlanta, Georgia. He is recognized as an emerging figure in the trap and rage subgenres of hip hop. Carson initially gained attention for his SoundCloud releases and collaborations with fellow Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti.
In 2019, Carson signed with Playboi Carti's record label Opium, an imprint of Interscope Records to release his debut studio album, Project X (2021). Despite generally unfavorable critical reception, its songs "Rock N Roll" and "Run + Ran" gained popularity on TikTok. His second album, X (2022), entered the Billboard 200 despite continued unfavorable reception. [2] His third studio album, A Great Chaos (2023), peaked number 11 on the chart and saw a critical incline; its deluxe release spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Overseas". [3]
Carson is associated with Opium labelmates Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang. [3]
Carson initially joined 808 Mafia in 2015 as a rapper after meeting fellow record producer TM88, [4] and would begin releasing music on SoundCloud as early as 2017. After gaining popularity in the underground rap scene, he would be discovered by fellow Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti and signed to his label Opium in 2019. Carson was also the first to be signed to Opium out of Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang. [5] [6]
After signing with Opium in 2019, Carson released two extended plays—Boy Barbie and Teen X—the following year.
At the start of 2021, he released his third EP, Teen X: Relapsed, before releasing his debut studio album Project X later that year. [7] [8] In February 2022, he appeared as a guest on the track "Gëek high" off American rapper Yeat's album, 2 Alive . [9] He released his second studio album X on July 8, 2022. [10] It peaked at number 115 on the Billboard 200. [2]
In October 2022, he and fellow Atlanta rapper SoFaygo released a single titled "Hell Yeah" for SoFaygo's debut studio album Pink Heartz with an accompanying music video. [11] [12] [13] On October 31, 2022, Ken Carson released a deluxe version of his X album named Xtended, alongside a music video on YouTube for his song "MDMA" featuring Destroy Lonely. [14]
Carson released the single "I Need U" on February 14, 2023. [15] On May 5, 2023, Carson featured on Destroy Lonely's debut studio album, If Looks Could Kill , on the song "Money & Sex". [16] [17] In June 2023, Carson produced the song "x2" from Lil Uzi Vert's third studio album, Pink Tape . [18] On October 6, 2023, Carson tweeted a pre-save link for his third studio album A Great Chaos , indicating that the project would be released on October 13 with a tracklist of 18 songs; [19] three days later, nearly the entire album leaked online after several tracks were shared on a Discord server. [20] On October 12, an album launch party was held at the Silo dance club in Brooklyn to commemorate the project's release. Carson performed tracks "Fighting My Demons", "Lose It", "Hardcore", "Singapore", and "Paranoid" alongside his Opium labelmate, Destroy Lonely, before bringing out fellow rapper and the aforementioned label's founder, Playboi Carti, to perform songs from the rapper's latest album, "Stop Breathing" from Whole Lotta Red (2020), and "Fe!n" from Travis Scott's fourth studio album Utopia (2023). [21] On July 5, 2024, he released the deluxe edition of A Great Chaos, containing seven additional tracks, including the single "Overseas", which was released on April 12, 2024. [22] [23]
Carson's musical style has been described as "[having] electronic production that is energetic in nature" and having "focused flows." [24] He has been compared to his mentor Playboi Carti, especially his 2020 album Whole Lotta Red as well as to Lil Uzi Vert for his flow and mentality. [8]
Project X is the debut studio album by American rapper Ken Carson. It was released on July 23, 2021, by Opium and Foundation. The album serves as a sequel to Carson's Teen X EP and its Relapsed deluxe edition. In addition, the album and its artwork are named after and pay tribute to the 2012 film Project X. The album was executively produced by producers Star Boy and Outtatown, who produced a majority of the album.
Symere Bysil Woods, known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they gained initial recognition following the release of the commercial mixtape Luv Is Rage (2015), which led to a recording contract with Atlantic Records, to whom they signed under DJ Drama's Generation Now imprint.
Jordan Terrell Carter, known professionally as Playboi Carti, is an American rapper and record producer from Atlanta, Georgia. An influential figure among his generation, he has contributed to the progression of trap music and its rage subgenre. He first signed with local underground record label Awful Records in 2014, and later signed with ASAP Mob's record label AWGE, in a joint venture with Interscope Records two years later. Carter gained mainstream attention following the release of his eponymous debut mixtape (2017), which peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-charting singles "Magnolia" and "Wokeuplikethis".
Playboi Carti is the debut commercial mixtape by American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released through AWGE and Interscope Records on April 14, 2017. The mixtape consists of 15 tracks and features guest appearances from American rappers Lil Uzi Vert, ASAP Rocky and Dutch singer Leven Kali. Production was executively handled by Pi'erre Bourne, alongside several other record producers, including Harry Fraud, Hit-Boy, Jake One, Ricci Riera, and Southside. The physical version of the mixtape was released on October 6, 2017, and a vinyl edition was released on November 17, 2017.
"Wokeuplikethis" is a song by American rapper Playboi Carti featuring fellow American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. Written alongside producer Pi'erre Bourne, it was originally released on March 10, 2017 to SoundCloud before being official released on April 7, 2017, as the second single from Carti's eponymous debut commercial mixtape. The song samples the 2004 single "White Tee" by fellow Atlanta rap group Dem Franchize Boyz.
"Raf" is a song by American hip hop collective ASAP Mob, featuring collective member ASAP Rocky alongside Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert and Frank Ocean. It was released on May 15, 2017, and is the lead single from ASAP Mob's second studio album Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy (2017). The song pays tribute to Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons.
The discography of American rapper Playboi Carti consists of two studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), four mixtapes, one promotional single, and 25 singles. Under the alias Sir Cartier, Playboi Carti released his first two mixtapes, THC: The High Chronicles and Young Misfit, between November 2011 and November 2012. These early works helped him develop his unique sound, which would later gain him a substantial following. In 2015, Playboi Carti gained significant attention after releasing the singles "Broke Boi" and "Fetti" on SoundCloud. The tracks quickly went viral, establishing Carti as a prominent figure in the underground rap scene. In 2016, Carti signed with Interscope Records and ASAP Mob's imprint label, AWGE. His debut commercial mixtape, Playboi Carti (2017), debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200, driven by the success of the single "Magnolia," which peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA). Another notable track from the mixtape, "Wokeuplikethis" featuring Lil Uzi Vert, reached number 32 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Jordan Timothy Jenks, known professionally as Pi'erre Bourne, is an American record producer, rapper, songwriter, and audio engineer. He is best known for producing the 2017 singles "Magnolia" for Playboi Carti and "Gummo" for 6ix9ine, both of which entered the top 30 of the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Shoota" is a song by American rapper and singer Playboi Carti featuring American rapper and singer Lil Uzi Vert. It was released as the sixth track from Carti's debut studio album Die Lit, on May 11, 2018. The song was written by Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert, alongside American record producer Maaly Raw.
Jamaal Talib Henry, known professionally as Maaly Raw, is an American record producer and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his work with Pennsylvania native rapper Lil Uzi Vert, having produced songs for each of his projects beginning with their debut commercial extended play, Luv Is Rage (2015).
"Sasuke" is a song by American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on April 24, 2020 and serves as the lead single of their upcoming third studio album. It peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Trip at Knight is the fourth studio album by American rapper and singer Trippie Redd. It was released on August 20, 2021, through 1400 Entertainment and 10k Projects. The album features guest appearances from SoFaygo, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Ski Mask the Slump God, Polo G, Lil Durk, Babyface Ray, Sada Baby, and Icewear Vezzo; alongside late rappers Juice Wrld and XXXTentacion. Trippie Redd embarked on a tour in support for the album just days after its release. It is a spin-off to his debut studio album Life's a Trip (2018).
Andre Dontrel Burt Jr., better known as SoFaygo, is an American rapper and singer. In 2020, Burt released the Angelic 7 mixtape, which included his 2019 breakthrough single "Knock Knock", which went viral on TikTok in late 2020. His debut album Pink Heartz was released on November 11, 2022, through Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Records. He has also collaborated with other artists, such as Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert, Gunna, Nav, Lil Tecca and Trippie Redd.
Rage is a microgenre of trap music. Distinguishing features of rage include short looping stereo-widened future bass-influenced synthesizer lead hooks and basic, energetic trap rhythms. Among the pioneers of rage are rappers Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, and Trippie Redd. Playboi Carti's Opium record label has also been highly influential on the genre.
X is the second studio album by American rapper Ken Carson. It was released through Opium and Interscope Records on July 8, 2022. The album features guest appearances from his Opium labelmates Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang. Production was handled by Ken's frequent collaborators F1lthy and Lil 88, among others. It is a follow-up to his debut studio album Project X (2021). The deluxe version, titled Xtended, was released three months later, on October 31, 2022, containing five additional tracks.
Opium is an American record label and rap collective that was founded in 2019 by American rapper Playboi Carti. The label, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, currently holds four acts all of whom are natives to the city; Playboi Carti himself, rappers Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely, and the duo Homixide Gang. The label is also affiliated with a variety of producers including KP Beatz, F1lthy, and Art Dealer, who all worked extensively on Playboi Carti's second studio album, Whole Lotta Red.
Pink Heartz is the debut studio album by American rapper SoFaygo. It was released on November 11, 2022, through Cactus Jack Records. The album features guest appearances from Ken Carson, Lil Uzi Vert, Don Toliver, Gunna, and DJ Khaled.
Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III, known professionally as Destroy Lonely, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. His debut studio album, If Looks Could Kill (2023) peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard 200. Prior, his fifth mixtape, No Stylist (2022) marked his first entry on the chart at number 91.
American rapper Playboi Carti is scheduled to release his upcoming third studio album sometime in 2024, through Interscope Records, AWGE and Opium. The album's title has not yet been confirmed, but several tentative titles, including Music and I Am Music have been teased at various points throughout the project's development. The album will serve as a follow-up to his second studio album Whole Lotta Red (2020). As of August 2024, I Am Music is being teased as the name of the third studio album.
A Great Chaos is the third studio album by American rapper Ken Carson. It was released through Opium and Interscope Records on October 13, 2023. The album is a follow-up to Carson's second studio album, X (2022); it consists of 18 tracks and features guest appearances from Destroy Lonely and Lil Uzi Vert. The album's production was handled by various producers, including Carson himself, F1lthy, Lil 88, Star Boy, Outtatown and TM88, among others.