Kid Ink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kid Ink
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Collins in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Todd Collins |
| Also known as | Rockstar |
| Born | April 1, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
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| Children | 3 |
Brian Todd Collins (born April 1, 1986) is an American rapper and singer from Los Angeles, California, who is better known by his stage name, Kid Ink.
He released his first album, Up & Away, in 2012 all by himself. It was a big success, reaching number 20 on the Billboard 200, a chart that tracks the most popular albums in the U.S. After this, he signed with the major record label RCA Records.
His first album with RCA was My Own Lane (2014). It was very popular, climbing to number three on the Billboard 200. The album's hit single, "Show Me" featuring Chris Brown, became a top song in the country. It sold so many copies that it was certified quadruple platinum. This means it sold over four million units!
Kid Ink's third album, Full Speed (2015), also did well. It featured popular songs like "Body Language" and "Be Real". Both of these songs were certified platinum, meaning they sold over one million units each.
Contents
Music Career
2005–2012: How It All Started
When Brian Collins was a teenager, he went to after-school music programs. There, he learned how to produce beats for hip-hop songs. He was inspired by artists like Pharrell Williams and Swizz Beatz, who wrote and produced music for many different singers.
At age 22, Collins decided to become a full-time rapper. He first used the stage name Rockstar. In 2010, he released his first mixtape, called World Tour. A radio DJ named DJ Ill Will noticed his talent and signed him to his record label, Tha Alumni Group. Collins then changed his name to Kid Ink.
In 2011, Kid Ink released more mixtapes, including Crash Landing and Daydreamer. These featured other popular artists like Ty Dolla Sign and Meek Mill. His hard work paid off. In 2012, XXL magazine named him one of its "Freshman Class" artists. This is a special list of new rappers to watch.
On June 12, 2012, he released his first official album, Up & Away. He released it without a major record label, which is called an independent release. The album was a hit and reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart.
2013–2014: Signing with a Major Label
On January 4, 2013, Kid Ink announced that he had signed a deal with RCA Records. This was a big step in his career. His first single with RCA was called "Bad ..." and featured rappers Meek Mill and Wale.
Later that year, he released a short album called an EP. It was titled Almost Home and reached number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. One of its songs, "Money and the Power", was even used in the TV show Hard Knocks and the video game NBA Live 14.
His next big hit was "Show Me", featuring Chris Brown. It was the main single from his second album, My Own Lane, which came out in 2014. "Show Me" was so successful that Kid Ink received his first Gold plaque for it. A Gold plaque means a song has sold 500,000 copies.
2015–2016: More Successful Albums
In late 2014, Kid Ink released "Body Language". The song featured the famous singers Usher and Tinashe. It was the first single from his third album, Full Speed, which came out in 2015. The album was another success, reaching number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart.
On Christmas Day in 2015, Kid Ink gave his fans a gift: a new mixtape called Summer in the Winter. It included songs with other artists like Fetty Wap and Akon.
2016–Present: New Music and Projects
In 2016, Kid Ink released a mixtape called RSS2. He wanted this project to sound like his older mixtapes. It featured his younger brother, Juliann Alexander.
The next year, he released the single "... with U", featuring Ty Dolla Sign. This was followed by his second EP, 7 Series, which came out in May 2017. In 2021, he released his fourth album, Alive. This was his first independent album in almost ten years.
Personal Life
Kid Ink is famous for his many tattoos. He has over 100 of them on his face, back, arms, and hands. He got his first tattoo at 16. His favorite tattoos are portraits of his mother and grandfather on his chest. He also has a tiger on his neck, which is his birth sign in the Chinese zodiac. In 2013, he appeared in an ad for PETA called "Ink Not Mink" to show his support for animals.
Kid Ink is married to model Asiah Azante. They have been together for over a decade and got married in 2016. The couple has three daughters, born in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Discography
- Up & Away (2012)
- My Own Lane (2014)
- Full Speed (2015)
- Alive (2021)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
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| 2014 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Push Act | none | Nominated |
