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. |
| Genres | Hip hop, pop rap |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
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Brian Todd Collins (born April 1, 1986), known as Kid Ink, is an American rapper and singer from Los Angeles, California. He started making music as a teenager. His first album, Up & Away (2012), was released on his own. It reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 music chart.
Later, he signed with RCA Records, a big music company. He released a shorter album called Almost Home (2013). His second album, My Own Lane, came out the next year. This album was very popular, reaching number three on the Billboard 200. It included the hit song "Show Me" with Chris Brown. This song was a huge success, selling millions of copies. Other popular songs from his albums include "Body Language" and "Be Real".
Contents
Kid Ink's Music Journey
Early Days and First Steps
When Brian was a teenager, he spent time after school making hip-hop beats. He looked up to artists like Pharrell Williams and Swizz Beatz. They inspired him to work hard and explore different types of music. In 2008, he got his first chance to produce music for another artist, Nipsey Hussle.
At 22, Brian started rapping full-time. He first used the name Rockstar. In 2010, he released his first official collection of songs, called World Tour. This music caught the attention of DJ Ill Will, who founded HotNewHipHop. Brian then signed with DJ Ill Will's record label, Tha Alumni Group. He changed his stage name to Kid Ink to avoid confusion with another artist.
Mixtapes and First Album
In 2011, Kid Ink released more mixtapes, which are like free albums. These included Crash Landing, Daydreamer, and Wheels Up. Many other artists joined him on these mixtapes, like Ty Dolla Sign, Meek Mill, and 2 Chainz.
In 2012, XXL magazine chose Kid Ink as one of their "Freshman class" artists. This meant he was one of the most exciting new artists to watch. On June 12, 2012, he released his first official album, Up & Away. It reached number 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Songs like "Time of Your Life" and "Lost in the Sauce" came from this album. Later that year, he released another mixtape called Rocketshipshawty.
Signing with RCA and Big Hits
On January 4, 2013, Kid Ink announced he had signed a deal with RCA Records. This was a big step for his career. He released a shorter album called Almost Home in May 2013. This album featured artists like French Montana and Meek Mill. It reached number 27 on the Billboard 200. One song from it, "Money and the Power", was even used in the TV show Hard Knocks and the video game NBA Live 14.
In September 2013, he released "Show Me" with Chris Brown. This song became a massive hit. His second album, My Own Lane, came out in January 2014. It was very successful, and "Show Me" earned him a Gold plaque for selling many copies.
New Albums and Projects
In September 2014, Kid Ink released "Body Language", featuring Usher and Tinashe. This was the first song from his third album, Full Speed, which came out in February 2015. This album reached number 14 on the Billboard 200. On Christmas Day 2015, he surprised fans by releasing another mixtape, Summer in the Winter. This mixtape included songs with Fetty Wap and Akon.
In September 2016, Kid Ink released the mixtape RSS2 on SoundCloud. He wanted to bring back his older mixtape style. RSS2 featured new artists, including his younger brother, Juliann Alexander. The song "One Day" from RSS2 also got a music video. In April 2017, he released the song "F with U" with Ty Dolla Sign. His second shorter album, 7 Series, came out in May 2017. His fourth album, Alive, was released in 2021.
Kid Ink's Life
Kid Ink has more than 100 tattoos on his body. He got his first tattoo when he was 16 and has loved getting them ever since. Some of his favorite tattoos are pictures of his mother and grandfather on his chest. He also has a tiger on his neck, which represents his Chinese birth sign. In 2013, he showed off his tattoos for a PETA campaign that encouraged people to choose "Ink Not Mink" (tattoos instead of fur).
Kid Ink has been with his partner, model Asiah Azante, for over ten years. They got engaged in 2015 and married in 2016. They have two daughters, born in 2016 and 2020.
Kid Ink's Albums
- 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 |
