Kidd Kenn
“I say always be yourself in whatever you're doing.”
He may be young but he’s ready…to show up and show out. This CUT in Blaque artist is fresh on the scene and fresh in our minds: Kidd Kenn.
Kidd Kenn (aka Dontrell Smith) was born on January 16, 2003 in Chicago, a magnificent city that serves as the birthplace for a plethora of talented musicians. It’s a beautiful alignment that Kidd Kenn is now getting his time to shine after his early years of hustle. As an openly queer rapper, Kidd Kenn isn’t letting the masculine-ran rap scene deter him from his talent; instead, he’s working to continue to release music that embodies his charm, values, and overall grind.
Kidd Kenn got an early start to his passion for rap; he was only in middle school when he started remixing popular songs by iconic Chicago artists, such as G Herbo, Desiigner, and the late King Von. After going viral online (especially due to his iconic freestyles), Kidd Ken has gained the approval of sensational stars such as Saweetie and Kehlani. When you combine major recognition with the unwavering support of the LGBTQ community, Kidd Kenn is nicely set up for a fulfilling and impactful rap career.
Song of the Show
A CUT in Blaque segment highlighting Black LGBTQIA+ musical talent from around our community across genres through a series of artist videos, song snippets, and reviews to increase awareness amongst our people.
Kidd Kenn is widely known for being openly queer while navigating the music industry, focusing especially on the classic Chicago Drill style. While other artists such as Lil Nas X and Santana have made major moves for the LGBTQ community in music, Kidd Kenn is looking to make his own mark to impact the community. By showing up unapologetically and speaking his own truth in his lyrics, he’s well on his way to breaking down barriers for upcoming artists who identify as LGBTQ.
Currently, Kidd Kenn is still riding the wave of his EP, Problem Child, which includes the songs “Good Day” and “Moves”, the latter featuring Rico Nasty. This is his third EP released, followed by Child’s Play (2020) and Childish (2018). We see a theme going on…and we’re waiting patiently to hear his debut album! Let us know what you think about Kidd Kenn’s talent in the comments below.
Starter Pack: Kidd Kenn
Each Starter Pack playlist is a curated compilation of a Black Queer artist’s greatest musical hits, further exploring the music of the African diaspora. This includes jazz, blues, gospel, rock and roll, hip hop, and R&B.