Summary
Lakisha Kimberly Robinson (born May 10, 1990), known professionally as Kilo Kish, is an American singer-songwriter and visual artist.[1]
Kilo Kish | |
|---|---|
 Kish at the 2019 Chanel Cruise | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lakisha Kimberly Robinson |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | May 10, 1990 Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | kilokish |
Early life edit
Kilo Kish was born in Orlando, Florida, on May 10, 1990. She attended Glen Rock Elementary School in Bergen County, New Jersey, but later returned to Orlando, where she graduated from Winter Park High School.
Aged 18, she received a scholarship to attend the private art college Pratt Institute in New York. While taking a year off, she worked multiple jobs before enrolling in the Fashion Institute of Technology for textile design, from which she graduated in 2012.[2]
Kish began to pursue a musical career when her roommates, Smash Simmons and Mell McCloud, decided to set up an in-home studio, starting a project called the "Kool Kats Klub". It was through this exposure that she initially met Matt Martians of the neo-soul band The Internet, and collaborated on The Jet Age of Tomorrow's "Want you Still" and The Internet's "Ode to a Dream".[1]
Career edit
2012: Homeschool edit
Kilo Kish's debut EP, Homeschool, was released on April 2, 2012, and was well received by critics, being labeled as one of the best albums of 2012 by Complex.[3] The EP was produced by past collaborators such as The Internet and Pyramid Vritra of The Jet Age of Tomorrow, who also provided guest vocals on the project.
On July 31, Kish released "Watergun", a song produced by The Internet, via SoundCloud.
On September 17, "Navy" was released on The Blue Rider record label.[4] The release also contained a remix of "Navy" by MeLo-X. A video for "Navy", as directed by Kish with Ben Rayner, premiered on The Fader the same day.[5]
2013: K+ edit
Kish released the mixtape, K+ for free download on February 7, 2013. It featured artists including Childish Gambino, Star Slinger, SBTRKT, A$AP Ferg of A$AP Mob, Earl Sweatshirt, and Matt Martians of OFWGKTA. In December, Kish released K+ THE BOOK, a behind-the-scenes digital art zine, in extension to the mixtape.[6]
2014–2015: Across edit
Kish's second EP, Across, was released on July 8, 2014, in collaboration with the fashion and record label Maison Kitsune. In the following year, Kish released Across Remixes.
2016: Reflections in Real Time edit
Kish's first studio album, Reflections in Real Time, was released on February 29, 2016. The song, "Taking Responsibility", from the album was featured in the third episode of the HBO teenage drama television show Euphoria.
2017 edit
Kish features on "Out of Body" from the deluxe edition of the 2017 Gorillaz album Humanz as well as across the album Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples.
2018: Mothe edit
Kish released the single, "Elegance", on August 26, 2018.[7] Pitchfork named the song "Best New Track", with Sheldon Pearce commenting that "it is the best Kilo Kish song by a considerable margin, and it hones in on what makes her such an enchanting and elusive artist, using her wispy raps to drift through a warped pop jam."[8] The release of her EP, mothe, followed on September 7, 2018. On July 29, 2019, Kish released an alternative artwork for mothe which has replaced the old artwork on all digital platforms. The cover was shot by photographer Andrew Arthur, with whom she has worked in the past.
2019: Redux edit
Kish released three singles over the course of two months, beginning in October 2019. "Bite Me"[9] was released on October 17, 2019, and its music video was made available on YouTube the next day. Kish's next singles, "Nice Out",[10] and "Spark"[11] were released on November 7, and November 26, 2019, respectively. All three singles released with accompanying music videos, and were featured on Kish's EP, Redux, released on December 6, 2019. Kish described Redux as 2018 Mothe's "sister project," and has stated that the EP explores the theme of perseverance. This is also Kish's fourth collaboration with recurring producer, Ray Brady.
2021–2022: American Gurl edit
On July 23, 2021, Kish released "American Gurl", the first single from her album of the same name. The video for the song was directed by Kish herself and Matt Cowen.[12] "Bloody Future" was made available on August 20, 2021, and on January 28, 2022, Kish released her collaboration with Vince Staples, "New Tricks: Art, Aesthetics, and Money".[13] She explained that the track “was inspired by the old quote warning never to bite the hand that feeds you. And though it provides, I feel yanked around by the players, trends, and expectations of our age and industry. Ever-wanting to bite, question, and change.”[14] On March 25, 2022, Kish released the full album with 14 tracks featuring Miguel, Jean Dawson, Vince Staples, and Jesse Boykins III.
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Reflections in Real Time |
|
| American Gurl |
Mixtapes edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| K+ |
|
EPs edit
| Title | Details | Peak
chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Heat.[16] | ||
| Homeschool[17] |
|
— |
| Across[18] |
|
44 |
| Across Remixes[19] |
|
— |
| Mothe[20] |
|
— |
| Redux[21] |
|
— |
Singles edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Watergun" | 2012 | Homeschool |
| "Navy" | ||
| "Begin Route"[22] | 2014 | Across |
| "Locket"[23] | ||
| "Existential Crisis Hour"[24] | 2016 | Reflections in Real Time |
| "Obsessing"[25] | 2017 | |
| "Fulfillment"[26] | ||
| "Self Importance" | ||
| "Elegance"[27] | 2018 | Mothe |
| "Void"[28] | ||
| "Like Honey" | 2019 | |
| "Bite Me"[29] | Redux | |
| "Nice Out" | ||
| "Spark"[30] | ||
| "American Gurl" | 2021 | American Gurl |
| "Bloody Future"[31] | ||
| "New Tricks: Art, Aesthetics, and Money" (featuring Vince Staples)[32] |
2022 | |
| "No Apology!" | ||
| "Death Fantasy" (featuring Miguel) |
Music Videos edit
| Music Video | Year | Director(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Navy" | 2012 | Ben Rayner & Kish Robinson | Homeschool |
| "Begin Route" | 2014 | Phillip T. Annand & Kish Robinson | Across |
| "Locket" | |||
| "Existential Crisis Hour" | 2016 | Kish Robinson, Brian Mitchell & Burke Doreen | Reflections in Real Time |
| "Hello, Lakisha" | Yong oh Kim & Kish Robinson | ||
| "Obsessing" | 2017 | Elliot Sellers & Kish Robinson | |
| "Fulfillment" | Kish Robinson | ||
| "Elegance" | 2018 | Mothe | |
| "Void" | Elliot Sellers & Kish Robinson | ||
| "Like Honey" | 2019 | Kish Robinson | |
| "Bite Me" | Redux | ||
| "Nice Out" | |||
| "Spark" | |||
| "American Gurl" | 2021 | Kish Robinson & Matt Cowen | American Gurl |
| "Bloody Future" | Kish Robinson |
Guest appearances edit
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Want You Still" | 2010 | The Jet Age of Tomorrow | Journey to the 5th Echelon |
| "Ode to a Dream" | 2011 | The Internet, Coco O. | Purple Naked Ladies |
| "Phat Wemin" | Vince Staples | Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1 | |
| "Make It Go Right" | 2012 | Childish Gambino | Royalty |
| "JupiterSound" | Flatbush Zombies | D.R.U.G.S | |
| "Not So Scary" | 2013 | The Jet Age of Tomorrow | JellyFish Mentality |
| "II. Zealots of Stockholm (Free Information)" | Childish Gambino | Because the Internet | |
| "Melt" | 2014 | Chet Faker | Built on Glass |
| "Gripp" | George Maple | Vacant Space | |
| "Follow" | 2015 | Étienne de Crécy | Super Discount 3 |
| "Dopeman" | Vince Staples, Joey Fatts | Summertime '06 | |
| "Surf" | Vince Staples | ||
| "Jaco (Big Dope J Remix)" | Nick Hook, Todd Edwards | Collage v.1 Remixes | |
| "The Beginning" | MeLo-X | Curate | |
| "Loco" | 2016 | Vince Staples | Prima Donna |
| "Out of Body" | 2017 | Gorillaz, Zebra Katz, Imani Vonshà | Humanz |
| "Crabs in a Bucket" | Vince Staples, Justin Vernon | Big Fish Theory | |
| "Love Can Be..." | Vince Staples, Damon Albarn, Ray J | ||
| "Ramona Park is Yankee Stadium" | Vince Staples | ||
| "Homage" | |||
| "Samo" | Vince Staples, ASAP Rocky |
References edit
- ^ a b Nostro, Lauren (August 3, 2012). "Who is Kilo Kish?". Complex.com. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ "Kilo Kish Interview: Her Metamorphosis Is a Trip Worth Listening". Highsnobiety. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ "Kilo Kish, Homeschool EP - The 50 Best Albums of 2012 (So Far)". Complex. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ The Blue Rider (September 17, 2012). "We are really excited to announce our second single". blueridermusic.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ^ Duncan Cooper (September 17, 2012). "Video: Kilo Kish, "Navy"". FADER.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ^ "Kilo Kish Releases K+ THE BOOK, a Behind-the-Scenes Digital Art Zine for Her Mixtape". Complex. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^ Elegance, retrieved 2018-08-31
- ^ ""Elegance" by Kilo Kish Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ BITE ME, music video. Retrieved 2019-12-02
- ^ NICE OUT, music video. Retrieved 2019-12-02
- ^ SPARK, music video. Retrieved 2019-12-02
- ^ KILO KISH - AMERICAN GURL (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO), retrieved 2022-02-19
- ^ "Kilo Kish Teaches Us "NEW TRICKS: ART AESTHETICS, AND MONEY" Featuring Vince Staples". HotNewHipHop. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ "Kilo Kish and Vince Staples Share Song "New Tricks: Art, Aesthetics, and Money"". Pitchfork. 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ "NO APOLOGY! from 𝒜𝓂𝑒𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒢𝓊𝓇𝓁 out now. In short it's a song about not denying the core truths of who you are for fear of others or yourself. Each line is for people, situations, and systems in my orbit that have caused me a lot of harm, including myself. Mixed media portraits with help from — @mattcowen @ashleyfurnival @rodarte 𝒜𝓂𝑒𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒢𝓊𝓇𝓁 the album, out 3/25". Retrieved February 28, 2022 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Kilo Kish". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ Kilo Kish – Homeschool (2012, 320 kbps, File), retrieved 2021-02-07
- ^ Kitsuné, Maison. "Across". Maison Kitsuné. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ Kitsuné, Maison. "Across (Remixes)". Maison Kitsuné. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ Kilo Kish – Mothe (Black, Yellow, Orange, Vinyl), retrieved 2021-02-07
- ^ Kilo Kish – Redux (2020, Pink, Vinyl), retrieved 2021-02-07
- ^ "Kilo Kish - Begin Route". HYPEBEAST. 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ "Kilo Kish, 'Locket': Exclusive Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ "Join Kilo Kish For A Catastrophic Breakfast In Her "Existential Crisis Hour" Video". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ Dazed (2017-01-17). "Get obsessed with Kilo Kish's new video". Dazed. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ Hahn, Rachel. "In "Fulfillment," Kilo Kish Trades Her Trademark Suit for a Frilly Pink Gown". Vogue. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ Listen to "Elegance" by Kilo Kish, retrieved 2021-02-07
- ^ Smith-Strickland, Stephanie (2018-10-08). "kilo kish has a bloody battle with her evil twin in 'void'". i-D. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ "Listen to Kilo Kish's new single "Bite Me"". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ "Listen to Kilo Kish's new track, "Spark"". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ "Kilo Kish goes '80s retro on new single "Bloody Future": Stream". Consequence. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ Valentine, Claire. "Kilo Kish On Making "New Tricks" With Vince Staples". Nylon. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
External links edit
- Kilo Kish on SoundCloud
- Kilo Kish discography at Discogs
