kid ink

Brian Todd Collins, known as Kid Ink, was born on April 1, 1986, in Los Angeles, California. His career in music began behind the scenes during his teenage years, where he focused on producing hip-hop beats and tracks. This early work was influenced by artists like Pharrell Williams and Swizz Beatz, whose diverse production and songwriting approaches broadened his musical perspective. Collins secured his first genuine production credit for a Nipsey Hussle single in 2008. At the age of 22, he transitioned to rapping full-time, initially under the stage name Rockstar, before changing it to Kid Ink. He released his first official mixtape, “World Tour,” on February 1, 2010, which attracted the attention of DJ Ill Will, a founder of HotNewHipHop. This led to his signing with Tha Alumni Group and 88 Classic.

Kid Ink’s independent releases continued to build his profile, with mixtapes such as “Crash Landing,” “Daydreamer,” and “Wheels Up” in 2011, featuring collaborations with artists like Roscoe Dash, Ty Dolla Sign, Meek Mill, and 2 Chainz. His rising prominence was recognized in February 2012 when he was featured in XXL’s Freshman class, alongside other notable emerging artists. On June 12, 2012, he released his debut studio album, “Up & Away,” which debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200. This album included singles “Time of Your Life” and “Lost in the Sauce.” Later that year, he released his fifth mixtape, “Rocketshipshawty.”

In January 2013, Kid Ink signed with RCA Records, marking a significant turn in his career. His first major label single, “Bad Ass,” featuring Meek Mill and Wale, was released that same month and charted on the Billboard Hot 100. This was followed by the EP “Almost Home” in May 2013, which reached number 27 on the Billboard 200 and contained the track “Money and the Power,” used in HBO’s “Hard Knocks” and “NBA Live 14,” as well as WrestleMania 31. His second album, “My Own Lane,” released in January 2014, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. It featured the quadruple-platinum single “Show Me” with Chris Brown, which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and other successful singles like “Iz U Down” and “Main Chick.” His third studio album, “Full Speed,” was released in February 2015, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard 200, and included platinum-certified singles “Body Language” (featuring Usher and Tinashe) and “Be Real” (featuring Dej Loaf). In December 2015, he released the commercial mixtape “Summer in the Winter,” which included the double platinum-certified single “Promise” featuring Fetty Wap.