Background and career
Bill Kahan Kapri (born Dieuson Octave; June 11, 1997), known professionally as Kodak Black, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Pompano Beach, Florida, he gained initial recognition following the release of his 2014 songs "No Flockin" and "Skrt", both of which led him to sign a recording contract with Atlantic Records. The former received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) while the latter received platinum certification; "No Flockin" marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 two years later as a sleeper hit. His 2017 single "Tunnel Vision" saw further commercial success, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It preceded the release of his debut studio album Painting Pictures (2017), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. His debut commercial mixtape (and fifth overall), Project Baby 2, was released that same year and peaked at number two on the chart, also spawning the triple platinum-certified single "Roll in Peace" (featuring XXXTentacion). His second album, Dying to Live (2018), yielded his furthest commercial success; it peaked atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the single "Zeze" (featuring Travis Scott and Offset), which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, received sextuple platinum certification by the RIAA, and remains his highest-charting song. Following the release of his third album Bill Israel (2020) while incarcerated, his 2021 single, "Super Gremlin", peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on his fourth album, Back for Everything (2022), followed by his fifth album and final project for Atlantic, Pistolz & Pearlz (2023). He then signed with Capitol Records to release his next three albums—When I Was Dead (2023), Just Getting Started (2025), and Kodak the Blessing (2026), before announcing that he was going to release music independently. Kodak Black's career has been marked by periods of mainstream success, as well as public controversies and legal issues. Although he remains as a largely successful artist and a high-profile figure within the hip-hop scene in Florida, his career has been marred by legal troubles that predate his musical career. Kodak Black was accused of rape in 2016 and faced the charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in South Carolina. He was given a plea bargain in 2021 to the lesser offense of assault and battery and was sentenced to probation. In 2019, he was arrested for making false statements to possess weapons and was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison; his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2021. He was later arrested in May 2026 and arraigned in court on drug trafficking charges.
Kodak Black was born Dieuson Octave on June 11, 1997, to Haitian immigrant Marcelene Octave in Pompano Beach, Florida. He was raised by his mother in Golden Acres, a public housing project in Pompano Beach. Kodak Black is a known childhood friend of fellow Golden Acres native and professional football player Lamar Jackson; the two went to elementary school together and were close friends growing up. Kodak Black started rapping in elementary school and began to go to a local trap house after school to record music. He spent his youth reading thesauruses and dictionaries to further his vocabulary. Kodak Black frequently participated in brawls and breaking and entering with his friends. He was expelled from school in the fifth grade for fighting and was arrested for auto theft while in middle school. About his upbringing, he said that he was given two options: "sell drugs with a gun on his hip or rap". From the age of six, Kodak Black used the nickname "Black". He also used the nickname "Lil' Black". When he joined Instagram he chose the username "Kodak Black", "...'cause you know Kodak, that's pictures and all that." This later became his stage name when he started to rap and is the name favored by his fans.
In 2009, at age 12, Kodak Black joined a rap group called Brutal Youngnz, under the stage name J-Black. He then joined a local rap group called The Kolyons. In December 2013, Kodak Black released his first mixtape, Project Baby, followed in December 2014 with the mixtape Heart of the Projects, and in December 2015 with the mixtape Institution. In October 2015, Canadian rapper Drake posted a video of himself dancing to one of Kodak Black's songs, "Skrt", which helped him gain popularity despite objections from other rappers such as Earl Sweatshirt. That same month, he signed a deal with Atlantic Records. In May 2016, Kodak Black and fellow American rapper Lil Uzi Vert announced their intention to partner for a national tour called the "Parental Advisory Tour"; however, Kodak Black did not appear on the tour.
In May 2016, he guest appeared on French Montana's single "Lockjaw", which peaked at 23 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and was included on Montana's commercial mixtape MC4. In August 2016, Kodak Black's single "Skrt" reached number 10 on Billboard's "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles" chart. In June 2016, he released his fourth mixtape, Lil B.I.G. Pac, which became his first mixtape to chart on Billboard, reaching number 49 on the "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart and number 18 on the Heatseakers Albums chart. In June 2016, Kodak Black was named one of XXL magazine's "2016 Freshman Class". In August 2016, Kodak Black was criticized when a studio session video was released showing him ridiculing dark-skinned black women with lyrics that implied those women were less attractive than light-skinned black women, which is considered a type of misogynoir—anti-Black hatred towards women. In 2016, Kodak Black released the song "Can I" while incarcerated. On February 17, 2017, Kodak Black released the single "Tunnel Vision". The song debuted at number 27 and peaked at number 6, becoming Kodak Black's first top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Canadian Hot 100. On March 31, 2017, Kodak Black released his debut studio album Painting Pictures. The album reached 3 on the Billboard 200 and sold 71,000 equivalent units first week, a record for Kodak Black. While discussing rappers and fellow 2016 XXL Freshmen, Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty, Kodak Black created controversy when he insulted them whilst conducting a livestream on Instagram. Lil Uzi Vert replied stating that he was not bothered by the insult and that he still "fucked with" Kodak Black. He released the follow-up to Project Baby, Project Baby 2, on August 18, 2017. In November 2017, Kodak Black released a deluxe version of Project Baby 2 titled Project Baby 2: All Grown Up. The single from the deluxe version, "Codeine Dreaming", peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In January 2018, Kodak Black was arrested following a raid on his Florida home. Kodak Black later released the Heart Break Kodak mixtape on Valentine's Day. On December 14, 2018, Kodak Black released his second album Dying to Live. The album was led by the successful single "Zeze" which featured rappers Travis Scott and Offset, as well as "If I'm Lyin, I'm Flyin", "Take One" and "Calling My Spirit". The album also featured rapper Lil Pump on "Gnarly", rapper Juice WRLD on "MoshPit", and paid tribute to deceased rapper XXXTentacion. "Zeze" peaked at number 2 on the Hot 100, then "Calling My Spirit", also from the album, peaked at number 46. Dying to Live as a whole was on the Billboard 200 chart for 15 weeks, and peaked at number 1 for a week. On October 25, 2019, Kodak Black released "Zombie" with NLE Choppa and DB Omerta. On February 14, 2020, Kodak Black released "Because of You", followed by a music video for the song. Kodak Black then claimed that if the song was certified platinum by his birthday, then he would release an album. On May 12, 2020, he released the single "Vultures Cry 2", featuring WizDaWizard and Mike Smiff. On November 11, 2020, Kodak returned with his third album, Bill Israel, while serving a prison sentence.
On January 23, 2021, he released the single, "Last Day In", in which he addresses his release from prison due to his pardon from President Donald Trump. He released the single, "Every Balmain", on February 6, 2021, in which he discusses life post-prison. On February 19, he was featured on Lil Yachty's single, "Hit Bout It", which was released alongside a music video. Kodak released a mixtape titled Haitian Boy Kodak on May 14, 2021. The project's cover art pays tribute to his Haitian pride. Kodak voiced frustration at the mixtape only moving 22,000 units in its first week, claiming that listeners had turned their backs on gangsta rap. Kodak released his next project, Happy Birthday Kodak, on June 11, 2021, his twenty-fourth birthday. On November 1, 2021, Kodak released a music video for the song "Super Gremlin", from Syko Bob and Snapkatt's Halloween-themed mixtape, Sniper Gang Presents Syko Bob & Snapkatt: Nightmare Babies, an 11-track project, of which Kodak appears on eight tracks. "Super Gremlin" became a hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also included on Kodak's fourth studio album Back for Everything, which released on February 25, 2022. The project proceeded to peak at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Months later, following the release of his viral singles "Walk/Spin", Kodak announced his departure from Atlantic Records and that he would sign to Capitol Records for an eight-figure record deal. Kodak's final project with Atlantic, Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1 was released on October 28, 2022. The mixtape proceeded to peak at number 8 on the Billboard 200. Kodak Black collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on "Silent Hill" from the latter's double album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022). Due to Kodak Black's conviction involving the 2016 sexual assault case which was reduced to first-degree assault, both performers generated greater controversy.
