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Kenny Beats

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Kenny Beats
Kenny Beats at Hard Summer 2019
Kenny Beats at Hard Summer 2019
Background information
Birth nameKenneth Charles Blume III
BornMay 10, 1991 (1991-05-10) (age 33)
Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • DJ
  • audio engineer
  • songwriter
Formerly ofLoudpvck
WebsiteKenny Beats on Instagram Edit this at Wikidata

Kenneth Charles Blume III (born May 10, 1991), known professionally as Kenny Beats, is an American record producer, DJ, audio engineer, and songwriter.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Kenneth Blume III was born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. He has been studying music since the age of 9 when he started playing the guitar, playing drums since the age of 11, and producing music since his sophomore year of high school.[3][4] His first guitar was a Fender Stratocaster and his first amplifier was a Fender Hot-Rod Deluxe.[5] During his junior year at Greenwich High School, he was able to enter a national electronic-music competition hosted by the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA).[3][6] Blume III won second place in the competition, which motivated him to start taking music production seriously.[3][6]

After he graduated high school, he moved to New York, where he started interning for Cinematic Music Group in the summer of 2010.[3] His internship at CMG led to his collaboration with artist Smoke DZA on 4 of his albums.[3] It was also during the year 2010 when his music attracted the attention of Levi Maestro, leading to their collaboration on an ad campaign for Brisk.[3] After spending some time in New York, he moved to Boston and studied jazz guitar and music business at Berklee College of Music.[4]

Musical style

[edit]

Kenny's production style varies. His digital audio workstation (DAW) of choice is Ableton Live. He plays piano, bass guitar, electric guitar[7] and drums and often implements live instrumentation into his instrumentals, whether it performed by him or from a fellow instrumentalist.[8][9]

A lot of his productions credits often fall into the Trap music sub-genre of hip-hop, commonly using 16th/8th note hi-hats with slight variation (such as rolls), hard-hitting kick drums, snares & booming 808 bass shots. He also explores more versatile instrumentation, tempos, production styles etc. such as with the likes of the more laid back and instrumental approach of songs such as singer Dominic Fike's "Phone Numbers" which contains a live guitar sample (performed by SNL lead guitarist Jared Scharff)[9] and a more acoustic feel, backed by a Virtual Studio Technology (VST) version of a real electric bass within Ableton Live that plays the bass line, provided via the Kontakt (sampler) VST. Another style of his production leans to a more experimental sound, found within his collaborative project with rapper Denzel Curry, Unlocked which contains many spoken word samples scattered throughout the tracks and a more disjointed feel, provided by various creative implementations of obscure musical samples found throughout the project. His songs often begin with the producer tag "Whoa, Kenny!", which was originally said by the Atlanta rapper KEY!, who is a frequent collaborator of Kenny's.[10]

Loudpvck

[edit]
Main article: Loudpvck

In 2009, while attending Berklee College of Music, Kenny met Ryan Marks, a DJ. These two became friends, and in 2012, they decided to form the EDM duo Loudpvck.[11] Marks ultimately left the group in 2017 while Kenny transitioned from being an EDM producer to a hip-hop producer.

Social media presence

[edit]

Kenny calls his studio The Cave, and beginning in March 2019, launched a YouTube series of the same name, in which he invites artists to rap 16-32 bars over a custom beat he creates during the video. Usually, the artists are people that he already has experience with, or, is already friends with.[12] The Cave is known for showcasing not only these artists' lyricism, but their personalities. In addition to being his studio and the name of his YouTube series, The Cave is also the home to D.O.T.S. (Don't Over Think Shit), a creative group and brand that assists artists with their artistic vision.[13]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
SCO
[14] 		UK
Ind.
[15] 		UK
R&B
[16]
Louie 49 10 2

Collaborative albums

Extended plays

[edit]
Title EP details Peak chart positions
US
[18] 		AUS
[19] 		CAN
[20] 		IRE
[21] 		NZ
[22]
Unlocked
(with Denzel Curry)
  • Released: February 7, 2020
  • Label: PH, Loma Vista
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 100 33 82 87 38

Production discography

[edit]
Year Artist Album Song
2010 Smoke DZA Substance Abuse 1.5: The Headstash "Headstash" (featuring Den10)
George Kush Da Button "Continental Kush Breakfast" (featuring Den10)
2011 Smoke DZA The Hustler's Catalog "Profit" (produced with 183rd)
Rolling Stoned "Ball Game" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) (produced with 183rd)
"Pow Wow" (featuring Dom Kennedy) (produced with 183rd)
Sweet Baby Kushed God "Smokey Klause" (produced with 183rd)
Skeme Before My Next Statement "Truth"
2012 ScHoolboy Q Non-album single "Party"
Smoke DZA K.O.N.Y "Diamond" (featuring Ab-Soul)
Skeme Alive & Living "Everything on Me"
Jet Life Jet World Order 2 "24 Hrs" (featuring Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy)
2014 Ab-Soul These Days... "Hunnid Stax" (featuring ScHoolboy Q)
2016 Lucki Son of Sam "Double Check"
"His Only..."
Skywlkr Joints "3 Drugs" (featuring Kenny Beats) [produced with Skywlkr]
2017 Lucki Non-album single "Live It"
Hoodrich Pablo Juan and Kenny Beats South Dark[23] "Dead End"
"Everyday
"Ruthless" (featuring Duke)
"Do This"
"C Sick"
"3 Point Stance"
"Hood" (featuring Baby Uiie)
DJ Lucas Non-album single "Big Dope"[24]
Lil Wop Wopavelli 3 "Topgolf"
"Dope Man"
"Walking Dead"
"Friday the 13th"
"Grow Up"
"Xans" (produced with ChaseTheMoney)
2018 YoungBoy Never Broke Again Until Death Call My Name "Traumatized" (produced with Judge)
Key! and Kenny Beats 777 "Demolition 1 + 2"
"Hater"
"Blurry"
"Boss"
"Move"
"Famous"
"It Gets Better"
"Kelly Price Freestyle"
"Love on Ice"
"Dig It"
"Toronto"
"True Love Interlude"
"Control'"
"Twisted"
"Squeamish"
Freddie Gibbs Freddie "Automatic"
"Death Row" (featuring 03 Greedo) [produced with Freddie Kane]
"Set Set"
"Toe Tag"
"FBC" (produced with A. Lau and Tony Seltzer)
Zack Fox Non-album single "Square Up"
Vince Staples FM![25] "Feels Like Summer"
"Outside!"
"Don't Get Chipped" (produced with Cubeatz)
"New earlsweatshirt"
"FUN!" (produced with Hagler)
"No bleedin"
"Brand New Tyga"
"(562) 453-9382"
"Tweakin" (produced with KillaGraham)
JPEGMafia and Kenny Beats Not on Veteran! "Puff Daddy"
10k.Caash The Creator "Mutumbo" (featuring Rico Nasty)
"Aloha" (featuring GUN40)
JID DiCaprio 2[26] "Slick Talk" (produced with EWonder and Christo)
Ski Mask the Slump God Stokeley "Foot Fungus" (produced with Roofeeo)[27]
"Unbothered"
2019 Rico Nasty and Kenny Beats Anger Management "Cold"
"Cheat Code" (featuring Baauer)
"Hatin"
""Big Titties" (featuring Baauer & EARTHGANG)
"Nasty World (skit)"
"Relative"
"Mood" (featuring Splurge)
"Sell Out"
"Again"
Zack Fox and Kenny Beats Non-album single "Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression)"[28]
Dominic Fike[29] Non-album single

"Phone Numbers"[30]

Ed Sheeran No.6 Collaborations Project "Take Me Back to London" (featuring Stormzy) (produced with Skrillex and FRED)[31]
Gucci Mane Delusions of Grandeur "Proud of You" (produced with Nils)[32]
"Us"[33]
Rexx Life Raj Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There "Moonwalk"[34]
Yung Bans Misunderstood "Touch the Stars (featuring Lil TJay)"[35]
FKA twigs Magdalene "Holy Terrain (feat. Future)" (produced with FKA twigs, Jack Antonoff, Skrillex, Sounwave, Lewis Roberts, and Noah Goldstein)[36]
DaBaby Kirk "Toes (featuring Lil Baby & Moneybagg Yo)" (produced with Queen Sixties)[37]
Smino Non-album single "Trina" (produced with Lido)
03 Greedo and Kenny Beats Netflix and Deal "Traffic" (produced with Captain Crunch)
"Paid in Full" (produced with Nils)
"Disco Shit" (featuring Freddie Gibbs)
"Maria" (produced with 1Mind)
"Blue People" (featuring Vince Staples)
"Beg Your Pardon" (featuring Maxo Kream)
"Honey I Shrunk The Kids"
"Brad Pitt" (produced with Nils)
"Aye Twin" (featuring Key!) (produced with Dylan Brady)
"Life"
"Payback" (featuring OhGeesy) (produced with Judge Beats)
"Soul Food" (featuring Buddy) (produced with Elijah Rawk)
"Dead Presidents"
2020 Key Glock Yellow Tape "Loaded"
Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats UNLOCKED

"Track 01"

"Take_it_Back_v2"
"Lay_Up.m4a"
"Pyro (leak 2019)"
"DIET_"
"So.Incredible.pkg"
"Track07"
"'Cosmic'.m4a"
Deb Never and Kenny Beats Non-album single "Stone Cold"
James Vickery Overture "Tear It Apart"
ICECOLDBISHOP and Kenny Beats Non-album single "DICKIES SUIT"
"TRICK DADDY"
Slowthai Non-album single "MAGIC"
Aitch Polaris "Safe to Say" (produced with Cubeatz)
IDLES Ultra Mono "Grounds"
Trash Talk and Kenny Beats Squalor "Point No Point"
"Something Wicked"
"Worst of Times"
"Clutch/A.N.M."
"Kicking and Screaming"
SL Selhurst SE25 "Bad Luck"
"Little Bird"
"Leave Me Alone"
Smino, JID, and Kenny Beats Non-album single "Baguetti"
Dominic Fike What Could Possibly Go Wrong "Florida"
James Vincent McMorrow and Kenny Beats Grapefruit Season "I Should Go"
Joji Nectar "Mr. Hollywood"
Fivio Foreign and Kenny Beats Non-album single "Bop It" (featuring Polo G)
Benee Hey U X[38] "Night Garden"
Mae Muller no one else, not even you "Plot Twist"
Bastille Goosebumps EP[39] "Goosebumps"
2021 Flo Milli You Still Here, Ho? "Roaring 20s"
347aidan Non-album single "IDWK"
Slowthai TYRON "Focus" (produced with Dominic Maker)
"Terms (featuring Dominic Fike & Denzel Curry)" (produced with Dominic Maker and JD. Reid)
Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats Unlocked 1.5 "So.Incredible.pkg (Robert Glasper Version)"(featuring Smino and Robert Glasper)
"Track07 (Georgia Anne Muldrow Version)" (featuring Arlo Parks)
"'Cosmic'.m4a (The Alchemist Version)" (featuring Joey Badass)
"Take_it_Back_v2 (Charlie Heat Version)"
"Pyro (Sango Leak)" (featuring Kenny Mason)
"Lay_Up.m4a (Jay Versace Version)"
"DIET_1.5" (featuring Benny the Butcher)
"Take_it_Back_v2 (GODMODE 950 Version)"
Vince Staples Vince Staples "ARE YOU WITH THAT?" (produced with Reske)
"LAW OF AVERAGES" (produced with Reske)
"SUNDOWN TOWN"
"THE SHINING" (produced with WahWah James and Harper Gordon)
"TAKING TRIPS" (produced with Monte Booker)
"THE APPLE & THE TREE"
"TAKE ME HOME"
"LIL FADE"
"LAKEWOOD MALL"
"MHM" (produced with Nils)
IDLES CRAWLER "MTT 420 RR"
"The Wheel"
"When the Lights Come On"
"Car Crash
"The New Sensation"
"Stockholm Syndrome"
"The Beachland Ballroom"
"Crawl!"
"Meds"
"Kelechi"
"Progress"
"Wizz"
"King Snake"
"The End"
Roddy Ricch Live Life Fast "Murda One" (featuring Fivio Foreign) (produced with Nils)
Isaiah Rashad The House Is Burning "Score" (featuring SZA and 6LACK)
Non-album single "200/Warning" (produced with Nabeyin, Amaire Johnson, Rory Behr & Almatic)
ALLBLACK TY4FWM "Ego" (featuring Drakeo the Ruler)
Fivio Foreign Non-album single "Unruly"
Ski Mask the Slump God Sin City The Mixtape "Merlin's Staff"
Offset Jim and Kenny Beats Rich Off The Pack "Face Card"
Remi Wolf Juno "Front Tooth"
Remble It's Remble "Book Bag" (featuring BlueBucksClan)
"Firesticc" (featuring B.A.)
2022 Vince Staples Ramona Park Broke My Heart "THE BEACH"
"DJ QUIK"
"MAGIC (featuring Mustard)"
"EAST POINT PRAYER (featuring Lil Baby)"
"LEMONADE (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)"
"BANG THAT (featuring Mustard)"
"ROSE STREET"
"THE BLUES"
Denzel Curry Melt My Eyez See Your Future "Troubles" (featuring T-Pain)
"Larger Than Life" [extended edition track]
Dermot Kennedy Sonder "Homeward"
Freddie Gibbs $oul $old $eparately "Ice Cream" (featuring Rick Ross) [bonus edition track]
Benee Lychee "Soft Side"
TiaCorine I Can't Wait "Chaka Khan" (featured artist)
Alexander 23 Non-album single "ill" (featured artist)
Benny Sings Young Hearts "The Only One"
"The World"
2023 "Young Hearts"
Dominic Fike Sunburn "Dancing In The Courthouse"
"Mona Lisa"
Quavo Rocket Power "Fueled Up"
Knucks Non-album single "I Suppose" (featuring Larry June)
IDLES TANGK "Dancer" (featuring LCD Soundsystem)
"Grace"
2024 "Gift Horse"
"IDEA 01"
"POP POP POP"
"Roy"
"A Gospel"
"Hall & Oates"
"Jungle"
"Gratitude"
"Monolith"
Kenny Mason Non-album single "100%"
Dermot Kennedy I've Told the Trees Everything "Lessons"
Rachel Chinouriri What a Devastating Turn of Events "Dumb Bitch Juice"
Anycia PRINCESS POP THAT "EAT!"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Collura, Jay (June 9, 2022). "Review: Kenny Beats exhibits his producing prowess on 'Louie'". ricethresher.org. The Rice Thresher. Retrieved September 9, 2022. Other testaments to Kenny's instrumental talent come later on in the record, such as in "That Third Thing," which exchanges the typical vocal melody for a propelling bassline from R&B and soul artist Thundercat.
  2. ^ Holmes, Charles (January 20, 2019). "Kenny Beats Is a Rap Therapist Who Will Also Make You a Great Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Biography | www.kennybeats.com". December 13, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Schwartz, Danny (December 14, 2018). "How Kenny Beats Became the Hottest Rap Producer on the Planet". The Ringer. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  5. ^ "The Amazing Producer and Songwriter Kenny Beats Demonstrates How the American Professional II Telecaster Is a Perfect Studio Guitar | Fender". www.fender.com. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "2008 NSBA Student Electronic Music Composition Talent Search Winners". NAfME. May 23, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "Kenny Beats - How to Make a Guitar Sample - Tutorial - Live (03/31/20) 🔥🔥 - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "quarantine - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "[Kenny Beats] Phone Numbers - Dominic Fike | Breakdown". YouTube. 15 July 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "Kenny Beats Is Hip-Hop Production's Prodigal Son". Pitchfork. November 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  11. ^ Watson, Elijah (August 27, 2018). "Kenny Beats Wants To Be Rap's Quincy Jones [Interview]". OkayPlayer. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  12. ^ Dazed (October 21, 2019). "Kenny Beats' guide to producing a legendary rap freestyle". Dazed. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  13. ^ "Kenny Beats". Universal Music Publishing Group. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. February 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. February 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. February 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  17. ^ Bailey, Elizabeth (August 25, 2022). "Kenny Beats unveils details of debut solo album, Louie". NME. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  18. ^ "Denzel Curry Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". ARIA. February 17, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "Denzel Curry Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 14 February 2020". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  22. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. February 17, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "South Dark - EP by HoodRich Pablo Juan & Kenny Beats on Apple Music". Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  24. ^ Fay, Seamus (August 26, 2017). "DJ Lucas – "Big Dope" [Prod. Kenny Beats]". graduationmusic.org. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  25. ^ "FM! - Vince Staples | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  26. ^ "DiCaprio 2 - JID | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 14, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  27. ^ Ski Mask the Slump God – Foot Fungus, archived from the original on October 2, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  28. ^ Zack Fox & Kenny Beats – Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression), archived from the original on October 2, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  29. ^ "Now or Never: The Chaotic Rise of Dominic Fike". Complex. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  30. ^ "Dominic Fike and Kenny Beats link up on "Phone Numbers"". The FADER. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  31. ^ Ed Sheeran (Ft. Stormzy) – Take Me Back to London, archived from the original on June 8, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  32. ^ Gucci Mane – Proud of You, archived from the original on November 2, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  33. ^ Gucci Mane – Us, archived from the original on July 23, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  34. ^ Rexx Life Raj & Kenny Beats – Moonwalk, archived from the original on October 2, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  35. ^ Yung Bans (Ft. Lil Tjay) – Touch The Stars, archived from the original on July 24, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  36. ^ FKA twigs (Ft. Future) – holy terrain, archived from the original on October 2, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  37. ^ DaBaby (Ft. Lil Baby & Moneybagg Yo) – TOES, archived from the original on September 24, 2019, retrieved October 2, 2019
  38. ^ Langford, Jackson (October 15, 2020). "BENEE announces debut album 'Hey u x', with guest artists Grimes and Lily Allen". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  39. ^ Lavin, Will (December 4, 2020). "Bastille surprise fans with new 'Goosebumps' EP". NME. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
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