Kodak Black
A raw and influential voice from Florida's streets whose melodic drill anthems captured a generation's struggles and triumphs.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American rapper·Birthday: June 11·Generation Z
Biography
Hailing from Pompano Beach, Florida, Kodak Black's rise was as turbulent as his music. Born Bill Kapri, he began recording tracks in his early teens, with the viral breakout 'No Flockin' becoming a slow-burn hip-hop landmark that defined the SoundCloud era's DIY ethos. His style—a slurry, emotive delivery over hard-hitting beats—was unpolished and deeply personal, chronicling street life with a vulnerability that resonated widely. Legal troubles became a persistent counterpoint to his artistic success, creating a complex narrative of talent and turmoil. Despite this, his influence is undeniable; he helped popularize Florida's distinct drill sound and has remained a chart fixture, with albums like 'Dying to Live' debuting at number one. His career embodies the contradictions of modern rap fame, where artistic authenticity and personal chaos are inextricably linked.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Kodak was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kodak Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Kodak's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His song 'No Flockin' became a cultural phenomenon and a platinum-certified drill anthem.
- Album 'Dying to Live' (2018) debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
- Received a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Song for 'Zeze' featuring Travis Scott and Offset.
- Founded his own record label, Sniper Gang, fostering other artists.
Did You Know?
He is of Haitian descent and has a tattoo of the Haitian flag on his face.
Kodak Black has been granted a pardon by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
He taught himself to play piano while in prison.
His stage name was inspired by the Kodak brand and the black tint of his gun.
“I'm not a rapper, I'm a leader. I just use rap as my tool.”
