Kenny Beats
Kenneth Charles Blume III (born May 10, 1991), known professionally as Kenny Beats, is an American record producer and songwriter. He has produced songs with Tisakorean, Zack Fox, Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, KEY!, Gucci Mane, Ski Mask the Slump God, Dominic Fike, Denzel Curry, Rico Nasty and JPEGMafia, among many others.[1]
Kenny Beats | |
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Kenny Beats at Hard Summer 2019 music festival | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Kenneth Charles Blume III |
Born | Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. | May 10, 1991
Genres | Hip hop |
Instruments | |
Associated acts |
Early life
Blume was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, and grew up there. He started playing guitar at the age of 9 and began drumming at the age of 11. After he came 2nd in a national electronic music competition, he began to take music seriously.[2] After he graduated high school he moved to New York, where he interned for Cinematic Music Group's Jonny Shipes where he produced songs for the likes of Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.[3] After spending some time in NY, he moved to Boston and studied Jazz Guitar and Music Business at Berklee College of Music.[4]
Musical style
Kenny is known to tailor his production to artists' requests, helping them develop their own individual sound. He handles vocal production as well as instrumental and frequently mixes and masters the final products. His YouTube series "The Cave" highlights his frequent use of Ableton Live.
His songs often begin with the tagline "Woah, Kenny!".[5]
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.[6] The group had a successful run, releasing plenty of successful original music, but solidified themselves as a force once they collaborated with bigger artists, such as NGHTMRE and Zeds Dead. In 2017, the two parted ways and went on to pursue solo endeavors.
Social media presence
Kenny calls his studio "The Cave", and beginning in March 2019, Kenny launched a YouTube series of the same name called "The Cave", 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.[7] They come in, tell him what kind of beat they want, and in 10 to 15 minutes, he'll have something ready that caters to that particular style. The Cave is known for showcasing not only these artists' lyricism, but their personalities. As of April 1, 2020, Kenny has uploaded 23 episodes and amassed just over 31 million views. Guests of "The Cave" include Vince Staples, JPEGMafia, Freddie Gibbs, Rico Nasty, EARTHGANG, Lil Yachty, Maxo Kream, Smino, Monte Booker, KEY!, Denzel Curry, Zack Fox, Boogie, Doja Cat, Thundercat, Danny Brown, 6lack, Slowthai, Teejayx6, Boldy James, Alchemist, Sada Baby, Marc Rebillet, Omar Apollo, and Joji. 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 that assists artists with their artistic vision.[8]
In August 2019, Kenny appeared on a video via JPEGMafia's YouTube channel to listen to and review his new studio album, All My Heroes Are Cornballs.
In March 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus epidemic, Kenny started a Twitch stream where he makes beats, breaks down famous songs he has produced, talks with other artists and producers, and shares advice relating to both music and the music industry, garnering thousands of daily viewers.
Production discography
2010
- Smoke DZA - Substance Abuse 1.5: The Headstash
- 02. "Headstash" (featuring Den10)
- Smoke DZA - George Kush Da Button
- 01. "Continental Kush Breakfast" (featuring Den10)
2011
- Smoke DZA - The Hustler's Catalog
- 14. "Profit" (produced with 183rd)
- Smoke DZA - Rolling Stoned
- 05. "Ball Game" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) (produced with 183rd)
- 09. "Pow Wow" (featuring Dom Kennedy) (produced with 183rd)
- Skeme - Before My Next Statement
- 05. "Truth"
- Smoke DZA - Sweet Baby Kushed God
- 01. "Smokey Klause" (produced with 183rd)
2012
- "Party"
- Smoke DZA - K.O.N.Y.
- 09. "Diamond" (featuring Ab-Soul)
- Skeme - Alive & Living
- 16. "Everything On Me"
- 06. "24 Hrs" (featuring Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy)
2016
- 01. "Double Check"
- 02. "His Only..."
- Skywlkr - Joints
- 01. "3 Drugs" (featuring Kenny Beats) [produced with Skywlkr]
2017
- Lucki -
- "Live It"
- Hoodrich Pablo Juan and Kenny Beats - South Dark[9]
- 01. "Dead End"
- 02. "Everyday"
- 03. "Ruthless" (featuring Duke)
- 04. "Do This"
- 05. "C Sick"
- 06. "3 Point Stance"
- 07. "Hood" (featuring Baby Uiie)
- DJ Lucas -
- "Big Dope"[10]
- Lil Wop - Wopavelli 3
- 05. "Topgolf"
- 09. "Dope Man"
- 10. "Walking Dead"
- 11. "Friday the 13th"
- 14. "Grow Up"
- 16. "Xans" (produced with ChaseTheMoney)
2018
- 09. "Traumatized" (produced with Judge)
- Key! and Kenny Beats - 777
- 01. "Demolition 1 + 2"
- 02. "Hater"
- 03. "Blurry"
- 04. "Boss"
- 05. "Move"
- 06. "Famous"
- 07. "It Gets Better"
- 08. "Kelly Price Freestyle"
- 09. "Love On Ice"
- 10. "Dig It"
- 11. "Toronto"
- 12. "True Love Interlude"
- 13. "Control"
- 14. "Twisted"
- 15. "Squeamish"
- 02. "Automatic"
- 03. "Death Row" (featuring 03 Greedo; produced with Freddie Kane)
- 07. "Set Set"
- 08. "Toe Tag"
- 09. "FBC" (produced with A. Lau and Tony Seltzer)
- Zack Fox -
- "Square Up"
- 01. "Feels Like Summer"
- 02. "Outside!"
- 03. "Don't Get Chipped" (produced with Cubeatz)
- 05. "New earlsweatshirt"
- 07. "FUN!" (produced with Hagler)
- 08. "No Bleedin"
- 09. "Brand New Tyga"
- 10. "(562) 453-9382"
- 11. "Tweakin" (produced with KillaGraham)
- JPEGMafia and Kenny Beats -
- "Puff Daddy"
- 10k.Caash - The Creator
- 02. “Mutumbo” (featuring Rico Nasty)
- 10. "Aloha" (featuring GUN40)
- 02. "Slick Talk" (produced with EWonder and Christo)
2019
- Rico Nasty and Kenny Beats - Anger Management
- 01. "Cold"
- 02. "Cheat Code" (featuring Baauer)
- 03. "Hatin"
- 04. "Big Titties" (featuring Baauer & EARTHGANG)
- 05. "Nasty World (skit)"
- 06. "Relative"
- 07. "Mood" (featuring Splurge)
- 08. "Sell Out"
- 09. "Again"
- Zack Fox and Kenny Beats -
- "Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression)"[14]
- Dominic Fike - Single[15]
- "Phone Numbers"[16]
- Rexx Life Raj - Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There
- 03. "Moonwalk"[20]
- 07. "Touch the Stars (featuring Lil TJay)"[21]
- FKA twigs - Magdalene
- 04. "Holy Terrain (feat. Future)" (produced with FKA twigs, Jack Antonoff, Skrillex, Sounwave, Lewis Roberts, and Noah Goldstein)[22]
- 08. "Toes (featuring Lil Baby & Moneybagg Yo)" (produced with Queen Sixties)[23]
- 03 Greedo and Kenny Beats - Netflix and Deal
- 01. "Traffic" (produced with Captain Crunch)
- 02. "Paid in Full" (produced with Nils)
- 03. "Disco Shit" (featuring Freddie Gibbs)
- 04. "Maria" (produced with 1Mind)
- 05. "Blue People" (featuring Vince Staples)
- 06. "Beg Your Pardon" (featuring Maxo Kream)
- 07. "Honey I Shrunk The Kids"
- 08. "Brad Pitt" (produced with Nils)
- 09. "Aye Twin" (featuring Key!) (produced with Dylan Brady)
- 10. "Life"
- 11. "Payback" (featuring Ohgeesy) (produced with Judge Beats)
- 12. "Soul Food" (featuring Buddy) (produced with Elijah Rawk)
- 13. "Dead Presidents"
2020
Deb Never and Kenny Beats -
- Stone Cold
James Vickery - Overture
- 01. "Tear It Apart"
IDLES - Ultra Mono
- 02. "Grounds"
Key Glock - Yellow Tape
- 11. "Loaded"
Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats - UNLOCKED
- 01. "Track 01"
- 02. "Take_it_Back_v2"
- 03. "Lay_Up.m4a"
- 04. "Pyro (leak 2019)"
- 05. "DIET_"
- 06. "So.Incredible.pkg"
- 07. "Track07"
- 08. "'Cosmic'.m4a"
ICECOLDBISHOP and KENNY BEATS -
- "DICKIES SUIT"
Slowthai - Untitled forthcoming Slowthai album
- "MAGIC"
Trash Talk and Kenny Beats - Squalor
- 01. "Point No Point"
- 02. "Something Wicked"
- 03. "Worst of Times"
- 04. "Clutch/A.N.M."
- 05. "Kicking & Screaming"
SL - Selhurst SE25
- 02. "Bad Luck"
- 03. "Little Bird"
- 04. "Leave Me Alone"
Benee - Untitled forthcoming Benee album
- "Night Garden"
Dominic Fike - What Could Possibly Go Wrong
- 14. "Florida"
References
- Holmes, Charles; Holmes, Charles (2019-01-20). "Kenny Beats Is a Rap Therapist Who Will Also Make You a Great Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- "Biography". www.kennybeats.com. 2008-12-28. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- Schube, Will. ""Kenny Beats Is Hip-Hop Production's Prodigal Son."". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- Schwartz, Danny. "How Kenny Beats Became the Hottest Rap Producer on the Planet". The Ringer. Archived from the original on 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
- "Kenny Beats Is Hip-Hop Production's Prodigal Son". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- Watson, Elijah. "Kenny Beats Wants To Be Rap's Quincy Jones [Interview]". OkayPlayer. Archived from the original on 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
- Dazed (2019-10-21). "Kenny Beats' guide to producing a legendary rap freestyle". Dazed. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- "Kenny Beats". Universal Music Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2019-07-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Fay, Seamus (2017-08-26). "DJ Lucas – "Big Dope" [Prod. Kenny Beats]". graduationmusic.org. Archived from the original on 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- "FM! - Vince Staples | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- "DiCaprio 2 - JID | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- Ski Mask the Slump God – Foot Fungus, archived from the original on 2019-10-02, retrieved 2019-10-02
- Zack Fox & Kenny Beats – Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression), archived from the original on 2019-10-02, retrieved 2019-10-02
- "Now or Never: The Chaotic Rise of Dominic Fike". Complex. Archived from the original on 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- "Dominic Fike and Kenny Beats link up on "Phone Numbers"". The FADER. Archived from the original on 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- Ed Sheeran (Ft. Stormzy) – Take Me Back to London, archived from the original on 2019-06-08, retrieved 2019-10-02
- Gucci Mane – Proud of You, archived from the original on 2019-11-02, retrieved 2019-10-02
- Gucci Mane – Us, archived from the original on 2019-07-23, retrieved 2019-10-02
- Rexx Life Raj & Kenny Beats – Moonwalk, archived from the original on 2019-10-02, retrieved 2019-10-02
- Yung Bans (Ft. Lil Tjay) – Touch The Stars, archived from the original on 2019-07-24, retrieved 2019-10-02
- FKA twigs (Ft. Future) – holy terrain, archived from the original on 2019-10-02, retrieved 2019-10-02
- DaBaby (Ft. Lil Baby & Moneybagg Yo) – TOES, archived from the original on 2019-09-24, retrieved 2019-10-02