Black Kray
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Black Kray | |
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| Also known as | $B K R A Y, 10k Motorola, Black K R E A Y, Boys Dont Cry, Dovesshyne, Ferrari Kray, Foreighn Jetski, Gold Mouf Princess, Goth Baby Moet, Gucci Kray LaGoth, Gvcci Kray, Iced Out Uzi, Lah Guddah Witch, Lil Kim, Lil Rari, Lil Shyne, Lilwitchhouseshawdy, Per$ian Cellphone Prince, Sickboyrari, T4ylor$$wift, Teezy F Baby Israel, Tim Blackdashian, Tropicana K R 4 Y |
| Born | February 23, 1994 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Origin | Ashland, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2009-present |
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Timothy O'Neal Mills[1] (born February 23, 1994), better known by his stage name Black Kray, as well as Sickboyrari,[a] is an American rapper, producer, and songwriter known for his influence on the cloud rap, emo rap, and tread genres. He is a founding member of the hip-hop collective and label Goth Money Records[a] and an early member of Raider Klan. Mills has collaborated with many similar artists, including Working on Dying, Bladee, Yung Lean, TeamSESH, Thraxxhouse, City Morgue, G59 Records, Chxpo, DJ Kenn, and DJ Smokey. His music has been described as melodic, hazy, and ethereal.[2][3]
Early life
[edit]Mills was born on February 23, 1994[4] in Richmond, Virginia before moving to Ashland sometime during his childhood. He began skateboarding in 2006 which played a vital role in his development,[5] claiming he would skate at a local skatepark "all day, every day".[6] His father owned many CDs and DVDs, causing music and similar media to become a large part of Mills' identity as well.[5]
He spent most of his youth in "the sticks" of Ashland, a place he refers to as "Elm Street" and the "Dirt Road". Alongside skateboarding, he would spend time with his family and cousins, smoking marijuana and playing video games.[6]
Growing up, Mills was alienated by his peers and stuck to his group of similar people. He felt like an outsider to the many goth cliques in his school and faced backlash for being different than them. He described himself as "the Black version of those goth kids".[5] He faced resistance for skateboarding and wearing skinny jeans, as doing so was still considered "white" at the time. Mills and his Black peers also faced racism and would often go out of their way to avoid certain sections of town out of fear that white people would call the police on them.[6]
Career
[edit]Mills released his first song on MySpace when he was in the 7th grade.[7]
2009-2013: Beginnings and formation of Goth Money Records
[edit]Mills began making music "'round 2009/2010 just bullshittin' 'round on a laptop mic."[8] He was a member of Raider Klan and their skate team around this time.[9]
Around 2012, Mills began to form Goth Money Records alongside Karmah and Hunned Mill (a.k.a. Hunned Stackz) whom he met in school. He then met Marcy Mane (a.k.a. MFK) over YouTube when searching for trillwave beats. After moving to Los Angeles, California in 2013, he met Kane Grocerys (a.k.a. YSB OG). Luckaleannn then joined after meeting Mills over the internet. At some point, L.V.X. joined, whom he also met in school.[6] Yung Jugg, Gothlord, and Kons were also members around 2014.[8] As of August 2024, Goth Money Records consists of Black Kray, Hunned Mill, Kane Grocerys, and Luckaleannn.[10]
Musical style and influence
[edit]Mills has cited Lil B, Yellowman, Big Youth, Gregory Isaacs, Daringer, John Holt, Cults, Wolf Parade, Chief Keef, Lil Prada, Best Coast, Salem, Crim3s, White Ring, and the genre witch house as some of his influences.[5][8]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Black Kray". YEAR0001 INDEX. 27 October 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Reed (2015-11-02). "Meet Goth Money, the Most Positive Crew of Trillionaires on the Internet". Vice. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Pierre, Alphonse (2024-05-10). "Underground Rap Wouldn't Be the Same Without Black Kray". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ @GOTHMONEYRCRDS (2020-02-23). "Rt to wish black kray a happy birthday" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-07-31 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d Mass Appeal (2018-07-16). Open Space: Black Kray (Video). Retrieved 2024-07-31 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d SICKBOYRARI AKA BLACK KRAY [DOCUMENTARY] "TOLD BY THE LEGEND HIMSELF" (Video). 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2024-08-01 – via YouTube.
- ^ Kelzer, Joely (October 3, 2023). "Who is Black Kray? (AKA Sickboyrari, AKA Gvcci Kray, AKA La Goth, AKA...)". Carbon Sound. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nagrom, Nedarb (2014-01-22). "INTERVIEW WITH BLACK KRAY". Tumblr. Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Matson, Andrew (2020-03-10). "Bragging Rights Don't Mean Shit: An Oral History of Raider Klan". Passion of the Weiss. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Goth Money Records® (@GOTHMONEYRCRDS)". Twitter. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
@teezyfbaby3 @hunnedmill @ysb_og500 @luckaleannn.