In this blog post, we mentions some of the best hip hop rap songs by Kodak Black. The artist became known for rapping his heart out in his music, attracting fans by the tens — and then hundreds and then thousands, and now millions.
Bio: Who is Kodak Black?
Bill K. Kapri (born Dieuson Octave, June 11, 1997) also known as Kodak Black, is a rapper from Pompano Beach, Florida.
According to the Miami New Times, he grew up in a Section 8 housing complex called Golden Acres, which was once described by the Sun Sentinel as a “haven for crack cocaine, crime, and squalor.” As a result of that environment, Kodak got into serious trouble, landing himself in juvenile hall, and narrowly avoiding “a Punishable By Life charge.” His raps were rooted in real life, and had been arrested a couple of times on charges of robbery, assault, and kidnapping, among others.
In August 2014, the little-known rapper from Pompano Beach, Florida uploaded a music video to YouTube for a song titled “No Flockin,” a hook-less freestyle from his then-upcoming Heart of the Projects mixtape. A few months later, the song became a hit with millions of views. The mixtape Heart of the Projects also featured “SKRT,” a hit track that got massive exposure when superstar Drake shared it on the web and played it on his OVO Sound Radio show.
French Montana was one of the first mainstream rappers to collaborate with Kodak, and the first single that resulted from this collaboration was titled “Lockjaw” and was released in May 2016. The song featured on several hip-hop and R&B charts.
In 2019, Kodak was arrested for weapons possession and was sentenced to almost four years in prison. He served time in high-security prisons in Inez, Kentucky, and Thomson, Illinois. In 2021, President Donald Trump granted Kodak clemency during his last day in office.
In October of 2021, Kodak appeared as a featured artist on eight of the eleven tracks that made up Halloween-themed mixtape Sniper Gang Presents Syko Bob & Snapkatt: Nightmare Babies. One of those tracks, “Super Gremlin” quickly became a platinum hit, rising to the number four position of the Billboard charts. His fourth studio album Back for Everything included “Super Gremlin” as a bonus track, helping the album peak at No. 2 on the Billboard charts.
Best Hip Hop Rap Songs by Kodak Black
1. Tunnel Vision
Rapper Kodak Black released “Tunnel Vision” which was produced by Metro Boomin and Southside. The Michael Garcia-directed visuals begins with a white man wearing a red hat that reads “Make America Hate Again” and the burning cross symbol of the Ku Klux Klan. Though simple in concept, the final product is stunningly brusque, particularly when compared to the rest of Kodak’s videos.
Get Song Lyrics: “Tunnel Vision”
Stream “Tunnel Vision”
2. ZEZE ft. Travis Scott & Offset
“ZEZE” featured vocals from rappers Travis Scott and Offset. Produced by D. A. Doman, the song debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the song, the trio discusses their decadent lifestyles. This is Kodak’s second single since being released from jail in August 2018 and the second single from Dying to Live.
Stream “ZEZE”
3. No Flockin’
“No Flockin’” features a distinctive instrumental courtesy of VinnyxProd and extends over a slow-building backdrop, kicking off with an ominous piano loop and adding layers of menacing basslines and equally haunting chants and strings. The song was interpolated by Cardi B for her “Bodak Yellow” cut, which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Get Song Lyrics: “No Flockin'”
Stream “No Flockin'”
4. Transportin’
Following the release of his mixtape, Project Baby 2, Kodak Black dropped the video for the song, “Transportin’” off the new project. The clip finds Kodak in some familiar surroundings, as he appears to split his time between a studio and the new home he bought at the top of the year. Orange and green are dominant themes, as the Florida native opts for a University of Florida racing jacket and a black and orange bulletproof vest to compliment the orange Lamborghini and Audi luxury vehicles that also appear.
Get Song Lyrics: “Transportin'”
Stream “Transportin'”
5. Skrilla
Kodak Black took us to the trap in his video for “Skrilla.” In the video we see how infectious his live performance is and the harsh realities of life in South Florida.
6. Super Gremlin
Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” was released earlier this year as part of Sniper Gang’s album Sniper Gang Presents Syko Bob & Snapkatt: Nightmare Babies. The song climbed to top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning the Florida rapper his third top 10 hit of his turbulent career. The ATL Jacob-produced track has held steady in the Billboard Hot 100 and according to the RIAA, it went certified platinum on February 25.
Get Song Lyrics: “Super Gremlin”
Stream “Super Gremlin”
7. SKRT
Kodak Black’s “SKRT” distressed qualities to the rapper’s loneliness. The song also earned play on OVO Sound Radio with its the beat combining a stream of percussion and a few floating keyboard notes. The clip came together with help from Unkle Luc, who also made Future’s “Trap Niggas” video.
Stream “SKRT”
8. Calling My Spirit
Kodak Black dropped “Calling My Spirit” which arrived just two weeks before the Florida rapper released his sophomore studio album Dying to Live. In the two-minute video, Kodak depicts a variety of messages. The visual splits between shots of the Florida rapper sitting in a throne while surrounded by a group of women as he sits on a throne-like chair. In another, a man is in prison and getting handcuffs placed on his wrists. Another scene shows Kodak as a God-like figure as white clouds surround him. He eventually clasps his hands together to pray.
Get Song Lyrics: “Calling My Spirit”
Stream “Calling My Spirit”
9. Too Many Years ft. PnB Rock
“Too Many Years” — a collaboration with the Philadelphia sing-rapper PNB Rock that appeared on last year’s Lil B.I.G. Pac mixtape — is, after all, a song about realizing you’ve spent too much of your life behind bars. The video is a fairly standard affair, and Kodak looks like he was really cold when he was making it.
Get Song Lyrics: “Too Many Years”
Stream “Too Many Years”
10. Like Dat
Kodak Black dropped the video for “Like Dat” from his standout Institution mixtape. Rolling 50-deep into the club, Kodak performs in front of a sold out crowd before heading back to his hotel room to count his stacks and blow a few blunts. With a shower cap adorned upon his head, Kodak moves effortlessly across the stage and shows off his dance moves as the crowd bops along to his music.
Stream “Like Dat”
11. Roll In Peace ft. XXXTentacion
“Roll in Peace” is part of Kodak’s Project Baby 2 mixtape. The London on Da Track and CuBeatz-produced track has become a popular instrumental for rappers to spit over, as it has been remixed by Travis Scott, Dreezy, Remy Ma, Zoey Dollaz and more. In the video, Kodak Black appears in a county jail orange jumpsuit in church. Artistically, it is interesting. I could make several analogies, but I won’t. For the sake of artistic interpretation though, a church is viewed as a prison to some. Some members of the church judge you like a professional judge. Perhaps, praying for his freedom is the only connection.
Get Song Lyrics: “Roll In Peace”
Stream “Roll In Peace”
12. Pimpin Ain’t Eazy
Shortly after dropping his second studio album, Kodak Black has released visuals for his track “Pimpin Ain’t Eazy”. The video was directed by Kodak Black and Sway.
Get Song Lyrics: “Pimpin Ain’t Eazy”
Stream “Pimpin Ain’t Eazy”
Honorable Mentions
- Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars, Kodak Black – Wake Up in The Sky
- Chris Brown – Pills & Automobiles ft. Yo Gotti & Kodak Black
- A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – Drowning ft. Kodak Black
- French Montana – Lockjaw ft. Kodak Black
- First Day Out
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