# Kid Ink
**Kid Ink** is the stage name of Brian Todd Collins (born 1986), an American rapper, singer, and record producer from Los Angeles, California, known for blending rap and R&B influences in an emotive pop-rap style.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) • [2](https://awesomedjproductions.com/artist/kid-ink/) He broke through independently with the 2012 album *Up & Away*, then signed to [RCA Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/rca-records) for the higher-charting *My Own Lane* (2014) and *Full Speed* (2015), which produced the Top 20 pop hit "Show Me" and three additional platinum singles between them.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) Since leaving RCA he has released music as an independent artist, including the 2021 album *Alive*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, Los Angeles, California (Brian Todd Collins)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) |
| Debut album | *Up & Away* (2012), independent, released through Tha Alumni; peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the R&B/hip-hop chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) |
| Biggest hit | "Show Me" (feat. Chris Brown), a number 13 pop hit that went triple platinum[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) |
| RCA albums | *My Own Lane* (2014, number 3) and *Full Speed* (2015, number 14)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) |
| Featured hit | Multi-platinum feature on Fifth Harmony's "Worth It" (2015)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) |
| Fourth album | *Alive* (April 2021), released on Tha Alumni after his return to independent status[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) |
| Latest single | "Trim," released September 11, 2026[3](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kid-ink/432461273) |
| Genres | Rap, R&B, pop, hip-hop; hometown Los Angeles[4](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1120113) |
## Early life and production years
Collins was born in Mid-City Los Angeles and raised by his mother and his grandfather, both of whom he later memorialized in tattoos on his chest; his father was incarcerated for much of his adolescence.[5](https://www.laweekly.com/kid-ink-is-suddenly-massive/) While enrolled at Fairfax High School, he picked up piano through after-school classes and started making beats on an MPC for rappers in his area.[5](https://www.laweekly.com/kid-ink-is-suddenly-massive/)
He spent the early part of his career behind the control board rather than the microphone, crafting his production skills while working with multi-platinum artists such as Sean "Diddy" Combs, [Sean Kingston](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-kingston), Yung Berg, and [Nipsey Hussle](https://www.edgepedia.org/nipsey-hussle).[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view) He has said production came naturally: "I started making the beats because I already had several artists trying the rap thing out, so I thought I would be more useful supplying the production."[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view)
## Mixtape rise (2010–2012)
2010 was a breakout year. Teaming with DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar's newly formed Tha Alumni Music Group, he released the mixtape *Crash Landing*, which within 10 days drew critical acclaim, topped Datpiff.com's "Top Mixtapes of the Week," and amassed about 50 thousand downloads.[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view) AllMusic counts four mixtapes across 2010 and 2011, the first, *World Tour*, credited to his original stage name of Rockstar.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333)
He released his free sophomore project *Daydreamer* on June 21, 2011, accumulating over 150 thousand downloads in its first week, with all-original production from the likes of The Runners, Lex Luger, Jahlil Beats, Cardiak, and Tha Bizness.[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view) The *Wheels Up* mixtape followed on October 10, 2011, and a supporting "Wheels Up" tour took him to the Bay Area, Denmark, New York, Boston, Toronto, Denver, and Chicago, playing to crowds of 600 to 2,000.[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view) Director Alex Nazari lensed eight music videos for him in 2010 alone.[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view)
XXL magazine placed him alongside [Danny Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-brown) and [Macklemore](https://www.edgepedia.org/macklemore) in its Freshman Class feature for 2012.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) That June he released *Up & Away*, his first proper studio album, through Tha Alumni; it featured production from Ned Cameron, Jahlil Beats, and Cardiak but no guest verses, and it peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the R&B/hip-hop chart.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333)
## RCA years (2013–2019)
Kid Ink signed with RCA and made his major-label debut with the *Almost Home* EP, a number 27 entry on the Billboard 200.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) In January 2014, his second album *My Own Lane* reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 and contained two hit singles featuring [Chris Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-brown): "Show Me," his biggest single, a number 13 pop hit that went triple platinum, and "Main Chick," which did not reach the [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) but achieved platinum status.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) Critics were mixed on the album; it holds a Metascore of 65 on Metacritic from 6 reviews, with XXL praising his transition from mixtape rapper to hitmaker while HipHopDX criticized its lack of creative risk.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/music/my-own-lane/kid-ink/critic-reviews)
"Body Language," a collaboration with Usher and Tinashe produced by Stargate and [Cashmere Cat](https://www.edgepedia.org/cashmere-cat), went platinum and built anticipation for *Full Speed*, which arrived in February 2015.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) • [8](https://lifeandtimes.com/kid-ink-life-at-full-speed) His third album landed at number 14 and produced another platinum hit, "Be Real," with DeJ Loaf.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) *Full Speed* featured Usher, Tinashe, R. Kelly, Chris Brown, Young Thug, and DeJ Loaf, with production from Stargate, DJ Mustard, Metro Boomin, and DJ Spinz.[8](https://lifeandtimes.com/kid-ink-life-at-full-speed) Just before the end of 2015 he released the commercial mixtape *Summer in the Winter*, produced by DJ Mustard, the same year he scored a multi-platinum hit as a featured artist on [Fifth Harmony](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifth-harmony)'s "Worth It."[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333)
He remained on RCA through 2019, releasing the 2016 mixtape *RSS2*, two further EPs, and numerous non-album singles before returning to independent status.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) • [9](https://codamusic.me/artists/kid-ink/)
## Independent years (2021–present)
*Alive*, his fourth studio album, landed in April 2021 on Tha Alumni.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) During this period he was also heard as a featured artist on tracks by [Dizzy Wright](https://www.edgepedia.org/dizzy-wright), Philthy Rich, and EDM producer [Tungevaag](https://www.edgepedia.org/tungevaag), and he kicked off 2022 with the [Wiz Khalifa](https://www.edgepedia.org/wiz-khalifa)-assisted single "Big Burna."[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333) His EDM-adjacent collaborations extend further: a release survey compiled from MusicBrainz and Last.fm shows 25 releases across 4 labels between 2014 and 2023, about three quarters on Spinnin' Records since 2021, with his most frequent credited collaborators being Tujamo, Chris Lake, and Steve Aoki.[10](https://contour.fm/artist/kid-ink/) His documented collaboration with Chris Brown spans 177 entries on MusicBrainz since 2011, and other frequent partners include Fifth Harmony, Tyga, Wale, and Axwell Λ Ingrosso.[11](https://www.hhdb.com/artist/kid-ink)
He has remained prolific as an indie artist with a busy schedule of singles: Apple Music lists *For Xmas*, *Can U Feel It*, *Now Or Later* (feat. Verse Simmonds), *Bet*, and *Ready* in 2025, *No Play* in June 2026, and the single "Trim" on September 11, 2026, his latest release.[3](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kid-ink/432461273)
## Live career
Kid Ink tours actively. Bandsintown lists him as an on-tour verified artist with 1.12 million followers, with 2026 dates including Mackay, Australia (October 10); Apache Gold Casino Resort in San Carlos, Arizona (October 14); and the How The West Was Won show in Los Angeles (November 13).[4](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1120113) Earlier in 2026 he played Australian venues including The Beaumont in Brisbane and Lone Pine Tavern, plus the River Cree Resort & Casino in Enoch, Canada in February.[12](https://musick.com.au/artist/kid-ink/) • [13](https://concertful.com/tour/kid-ink/) A 2025 European run took him through Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg.[13](https://concertful.com/tour/kid-ink/) He has also toured internationally to Toronto, Zurich, Melbourne, and [Krasnodar](https://www.edgepedia.org/krasnodar), Russia.[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view)
## Reception and reach
Aggregated review data reflects a modest critical standing: Album of The Year gives him a 62 critic score based on 23 reviews and a 54 user score based on 283 ratings, with *Up & Away* his highest-scoring album at 75 and the 2011 mixtape *Wheels Up* at 80.[14](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/artist/5399-kid-ink/) On Last.fm he has about 936,700 listeners and over 13.3 million scrobbles, with "Show Me (feat. Chris Brown)" his most-played track of the week.[15](https://www.last.fm/music/Kid%2BInk)
His digital reach was notable from early on: his website drew between 90,000 and 150,000 hits a month, his Facebook page exceeded 200,000 likes, his Twitter account passed 110,000 followers, and he tallied more than 8 million digital downloads via HotNewHipHop.com, according to a legacy artist profile.[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view) The fashion industry also took notice, with brand relationships spanning Crooks N Castles, Young & Reckless, Dope Couture, LRG, Adidas, DGK, Neff, Pink Dolphin, and [Puma](https://www.edgepedia.org/puma-brand).[6](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view)
## References
1. [Kid Ink — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic (Andy Kellman)](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kid-ink-mn0002603333)
2. [Kid Ink — Songs, Albums & Lyrics, Awesome DJ Productions](https://awesomedjproductions.com/artist/kid-ink/)
3. [Kid Ink — Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kid-ink/432461273)
4. [Kid Ink Concerts & Live Tour Dates, Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1120113)
5. [Kid Ink Is Suddenly Massive, LA Weekly](https://www.laweekly.com/kid-ink-is-suddenly-massive/)
6. [Kid Ink Tickets, Concert Tour Dates, Ticketmaster artist profile](https://www.ticketmaster.com/kid-ink-tickets/artist/1550520?tt_scene=anchor_view)
7. [Critic Reviews for My Own Lane, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/music/my-own-lane/kid-ink/critic-reviews)
8. [Kid Ink: Life At "Full Speed", Life+Times](https://lifeandtimes.com/kid-ink-life-at-full-speed)
9. [Kid Ink — Biography, Discography & Albums, Coda Music](https://codamusic.me/artists/kid-ink/)
10. [Kid Ink — Contour](https://contour.fm/artist/kid-ink/)
11. [Kid Ink — HH DB](https://www.hhdb.com/artist/kid-ink)
12. [KID INK — Songs, Gigs & Set Times, musick.com.au](https://musick.com.au/artist/kid-ink/)
13. [Kid Ink Tour Dates, Concertful](https://concertful.com/tour/kid-ink/)
14. [Kid Ink Albums, Songs — Discography, Album of The Year](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/artist/5399-kid-ink/)
15. [Kid Ink music, videos, stats, and photos, Last.fm](https://www.last.fm/music/Kid%2BInk)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Hip hop scenes worldwide › Artists, groups, and people: Hip hop scenes worldwide › West Coast rap (Bay Area and Los Angeles) › Los Angeles and Southern California rappers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license