Emerging from the heart of South Central Los Angeles, Skinny Kenny is one of the most talented up and coming artist on the West Coast. Raised as an only child, Kenny learned early how to navigate solitude. When he wasn’t skateboarding with friends, collecting sneakers, or shaping his personality through observation and experience, he was building the foundation of the artist he would eventually become.
Growing up on the Eastside with his father, Kenny spent his childhood playing baseball and attending numerous schools across surrounding Los Angeles cities. His upbringing was split between coasts, frequently traveling back to Chicago to visit his mother. That dual-city influence — South Central Los Angeles grit and Chicago soul — would later shape the distinctive sound he brings to his music today.
Kenny began writing music at just 14 years old. By 16, he was recording in his mother’s basement, fully committed to developing his craft. Before music took center stage, he was heavily into AND1 basketball and carried a bold dream: becoming a celebrity just so he could cross up Lil Bow Wow at a celebrity basketball game. That playful ambition hinted at something deeper — he wasn’t just dreaming about fame, he was preparing for it.
His musical influences run deep and diverse. Growing up, Kenny immersed himself in the sounds of Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Ludacris, OutKast, Missy Elliott, and Three 6 Mafia. From each artist, he found at least one record that resonated deeply — moments of connection that fueled his desire to tell his own story. Recognizing his passion, his mother invested in his future, taking him to Guitar Center and purchasing his recording equipment outright. With that support, Kenny built a home studio and committed himself to mastering his sound.
Today, he describes his music as distinctly West Coast-driven, layered with subtle hints of Chicago influence — a reflection of his bi-coastal upbringing. While he is fully equipped to record independently, he isn’t afraid to collaborate. When needed, he taps in with trusted engineers like Joe and Aubrey, two respected creatives known for their technical precision and studio expertise across California.
In 2008, Kenny joined the crew A2i, led by his longtime collaborator Gutta. At the time, the movement was active throughout Los Angeles, Inglewood, Compton, and Long Beach. The energy of that era — when the presence of Addicted 2 Ink was impossible to ignore — left a lasting imprint on his grind, networking ability, and understanding of how culture spreads through the streets before it hits the mainstream.
Now, Skinny Kenny is stepping confidently into his next chapter. He recently released his new single “RACE,” featuring Airplane James and produced by Jay Millian. The record is available on all streaming platforms and represents a renewed focus and hunger in his artistry.
With a major campaign rolling out behind “RACE,” fans can expect a surge of content, cash-prize contests, and creative activations designed to push the single into heavy rotation. Kenny isn’t just releasing music — he’s building momentum.
After navigating periods of self-doubt and overthinking his releases, Skinny Kenny credits himself — and the people who believed in him — for pushing forward. That renewed confidence fuels his mission: to prove that the support he’s received was well-placed.
