KayCyy

Kenyan-American rapper (born 1997)

  • KayCyy Pluto
  • King Confidence[1]
  • Pluman
  • The Glue
Born (1997-09-23) September 23, 1997 (age 26)
Nairobi, KenyaOriginSaint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.Genres
  • Hip hop
  • trap
  • R&B
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2016–presentLabels
  • BuVision
  • Columbia (current)
  • YZY SND
  • Alive (former)
Musical artist

Mark Makora Mbogo[2] (born September 23, 1997),[3] known professionally as KayCyy or KayCyy Pluto, is a Kenyan-American rapper, singer and songwriter.

Born in Kenya, Mbogo moved with his family to St. Paul, Minnesota at an early age. Throughout his career, he has released five mixtapes, and several singles with his debut studio album Who Is KayCyy? set to release within 2024. KayCyy has worked as a songwriter and credited vocalist alongside several major artists, including Kanye West, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, and Travis Scott amongst others. Most notably, KayCyy had a large contribution towards the production of West's tenth studio album Donda, writing and recording references for a multitude of tracks.

Early life

Mark Makora Mbogo was born in Nairobi, Kenya on September 23, 1997.[3] At the age of nine, he and his family moved to the United States, landing at the state of Minnesota. He attended Tartan High School in the city of Oakdale a suburb east of St. Paul, where he graduated from in 2016.[4] After high school, he moved to New York and later Los Angeles in pursuit of his music career.[5]

Career

In 2016, Mbogo signed to Alive Productions, a record label founded by music producer Reefa, with him later leaving in 2021.[3]

The rapper has released two mixtapes, Patient Enough and Ups & Downs, in 2020 and 2021 respectively.[6][7] His debut album, titled Who Is KayCyy?, is set to be released in 2024.[8]

Mbogo has worked with multiple other artists, having writing credits on Lil Wayne's album Funeral and Kanye West's single "Wash Us in the Blood".[9][10]

Mbogo has worked closely with West since 2019. The rappers met through record executive Abou "Bu" Thiam, who later became West's manager, as well as KayCyy's.[11][12] KayCyy is currently signed to Bu's record label BuVision and Columbia Records[8] and is credited as a performer and writer on West's tenth studio album Donda, including on the single "Hurricane", which topped multiple international song charts.[13][14]

Mbogo was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work on Kanye's studio album Donda, and won a Grammy Award for contributing background vocals to the single, "Hurricane" by Kanye West which won Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.[15] Mbogo released a collaborative EP with Gesaffelstein titled TW20 50 on March 11, 2022, and he released the mixtape, Get Used To It on June 2, 2022. On May 26, 2023, he released his second collaborative EP with Gesaffelstein, TW2052. Mbogo was featured and involved with the songwriting on the song, "Thank God" on Travis Scott’s album Utopia.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details
WHO IS KAYCYY?
  • Expected release: 2024
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended Plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Extended plays details
PLUMAN 2
  • Released: January 4, 2017
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
PLUMIXES
  • Released: June 22, 2017
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
HAVING MY WAY
  • Released: September 24, 2020
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
TW20 50 [16]
(with Gesaffelstein)
  • Released: March 11, 2022
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Who Else Would It Be
  • Released: November 11, 2022
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
#NEWMUSICMONDAYS
  • Released: December 7, 2022
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
TW2052
(with Gesaffelstein)
  • Released: May 26, 2023
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details
Pluman (as KayCyy Pluto)
  • Released: February 13, 2016
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
VACATION
  • Released: August 29, 2016
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Pluman 3
  • Released: February 23, 2018
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Patient Enough
  • Released: March 27, 2020
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Ups & Downs
  • Released: February 14, 2021
  • Label: Alive Productions
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Get Used To It [17]
  • Released: March 26, 2022
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Never Been So Sure
  • Expected Release: 2024
  • Label: Bu Vision, Columbia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Other charted songs

List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[18]
US
R&B
[19]
US
Rap
[20]
AUS
[21]
CAN
[22]
UK
R&B
[23]
"Keep My Spirit Alive"
(Kanye West featuring KayCyy, Westside Gunn, and Conway the Machine)
2021 59 28 23 41 51 17 Donda
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^ Blanchet, Brenton (February 17, 2022). "Ye Protege KayCyy Is More Than Just 'The Kid With the Melodies'". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/writer/801881057/MBOGO%20MARK%20MAKORA[bare URL]
  3. ^ a b c Mbogo, Mark [@kaycyy______] (September 23, 2018). "On this day a real nigga was born 💫 Happy Birthday to myself 🛸🚀 21" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Lucia, Ali (May 17, 2016). "Minnesotan To Meet: KayCYY Pluto". WCCO-TV. CBS. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "From Kenya to Kanye West, KayCyy's unique journey has Minnesota roots". kare11.com. September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "Patient Enough on Spotify". KayCyy. Spotify. March 27, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "Ups & Downs on Spotify". KayCyy. Spotify. February 14, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Skelton, Eric (August 4, 2021). "KayCyy Is a New Star From the School of Kanye West". Complex. Complex Networks. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Pulse (2020). "Kenya's KayCyy Pluto collabos with Lil Wayne". The Standard. The Standard Group. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  10. ^ West, Kanye (June 30, 2020). "Wash Us In The Blood". Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ Hissong, Samantha (September 28, 2020). "At Work With Abou 'Bu' Thiam, Kanye West's Elusive Manager". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Arshan (February 27, 2021). KayCyy Interview: Kanye's New Protégé? DONDA, New Music (1on1) (Video). Kids Take Over. Event occurs at 4:11. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  13. ^ Skelton, Eric (July 21, 2021). "8 Predictions for Kanye West's New Album 'Donda'". Complex. Complex Networks. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  14. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (September 7, 2021). "Kanye West Hits No. 1 on Streaming Songs for First Time Since 2018". Billboard. Lynne Segall. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "15 Rappers from Minnesota you should know in 2022". Music In Minnesota. February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Callas, Brad. "KayCyy Drops New EP 'TW20 50' and Shares Video for "The Sun"". Complex Networks.
  17. ^ Mahdevan, Tara. "Listen to KayCyy's New EP 'GUTI' f/ 070 Shake". complex.com. Complex. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "Kanye West – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "Kanye West – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "Kanye West – Chart History: Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  21. ^ "Discography Kanye West". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  22. ^ "Kanye West – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  23. ^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40: 3 September 2021 – 9 September 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2021.