Kyle Rapps

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Kyle Rapps | image = 280px | caption = Rapps in 2014 | birth_name = Kyle Sutton | alias = Skeptik Black Skeptik | birth_date = {{birth date and age |1980|03|04}} | birth_place = Grand Rapids, Michigan | death_date = | instrument = | genre = Hip hop | occupation = Rapper | years_active = 2004–present | label = Mishka NYC Records | associated_acts = Thought Breakers Mayhem Poets Diwon Kosha Dillz KRS-One Homeboy Sandman Action Bronson Murs Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire | website = }}

'''Kyle Sutton''' (born March 4, 1980),<ref name="hotnewhiphop">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100829164308/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/KyleRapps/profile/ Kyle Rapps profile], hotnewhiphop.com. Accessed October 17, 2014.</ref> better known by his stage name '''Kyle Rapps''', is an American hip hop artist from New York City.

==Early life and education== Sutton was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan,<ref name="hotnewhiphop"/> and raised in Princeton, New Jersey,<ref>Richard Spadine, [http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/kyle-rapps-architecture “Kyle Rapps – Architecture,”] DJ Booth, December 20, 2013.</ref> primarily by his mother. His father was a minister.<ref name="mhidalgo">Marcel Hidalgo, [http://www.prefixmag.com/features/aaron-cohen-action-bronson-james-taylor-krs-one-kyle-rapps-michael-jackson-murs/kyle-rapps-discusses-breaking-out-of-the-cocoon/74115/ “Kyle Rapps Discusses Breaking Out Of The Cocoon,”] ''Prefix'', July 1, 2013.</ref> Sutton attended Rutgers University, earning a BA in Spanish.<ref name="cstetler">Carrie Stetler, [http://news.rutgers.edu/issue.2012-01-03.4307075525/article.2012-01-27.6613347299#.VCv8vCldXT2 “Mayhem Poets Tour the World, but Their Legacy Stays on Campus,”] Rutgers Today, January 27, 2012.</ref> In 2015, he relocated from Harlem, New York to Mexico City, Mexico.<ref name="nvukorepa">Nick Vukorepa, [http://www.earmilk.com/2013/12/24/kyle-rapps-architecture-feat-murs-video/ “Kyle Rapps – ‘Architecture’ (Feat. Murs),”] Earmilk, December 24, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://insomniacmagazine.com/2015/10/kyle-rapps-drops-df/ "Kyle Rapps Drops 'DF',"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222090503/http://insomniacmagazine.com/2015/10/kyle-rapps-drops-df/ |date=2015-12-22 }} ''Insomniac'' magazine, October 9, 2015.</ref>

==Career== ===As Skeptik=== While at Rutgers, under the pseudonym Skeptik, he formed the underground hip hop group Thought Breakers. Their debut EP, ''Episode 1'', was released in 2004 and independently sold over 10,000 copies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Video|first=Rive|date=2011-10-21|title=Kyle Rapps|url=https://rivevideo.com/kyle-rapps/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Rive Video Promotion|language=en-US}}</ref> The group opened for Wyclef Jean, Fat Joe, Talib Kweli and Dead Prez.<ref name="hotnewhiphop"/><ref name="mhidalgo"/><ref name="respect072111">[http://respect-mag.com/new-music-kyle-rapps-x-talib-kweli-universe-traveler/ “New Music: Kyle Rapps X Talib Kweli ‘Universe Traveler’,”] ''Respect.'', July 21, 2011.</ref> Around that time, he formed a spoken-word poetry collective, Mayhem Poets.<ref name="mhidalgo"/><ref name="cstetler"/> In 2007, the collective won a Microsoft small business competition, enabling them to establish the open mic venue Slam Chops in Manhattan, which stayed open for two years.<ref name="cstetler"/> Also in 2007, the collective had a two-month off-Broadway run at the New Victory Theater.<ref>Laurel Graeber, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E5D61230F931A35752C1A9619C8B63 “Mayhem Poets,”] ''New York Times'', November 2, 2007.</ref> After a 2009 trip to Liberia with Mayhem Poets, Sutton began to go by the name Black Skeptik, and released titles "Rent" and "Frankenstein Saves Hip Hop".<ref name="mhidalgo"/><ref name=":0" />

===As Kyle Rapps=== In 2010, now going by Kyle Rapps, he released the single "Love, Love," featuring KRS-One and Homeboy Sandman.<ref name="respect072111"/> In 2011, his ''RE-Edutainment'' mixtape came out, with the title in homage to the 1990 Boogie Down Productions album ''Edutainment''. KRS-One, Joell Ortiz and U-N-I appear on the mixtape.<ref>Christopher Weingarten, [https://archive.today/20141017121656/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/03/kyle_rapps_bully_mp3.php “Kyle Rapps’ BDP-Flipping ‘Bully’,”] ''Village Voice'', March 9, 2012.</ref><ref>Jake Paine, [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14610/title.kyle-rapps-talks-boogie-down-productions-influence-on-re-edutainment “Kyle Rapps Talks Boogie Down Productions Influence on RE-Edutainment,”] Hip Hop DX, April 1, 2011.</ref> Later in 2011, Rapps released ''On Air'', featuring appearances from Talib Kweli, C-Rayz Walz, KRS-One and Homeboy Sandman.<ref name="respect072111"/> The eight-track mixtape is built around samples from French electronic music duo Air.<ref>[http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/02/kyle_rapps_rele.html “Kyle Rapps releases new video, opening for Action Bronson; Air scored a film from 1902,”] BrooklynVegan, February 8, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/05/kyle-rapps-on-air_n_919176.html “Kyle Rapps, ‘Streets Move On’,”] ''Huffington Post'', August 5, 2011.</ref>

In June 2013, Mishka NYC Records released ''SUB'', Rapps' first full-length album, produced by Belief and featuring collaborations with Murs, Action Bronson, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Aaron Cohen and Spaceman.<ref>Justin Hunte, [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.24361/title.kyle-rapps-sub-cover-art-download-mixtape-stream “Kyle Rapps ‘Sub’ Cover Art, Download & Mixtape Stream,”] Hip Hop DX, June 18, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130608222601/http://noisey.vice.com/music-video-premieres/kyle-rapps-feat-mr-muthafuckin-exquire-super-glue-official-video “Kyle Rapps Feat. Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – ‘Super Glue’,”] ''Vice'', June 3, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://thesource.com/2013/06/26/kyle-rapps-drops-sub-mixtape-with-action-bronson-murs-mr-mfn-exquire-more/ “Kyle Rapps Drops ‘SUB’ Mixtape with Action Bronson, Murs, Mr. MFN eXquire & More,”] ''The Source'', June 26, 2013.</ref> ''Earmilk'' called it "a mesmerizing selection of songs."<ref name="nvukorepa"/>

In 2014, Rapps put out the single "The Sky's on Fire", produced by Belief and featuring vocals by Adrienne Mack-Davis.<ref>Richard Spadine, [http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/kyle-rapps-the-skys-on-fire “Kyle Rapps – The Sky’s On Fire,”] DJ Booth, April 3, 2014.</ref>

In 2017, Rapps released "Latrell", its title and sampled intro referencing Latrell Sprewell, a former professional basketball player who was suspended for attacking his Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|date=2017-06-14|title=PREMIERE: Kyle Rapps Delivers New Single 'Latrell'|url=https://www.hypefresh.co/premiere-kyle-rapps-delivers-new-single-latrell/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Hypefresh Inc|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, Rapps performed virtually over Zoom at Soul Vey, a Black and Jewish community event led by Adam Swig and Kosha Dillz.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Swig|first=Adam|date=2020-07-20|title='All you gotta do is listen': Connecting at a Black-Jewish Shabbat marathon|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2020/07/20/all-you-gotta-do-is-listen-connecting-at-a-black-jewish-shabbat-marathon/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=J.|language=en-US}}</ref>

Rapps has collaborated with a large variety of other music artists, including KRS-One, Homeboy Sandman, Diwon, Action Bronson, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Murs, Adrienne Mack-Davis, Belief, Hefna Gwap, Talib Kweli, Chuuwee, Faruz Feet, Dirt E. Dutch, Joell Ortiz, Sly5thAve, Aaron Cohen, Brody, Y-Love, Nathan Sela, Vulkan the Krusader, Sam Siegel, S'natra, DJ JS-1, Breez Brewin, Dru the Monster, Nelson, Little Freckles, Ali Salah Rasé, and Ray Contour.

==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''SUB'' (w/ Belief) (2013, Mishka NYC Records) * ''Colossus Theory'' (w/ Vulkan The Krusader) (2015) * ''Perverse Ramblings'' (2017)

===Singles=== * "Rent" – as Black Skeptik, with KRS-One (2009, Mayhem Poets Entertainment) * "Frankenstein Saves Hip Hop" – as Black Skeptik (2009, Mayhem Poets Entertainment, Blockhead)<ref name=":0" /> * "Love, Love" – featuring KRS-One and Homeboy Sandman (2010, Diamond Music Group / Mayhem Poets Entertainment) * "Portlandia" – with Diwon (2012, Shemspeed) * "Mr. Rogers" – with Diwon (2012, Shemspeed) * "Get It In" – featuring Action Bronson (2012, Mishka NYC - from ''SUB'') * "Watch Out" (2013, Mishka NYC - from ''SUB'') * "Super Glue" – featuring Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire (2013, Mishka NYC - from ''SUB'') * "Architecture" – featuring Murs (2013, Mishka NYC - from ''SUB'') * "The Sky's on Fire" – featuring Adrienne Mack-Davis and Belief (2014) * "Hold Tyte" with Hefna Gwap (2014, Mishka NYC - from ''European Tic Tacs'') * "Searchin'" with Hefna Gwap featuring Aaron Cohen (2014, Mishka NYC - from ''European Tic Tacs'') * "God-Like" (2015 - from ''Colossus Theory'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/09015-kyle-rapps-god-like|title = Kyle Rapps - God-Like}}</ref> * "D.F." (2015 - from ''Colossus Theory)'' * "Bunker" (2016) * "Michigan" (2016, Diamond Music Group) * "Fiction" (2017 - from ''Perverse Ramblings'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://2dopeboyz.com/2017/04/13/kyle-rapps-fiction/|title=Kyle Rapps – "Fiction"}}</ref> * "Eulogy" (2017 - from ''Perverse Ramblings'') * "Latrell" (2017 - from ''Perverse Ramblings'') * "Dark Hour" (2018) * "Green on Red" (2018) * "Shiba Inu" (2018) * "Fxckvision" (2019) * "Art Monk" (2019, Mayhem Entertainment) * "Black Suburbs" (2019, Mayhem Entertainment) * "TD" (2019, Mayhem Entertainment) * "This is Medicine" with Talib Kweli (2019) * "Don't Try" (2019, Mayhem Entertainment) * "Gtfo" with Chuuwee (2020) * "Barrio Chino" with Faruz Feet (2020) * "Mrs. Huxtable" with Dirt E. Dutch and Chris Keys (2020, Mayhem Entertainment) * "Bitd" with Joell Ortiz (2020) * "Mourning" with Sly5thAve (2020)

===Mixtapes=== * ''Episode 1'' – as Skeptik, with Thought Breakers (2004) * ''RE-Edutainment'' (2011) * ''On Air'' (2011) * ''Syndication'' (w/ Diwon) (2012)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://deadendhiphop.com/kyle-rapps-diwon-syndication-free-album/|title = Kyle Rapps & Diwon – Syndication [Free Album]|date = 18 October 2012}}</ref>

===EPs=== * ''Tyrone Gosling'' w/ Diwon<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://djbooth.net/mixtapes/entry/kyle-rapps-diwon-tyrone-gosling |title=Kyle Rapps & Diwon - Tyrone Gosling FreEP | Mixtape | DJBooth |access-date=2017-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143433/http://djbooth.net/mixtapes/entry/kyle-rapps-diwon-tyrone-gosling |archive-date=2017-04-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ''European Tic Tacs'' w/ Hefna Gwap (Mishka NYC, 2014)

===Collaborations=== * "Let It Go" – Dirt E. Dutch featuring Kyle Rapps (2011, Little Ax - from ''Bars Magica'') * "Forget It"- Aaron Cohen featuring Kyle Rapps (2012, Mishka NYC - from ''MURK'') * "Good Life" – Diwon featuring Brody, Kyle Rapps, Y-Love and Nathan Sela (2013, Bancs Media - from ''New Game'') * "Hikaru" - Vulkan The Krusader featuring Kyle Rapps (2014, from ''VX-13: Do You Remember Love'') * "Lifted (Remix)" - Sam Siegel & S'natra featuring Kyle Rapps, Hefna Gwap, Lord of the Fly, and T-Shyne (2014) * "110 Percent" - DJ JS-1 featuring Breez Brewin, Homeboy Sandman and Kyle Rapps (2014, Ground Original - from ''It is What it Isn't'') * "Clyde Frazier" - Dru the Monster featuring Kyle Rapps (2015 - from ''Monsters Never Die'') * "Lost Touch" - Nelson featuring Kyle Rapps (2015, RRCB/Diamond Media 360 - from ''Seven Ye)'' * "Sleep on It" - Little Freckles, written in collaboration with Kyle Rapps (2015)[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/fashion/lil-freckles-girls-rapper.html] * "Wieder" - Ali Salah Rasé featuring Kyle Rapps (2017, Hiena Voyeur - from ''Prieto)'' * "I Got a Story to Tell" - Ray Contour featuring Kyle Rapps (2019 - from ''East Coast Gold'')

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rapps, Kyle}}  Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century African-American male rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American rappers Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians Category:Musicians from Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:Musicians from Princeton, New Jersey Category:Rappers from Michigan Category:Rappers from New Jersey Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Rutgers University alumni Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:20th-century African-American musicians