{{short description|American singer (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Corbin | image = Spooky_Black_Corbin.png | caption = Corbin performing in 2017 | birth_name = Corbin Beckner Smidzik<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/894459722|title = ACE Repertory}}</ref> | alias = {{Hlist|Spooky Black|Lil Spook}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|2|20}} | birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | origin = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | genre = {{Flatlist| * Cloud rap * alternative R&B * electronic * new wave<ref name=Dazed>{{cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/37404/1/corbin-spooky-black-interview|title=Corbin on the anger, isolation, and paranoia of his debut album|work=Dazed|first=Joe|last=Price|date=September 14, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref> }} | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter|record producer}} | years_active = 2013–present | past_member_of = Thestand4rd }} '''Corbin Beckner Smidzik''' (born February 20, 1998), known mononymously as '''Corbin''' and formerly as '''Spooky Black''' and '''Lil Spook''',<ref name=StarTribune/> is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was a member of the hip hop/R&B collective Thestand4rd.<ref name=thefader/> As Corbin, he has released three studio albums, ''Mourn'' (2017), ''Ghost With Skin'' (2021), and ''Crisis Kid'' (2025).
==Career==
Smidzik gained popularity on the internet through a series of solo releases on the website SoundCloud.<ref name=Noisey>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-memeing-of-the-culture/|title=Look Meme, I'm Famemeous: The Year the Music Internet Left Blogs Behind|work=Noisey|first=Andrew|last=Winistorfer|date=December 11, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> His first release ''Forest'' was put out in late 2013 and exhibited a hip hop sound with Smidzik rapping on every song, in contrast to his later and more recognized R&B-stylized singing.
By 2014, Smidzik was gaining mass exposure with the help of SoundCloud and YouTube. The video for the song "Without You", from the mixtape ''Black Silk'' (released in February 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://massappeal.com/spooky-black-leaving-ep/|title=Spooky Black "Leaving" EP|work=Mass Appeal|first=Devin|last=P-B|date=August 11, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913103541/http://massappeal.com/spooky-black-leaving-ep/|archive-date=September 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>), went viral, attaining more than a million views on video-sharing websites YouTube and WorldStarHipHop.<ref name=StarTribune>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/277930421.html|title=Trying to decode MN's viral sensation Spooky Black|work=Star Tribune|first=Chris|last=Riemenschneider|date=October 2, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> ''Noisey'' declared the video an "instant classic" and published an article titled "Is Spooky Black Going to Take Over the R&B Game?", while ''Consequence of Sound'' and ''Complex'' magazine named "Without You" one of the best songs of 2014.<ref name=Noisey/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/spooky-black-releases-new-album-leaving-ep/|title=Is Spooky Black Going to Takeover the R&B Game?|work=Noisey|first=Ryan|last=Bassil|date=August 12, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/12/spooky-black-shares-new-song-worn-listen/|title=Spooky Black shares new song "Worn" — listen|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Josh|last=Terry|date=December 16, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Complex-2014>{{cite web|url=http://uk.complex.com/music/2014/06/best-songs-of-2014-so-far/spooky-black-without-u|title=Spooky Black "Without You" - The Best Songs of 2014 (So Far)|work=Complex|first=Chris|last=Mench|date=July 1, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref>
Smidzik is noted for releasing his material without promotion, and has frequently declined requests for interviews.<ref name=Billboard/><ref name=Noisey/><ref name=Complex-2014/> In August 2014, he released the EP ''Leaving'' and a music video for its track "DJ Khaled Is My Father".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/2014/08/spooky_black_dj_khaled_is_my_father.php|title=PAPERMAG: Meet Spooky Black, He's Kinda Like a Cross Between Yung Lean and King Krule|work=Paper|first=Justin|last=Moran|date=August 15, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> By October, Smidzik was being managed by Canadian producer Doc McKinney.<ref name=StarTribune/> In December, he premiered a new song, "Worn", under the new name '''Corbin'''.<ref name=Paper>{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/2014/12/spooky_black_changes_his_name.php | date=December 16, 2014 |archive-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907210022/https://www.citypages.com/music/spooky-black-is-going-by-his-real-name-now-6634443 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Internet Archive |title=Spooky Black is Going by His Real Name Now | City Pages }}</ref> On Twitter, Smidzik's reason for the name change was because "Spooky Black is a dumb name."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/music/spooky-black-is-going-by-his-real-name-now-6634443|title=Spooky Black Is Going By His Real Name Now|work=City Pages|first=Reed|last=Fischer|date=December 16, 2014|access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>
Also in 2014, Smidzik and fellow Minnesota musicians Allan Kingdom, Bobby Raps, and Psymun formed the hip hop/R&B group Thestand4rd. They released their self-titled debut album, ''Thestand4rd'', in November 2014, produced entirely by the group and Doc McKinney.<ref name=thefader>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2014/10/29/gen-f-thestand4rd|title=Meet The Minnesota Misfits Behind thestand4rd|work=The Fader|first=Eamon|last=Whalen|date=October 29, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/rap-one-hit-wonder-2014-songs/spooky-black-without-you|title=Spooky Black "Without You" - 11 Songs That Made 2014 The Year of the Rap One-Hit Wonder|work=Complex|first=Max|last=Goldberg|date=December 26, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.complex.com/music/2014/11/thestand4rds-album-stream-and-download|title=Stream and Download thestand4rd's New Album From Spooky Black, Allan Kingdom, Bobby Raps, and Psymun|work=Complex|first=Zach|last=Frydenlund|date=November 6, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> During November 2014, Corbin and the Stand4rd embarked on a US tour, which included a gig at SOB's in New York City where they were introduced by DJ Khaled.<ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/spooky-black-the-stand4rd-perform-nyc-sobs-6312184/|title=Spooky Black & The Stand4d Perform at NYC's SOBs - Billboard|magazine=Billboard|first=Andrew|last=Flanagan|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> The group ended up selling out all seven of the shows on their debut headlining tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=TheStand4rd @ Varsity Theater [Recap]|url=http://themadeblog.com/thestand4rd-varsity-theater-recap/|work=Made|author=Depdillinger|date=December 6, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2016}}</ref>
After the release of ''Couch Potato'' with Bobby Raps in 2015, Smidzik remained quiet and rarely did performances for 2 years. On January 16, 2017, Smidzik unexpectedly uploaded a song, "Destrooy" onto his SoundCloud.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/01/16/spooky-black-corbin-destrooy-new-song|title=Corbin a.k.a. Spooky Black Returns With New Track "Destrooy"|work=The Fader|first=Jordan|last=Darville|date=January 16, 2017|access-date=}}</ref> On June 25, 2017, he announced on Twitter that himself, Shlohmo, and D33J would be going on a North American tour later in the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/07/25/corbin-spooky-black-tour-shlohmo-deej|title=Corbin (F.K.A. Spooky Black) Announces Tour With Shlohmo And D33J|work=The Fader|first=Jordan|last=Darville|date=July 25, 2017|access-date=}}</ref> Later, on August 24, Smidzik announced his debut album, ''Mourn'', which was released on September 5, 2017, on Shlohmo's record label Wedidit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/08/25/corbin-spooky-black-mourn-album/|title=Corbin FKA Spooky Black Announces Debut Album 'Mourn'|work=High Snobiety|first=|last=|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2018}}</ref>
In American recording artist Janet Jackson's State of the World Tour, she uses the song "Idle" from Corbin's Leaving EP as a video interlude before playing the song "What About".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6cQhQQk_xo|title=Janet - Spooky Black (Video Interlude) & What About (Live - San Diego)|via=YouTube|author=Ant hony|date=October 13, 2017|access-date=}}</ref>
On January 1, 2019, Corbin released several singles to his SoundCloud page. The first to be released was "Wretch"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/spookycorbin/wretch|title=Corbin – Wretch (Soundcloud)|website=SoundCloud|access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref> as a New Years gift to fans. Over the course of the year, "Wretch" was followed by additional singles, both new and unreleased. Later, in August of the same year, Corbin lost access to his Spotify account.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/spookyblack/status/1149544779178364929|title=anything on corbin spotify tht not mourn or couch potato not me idk how log on|website=Twitter|author=Corbin|date=July 12, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref>
In 2020 as a response to losing access to his Spotify account, Corbin started uploading previous SoundCloud uploads to a new Spotify page under his name, Corbin Smidzik.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jG0owM4Dbwk32uoK7JWKs|title=Corbin Smidzik|website=Spotify|accessdate=April 20, 2020}}</ref> Included in these uploads is a previous version of his album ''Mourn'', simply titled: ''Mourn 2016''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7xMI9OSSJFVHMd1sw3CHop|title=Corbin – Mourn 2016|website=Spotify|accessdate=April 20, 2020}}</ref>
On July 24, 2020, Corbin was featured on the Kid Laroi's song "Not Fair" from his debut mixtape, ''F*ck Love.'' Corbin also appeared in the accompanying music video released the same day.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Kid LAROI (Ft. Corbin) – NOT FAIR|url=https://genius.com/The-kid-laroi-not-fair-lyrics|access-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref> The song was certified Gold in Australia by ARIA in 2021.<ref name=ARIA2021>{{cite certification|region=Australia|certyear=2021|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref>
The song, "Interlude" on his E.P. "Leaving" appeared at the end of the documentary, ''Untold: Caitlyn Jenner'' released on August 24, 2021.
Corbin has written songs for artists including SONNY, Future,<ref>{{Citation|title=Future – Krazy but True|url=https://genius.com/Future-krazy-but-true-lyrics|language=en|access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> NAV,<ref>{{Citation|title=NAV – Bag|url=https://genius.com/Nav-bag-lyrics|language=en|access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> and Dua Saleh.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dua Saleh – Warm Pants|url=https://genius.com/Dua-saleh-warm-pants-lyrics|language=en|access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Thestand4rd'' (2014) {{small|(as Spooky Black, with Allan Kingdom, Bobby Raps, and Psymun, collectively as Thestand4rd)}} * ''Mourn'' (2017) * ''Mourn 2016'' (2019) {{small|(as Corbin Smidzik)}} * ''Ghost with Skin'' (2021) * ''Crisis Kid'' (2025)
===Mixtapes=== * ''Forest'' (2013) {{small|(as Spooky Black)}} * ''Black Silk'' (2014) {{small|(as Lil Spook)}}
===Extended plays=== * ''Leaving'' (2014) {{small|(as Spooky Black)}} * ''Couch Potato'' (2015) {{small|(with Bobby Raps)}}
===Singles=== * "Ready" ft. Bobby Raps (Prod. Bobby Raps) (2014) * "Reason" (2016) * "Worn" (2016) * "Destrooy" (2017） * "Wretch" (2019) * "Calmdown" (2019) * "F*ckthisbad(rufff)" (2019) * "There's a 100 Million Girls in the World.. But I... Want... Youuu" (2019) * "Misery Demo" (2019) * "Krrokodil Interlude" (2019) * "Tell Me" (2021) * "Promise to Me" (2022) * "Hello There" (with Lyrical Lemonade, Lil Tracy, and Black Kray) (2023) * "Carbon Monoxide" (2025) * "Come Down" (2025)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Corbin Smidzik}} * {{SoundCloud|spookycorbin|Corbin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corbin}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American rappers Category:Alternative R&B musicians Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:American electronic musicians Category:21st-century American male rappers Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American new wave musicians Category:Cloud rappers Category:Emo musicians Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians Category:Rappers from Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:Rappers from Baltimore Category:Record producers from Minnesota Category:Record producers from Maryland Category:Singers from Baltimore Category:Singer-songwriters from Maryland Category:Singer-songwriters from Minnesota