Kid Acne is an artist, illustrator and hip-hop musician. He was born in Lilongwe, Malawi in 1978. He grew up in Lutterworth, Leicestershire and is currently based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
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In 1995 along with his brother, (Chips for the Poor) and a group of local friends, Kid Acne formed the Invisible Spies collective as an umbrella heading for their creative output. This consisted of DIY fanzines, super 8 films and poorly organized pub gigs. In 1996 their 1st band, 'Brian & the Teenagers' released two singles on their own C U Next Tuesday record label, to early critical acclaim, most notably from John Peel. Kid Acne designed the record sleeves and posters, though didn't actually play in the band. From the ashes of Brian & the Teenagers, the same group of friends formed Toah Dynamic, of which Acne was a founding member. They released an 8 track 7" EP titled 'Hip Hop Gymkhana' in 1997 before releasing their first full length LP, 'Movement' to inaugurate Invisible Spies Records in 2000.
The collective is made of Kid Acne, Chips for the Poor, Supreme Vagabond Craftsman, Be My Twin, Earl Shilton, Mo' Mummy and 64 Cousins.
Toah Dynamic have released two albums, 'Movement' (2000) and 'Cops Hate Our Love' (2002). Invisible Spies continues as a fully functioning record label, releasing works from various collective members including Oi! Civil servants, Methodist Centre.
Kid Acne has released a number of records sporadically throughout the past decade. In 1997, alongside beat maker Benjamin, Acne released his first single, 'Slingshots' under the name 'Mongrels'. In 2000 Acne issued his first solo 7" single, 'Squirrel Hunters' as the prelude to his debut album, 'Rap Traffic' in 2001. Rap Traffic marked the culmination of two years of Sheffield to Brighton commuting, dragon battle mic destruction and nocturnal beat farming. The LP was swiftly followed by another solo 7" in the form of the self produced 'Regarde Kid Acne' alongside the second and sadly last Mongrels 7", 'Fresh Arrangements'.
Kid Acne's 2nd album, 'Council Pop' was released in late 2003 preceded by a 12" of the track 'Radio Music' accompanied by triumphant UK tours featuring Req One and human beatbox Chase.
Warp Records' Beat Constructor, Req One produced both 'Council Pop' and its predecessor 'Rap Traffic'. Kid Acne returned the favour on Req's album 'Car Paint Scheme' when he provided vocals for the track 'Style Mentorz'. 2003 also saw the release of the party single 'Zub Zub Rockerz' released on Jazz Fudge.
In 2004 Acne invited London rap maverick, Infinite Livez to join him on the track, 'Move It or Lose It' for his 'Reality Raps EP'. This proved to be a minor success with the promo video doing the rounds on MTV Raps and Channel U.
In 2007, Acne released his 3rd rap Lp, 'Romance Ain't Dead' on Lex / EMI. Beats programmed by Req One, produced by Ross Orton and mastered by Rob Gordon. The album has been praised with significant criticle acclaim and was released internationally in 2008.
The lead single, 'Eddy Fresh' was released in Autumn 2007, complete with Gescom Remix and promo video directed by fellow artist, Dscreet.
Acne's live show line up currently consists of (DJ) Benjamin, (Hype Man) Clev Cleverley and (human beatbox) Chase Rockwell. Together they have toured the UK and Europe supporting the likes of El-P, Black Lips, Flying Lotus, Beans (Anti Pop Consortium), Prince Po, Lethal Bizzle, Atmosphere, James Pants, Long Blondes, DJ FOOD, Herbalizer and Jehst.
Rap Traffic (LP) / Invisible Spies 2001
Rap Traffic (CD, Album) / Invisible Spies 2001
Squirrel Hunters (7") / Invisible Spies 2001
Regarde Kid Acne (7") / Invisible Spies 2002
Acne Instrumentals (12", Promo) / Invisible Spies 2003
Council Pop (LP) / Invisible Spies 2003
Council Pop (CD) / Invisible Spies 2003
Radio Music (12", Single) / Invisible Spies 2003
Zub-Zub Rockers (7", Single) / Electro Caramel 2003
Reality Raps EP (12", EP) / Invisible Spies 2004
South Yorks (CDr, Single, Promo) / Invisible Spies 2005
Eddy Fresh (7", Promo, Ltd) / Lex Records 2007
Eddy Fresh (12", EP, Promo) / Lex Records 2007
Eddy Fresh (CD, Single, Promo) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007
Eddy Fresh (7", Single) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007
Eddy Fresh (12") / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007
Eddy Fresh (CDr, Promo) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007
Romance Ain't Beats (12", EP) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007
Romance Ain't Dead (CD, Album, Promo) / Lex Records 2007
Romance Ain't Dead (CD, Album) / Lex Records 2007
Romance Ain't Dead (LP) / Lex Records 2007
Sliding Doors (CD, EP, Promo) / Lex Records 2007
Sliding Doors (7") / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007
Worst Luck (12", Single) / Lex Records 2007
Worst Luck EP (CD, EP, Promo) / Lex Records 2007
Worst Luck EP (7") / Lex Records 2007
Tracks Appear On:
Invisible Spies (CD, Album, Comp) Woofstallions / (C). U. Next Tuesday Records 1998
Req - Car Paint Scheme (CD) *Skit 1 / Style Mentorz / Skint Records 2000
Lexoleum Two (12", EP) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2001
Lexoleum Two (12", EP, W/Lbl) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2001
Brechtian Tactics (Cass, Mixed) Rap Dracula / Vulgar 2002
Lexample (CD) Radio Music / Lex Records 2002
Abstract Funk Theory (CD, Comp) Ghosts With Teeth / Obsessive 2003
Abstract Funk Theory (2xLP, Comp) Ghosts With Teeth / Obsessive 2003
Lexoleum Trilogy (CD, Comp) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2003
Lexoleum Trilogy (3xLP, Comp) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2003
Suspect Files Vol 3 (CD, Comp) South Yorks / Suspect Packages 2004
Lexample Red (CD, Promo, Smplr) Eddy Fresh / Lex Records 2007
2011 Kill Your Darlings / Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, UK * Rhythm Is A Dancer / Stolen Space, London, UK *
2010 When The Smoke Clears / Concrete Hermit, London, UK * Dust In The Giant’s Eye / Electrik Sheep Gallery, Newcastle, UK* Summer Group Show / Stolen Space, London, UK Ois’ Easy / Helmet Gallery, Munich, Germany*
2009 Flying Eyeball ‘Pop Up’ Show / Gallery 27, London, UK Christmas Group Show / Friend & Co, Bristol, UK Seven Styles for Seven Brothers / APG Works, Sheffield, UK Smoke & Mirrors / Stella Dore Gallery, London, UK*
2008 Nancy Victor Christmas Show / Nancy Victor Gallery, London, UK Stella Dore Group Show / Stella Dore Gallery, London, UK Brothers In Arms / Mini Gallery, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2007 Alternativity / Truman Brewery, London, UK Bestial / Iguapop Gallery, Barcelona, Spain Refill Seven / MTV Gallery, Sydney, Australia Flat Black / The Workstation, Sheffield, UK
2006 His Life Is Full of Miracles / Site Gallery, Sheffield, UK
2005 Picture This (War Child) / Bargehouse, London, UK GIRLS / Myymälä 2 Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2004 The Big Draw / Millennium Galleries, Sheffield, UK Graphic / Fredericks & Freiser Gallery, New York, USA Application / Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Australia
2003 Basefield / The Commons, Melbourne, Australia Sexpo / Hixept Gallery, Grenoble, France
2001 Graffiti: Concrete or Wallpaper? / Swiss Embassy, London, UK
1998 Graffiti Bastards 2 / Custard Factory, Birmingham, UK
1996 Graffiti Bastards / Custard Factory, Birmingham, UK
2001 saw the completion of Zebra Face, the comic book jointly created by Kid Acne and Supreme Vagabond Craftsman. The book follows the adventures of a two dimensional zebra faced superhero and his diabetic sidekick as they battle in a 2D galaxy of diffuse baddies.
Acne's unique artwork has been exhibited throughout the world, both inside and outside galleries. His signature style has customized everything from skateboards and bar interiors to ladies knitwear and most notably, T-shirt collections for Prada. His work has also infiltrated the music industry, Acne designing the covers for the early albums and EP's for the French rap group TTC, for example.[1]
His artwork also non-intentionally featured in the Charlie Kaufman film Synecdoche, New York as seen in the theatrical trailer at 1:06.
Lutterworth (first known artwork) Sheffield, London, Manchester, Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Lyon, New York, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Baku - Azerbaijan, Perth - Western Australia...