Kossisko

Kossisko
Kossisko
Background information
Born	(1992-11-26) November 26, 1992
Origin	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative, R&B, Hip hop, g-funk
Occupation(s)	Singer, Rapper
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Ice Cold Ivory, Fool's Gold Records, Cutcraft Music Group
Associated acts	A-Trak, ASAP Ferg, Joe Wax, Rainy Milo
Website	www.kossisko.com

Kossisko (born November 26, 1992), full name Kossisko Konan, is a singer from Berkeley, California. In 2012, Kossisko, as 100s released his debut mixtape Ice Cold Perm. He was then signed to Fool's Gold Records in June 2013. Following the release of the single "Ten Freaky Hoes", it was announced that he would be releasing his second mixtape, an EP titled Ivry soon. Ivry was then released on March 7, 2014 by Fools Gold. It featured a greater g-funk and disco influence than his debut mixtape. He is also well known for his song "Life of a Mack", which appeared on the soundtrack to the video game Grand Theft Auto V. At the start of 2015, he has since moved on from the moniker 100s and is now going under the artist name of Kossisko, which is also his birth name. Under Kossisko he released his first single "This May Be Me" on February 17, 2015 which was premiered by The Fader ^[1] and later that year released his debut EP, Red White N Cruel. ^[2]

Early life

Kossisko was born on November 26, 1992 to a Jewish mother and African father.^[3][4] He was raised in Berkeley, California. At age 16, due to family issues, he was sent by his father to a remote boarding school in Abidjan, inside the Ivory Coast. At the boarding school he had to live in a three-bedroom house with 15 people. During his stay he contracted malaria five times; however, due to the circumstances, his parents refused to let him come home. This resulted in him running away from the boarding school to the local American embassy. However, after they talked to his parents, Kossisko's parents still refused to let him come back, and since he was not 18 yet he had to remain in Africa. After his attempt at escape, he was sent to the small town of Bouaflé where he lived with his uncle. Not long after, he and his uncle's family moved to Yamoussoukro, and he soon returned to the United States in late 2010. While in Africa he learned to speak French.^[4]

Musical career

Kossisko wrote his first song in 2008 and recorded for the first time in early 2010.^[5] He began to take rapping seriously in 2011 at the age of 19.^[6] Following his stay in the Ivory Coast, Kossisko moved back to Berkeley where he began recording his debut mixtape as 100s titled, Ice Cold Perm.^[7] On September 5, 2012, 100s released Ice Cold Perm, which was produced largely by Joe Wax. The cover artwork was inspired by the cover of Snoop Dogg's Tha Doggfather, which he called a classic album.^[4] On the mixtape he also collaborated with Main Attrakionz and Ryan Hemsworth.^[6] Brandon Soderberg of Spin commented on it saying, "This is snarling, no-nonsense pimp-rap, celebrating exploitation and preemptively lashing out at everyone trying to get anything over on 100s, but it finds a way to complicate those regressive, retro sensibilities".^[8] On October 18, 2012, the Noisey subsidiary of Vice premiered the music video for "Brick Sell Phone".^[9]

In an interview with Vice later that month, Kossisko said his next project would be titled Sex Symbols, which he had already started recording. He described it as different saying, "It's more influenced by R&B. I've got some singers on there. It's going to be more funky, too. What I wanted to do, as best as I could, was have a fusion between [19]90s mack-rap and late [19]80s pop and soul. Something like Bobby Brown or Rick James."^[4] On January 23, 2013, Ice Cold Perm was released for digital download.^[10] In early 2013, he went on the Group Hug Tour with Kreayshawn, then performed five shows at 2013's SXSW.^[6]

On June 4, 2013, 100s released the music video for "1999". This was followed by the announcement of his signing to A-Trak's Fool's Gold Records later that week.^[11] The following month Complex named him a new rapper to watch out for.^[12] His song "Life of a Mack" was featured on the video game Grand Theft Auto V, on the station Radio Los Santos.^[13] Off the popularity it gained from appearing in the game, 100s released it on September 17, 2013, as his debut single.^[14] Around the same time he was featured in an iPhone 5c commercial.^[15] Then from October to December 11, 2013, 100s toured with ASAP Ferg on the Turnt x Burnt concert tour.^[16] While on tour he released "Keep a Bitch Broke", a new collaboration with Aston Matthews, Joey Fatts and Da$h.^[17] He was named one of the ten West Coast rappers to watch for during 2014 by The BoomBox.^[18]

On February 26, 2014, 100s released the song "Ten Freaky Hoes" and revealed that he would be releasing a free EP titled Ivry, replacing the previously announced Sex Symbols.^[19] "Ten Freaky Hoes" is a "melodic G-funk jam that adds a dose of Californian psychedelia to his formerly frozen atmospherics."^[20] Ivry was subsequently set for a March 2014 release.^[21] The EP was then released on March 6, 2014, by Fool's Gold, being premiered by The Fader.^[22][23] It was met with positive reviews from music critics including writers for The Fader, The Washington Post, Stereogum and Fact.^{[24][25][26][27]} Writing for Now, Julia Leconte said "It will make you smile till your face hurts as you press repeat for the 16th time, but to steal one of his song titles, 100s isn't "fuckin around." He presents himself with sophistication, and you take him seriously as a legit mack rapper rather than a farcical Snoop Dogg type wearing ridiculous oversize velvet or fur."^[28] Nick Catucci of Entertainment Weekly credited him for bring back g-funk.^[29]

Discography

as Kossisko

as 100s

Singles

As lead artist

References

External links

• Website
• Kossisko on Twitter
• Kossisko on Instagram
• Kossisko on YouTube
• Kossisko on Facebook