Kanii
{{Short description|American singer and rapper (born 2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kanii
| image =
| caption =
| image_upright =
| landscape = yes
| birth_name = Kani Nkshon Shorter Jr.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Kyann-Sian |date=2024-04-08 |title=Kanii: "I don't hold back when I express how I feel" |url=https://www.nme.com/the-cover/kanii-08-04-2024-3614543 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=www.nme.com |language=en}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2005-08-02}}
| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.{{Cite web |first=Ural |last=Garrett |date=May 31, 2024 |title=Unboxed Vol. 44: Kanii Is Managing The Pressure Of Near Superstardom By Doing Him |url=https://www.bet.com/article/z0iqjg/kanii-is-managing-the-pressure-of-near-superstardom-by-doing-him |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=BET}}
| origin =
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|emo rap|R&B}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2018–present
| label = {{hlist|Masked|Warner}}
| website = [https://press.warnerrecords.com/kanii warnerrecords.com/kanii]
| module = {{infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Kanii sig.svg
}}
}}
Kani Nkshon Shorter Jr. (born August 2, 2005), known professionally as Kanii, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter from Washington D.C., Kanii gained mainstream attention with the singles, "I Know," and "Go (Xtayalive 2)", the former of which charting in multiple territories.
Career
Kanii started his music career in 2018 at 13 years old,{{Cite web |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie|date=2024-09-30 |title=The Break Presents: Kanii |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanii-interview-the-break/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}} when he released his first release, titled "So Long",{{Cite web |last=Guzman |first=Ivan |date=Nov 26, 2024 |title=Kanii Is Ready To Transform |url=https://www.papermag.com/kanii-tiktok |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=PAPER |language=en}} on his SoundCloud.
In 2020, Kanii released his debut single, "Aubade".{{Cite web |title=Aubade - Single by Kanii on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/ml/album/aubade-single/1525445535 |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=Apple Music}} During 2022, his song "Attachment" gained popularity on the video-sharing app TikTok.{{Cite web |title=Kanii Knows |url=https://www.laweekly.com/kanii-knows/ |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=LA Weekly|date=14 March 2023 }} When Kanii had signed to Masked and Warner Records, he later took a seven month hiatus.
Kanii released his single "I Know", his first release under Masked and Warner, in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Genre-Blurring Artist Kanii Shares Warner Records Debut Single 'I Know' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Genre-Blurring-Artist-Kanii-Shares-Warner-Records-Debut-Single-I-Know-20230310 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Broadway World}} The song gained popularity on TikTok and charted on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first entry on the chart.{{Cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=2023-04-10 |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Kanii Arrives With Viral TikTok Hit I Know |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kanii-i-know-tiktok-hot-100-first-timers-1235300596/ |access-date=May 13, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} On June 15, 2023, Kanii released his second EP Exiit, along with a release show in Brooklyn, New York with Riovaz and Nimstarr.{{Cite web |title= Tickets for Exiit release show on June 15th at market hotel|url=https://wl.seetickets.us/event/Kanii/549903?afflky=MoveForwardMusic |access-date=June 11, 2023 |website=Seetickets}} Kanii was an opener for PinkPantheress' The Capable of Love Tour for 6 shows in spring 2024.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=2023-11-14 |title=PinkPantheress Announces 2024 North American Dates For Capable of Love Tour |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/pinkpantheress-2024-north-american-tour-dates-1235471483/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
Influences
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250
| image1 = Michael Jackson in 1988.jpg
| image2 = Brent Faiyaz.jpg
| footer = Kanii has cited artists such as Michael Jackson (left) and Brent Faiyaz (right) as his main influences.{{Cite web |title= Hollywood reporter article about Kanii.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/music-emerging-artists-eighteen-under-1235508475/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=Hollywoodreporter.com}}}}
Kanii has cited multiple artists as influences to his musical talents, most notably Michael Jackson, Brent Faiyaz, XXXTentacion{{Cite web |last=White |first=Evie |date=2024-02-02 |title=Is Kanii The New Face Of Retro-Futurism? |url=https://www.newwavemagazine.com/single-post/is-kanii-the-new-face-of-retro-futurism-interview |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=newwavemagazine |language=en}} and Juice Wrld.
Discography
= Extended plays =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of EPs, with selected details !Title !EP details |
| scope="row" | Kaizen
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Kosia
|
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| scope="row" | Relieve
|
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| scope="row" | Lucent
|
|
| scope="row" | Exiit
|
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| scope="row" | It Was Nice Knowing U
|
|
= Singles =
Tours
Supporting
- RioRave Disturb the Norm Tour
- The Capable of Love Tour
= Headlining =
# BLUE TOUR (2024)- It Was Nice Knowing U Tour (2024)