KayCyy
{{Short description|Kenyan-American rapper (born 1997)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = KayCyy
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Mark Makora Mbogo
| alias = {{hlist|KayCyy Pluto|King Confidence{{cite magazine |last1=Blanchet |first1=Brenton |title=Ye Protege KayCyy Is More Than Just 'The Kid With the Melodies' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kaycyy-kanye-interview-1235032938/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=4 April 2022 |date=February 17, 2022}}|Pluman|The Glue}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter}}
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1997|9|23}}}}
| birth_place = Keroka, Kenya
| genre = {{hlist|Twin Cities hip-hop|trap|R&B{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1237/article12383.asp|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071201115502/http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1237/article12383.asp|archive-date = 2007-12-01|title = City Pages}}}}
| origin = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
| years_active = 2016–present
| label = {{hlist|BuVision|Columbia|YZY|Alive}}
| current_member_of = Hiibryd
| website = {{URL|whoiskaycyy.com/}}
}}
Mark Makora Mbogo{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/writer/801881057/MBOGO+MARK+MAKORA|title=ACE Repertory : MBOGO MARK MAKORA|website=Ascap.com}} (born September 23, 1997),{{cite tweet|last=Mbogo|first=Mark|user=kaycyy______|number=1043932735834861569|date=September 23, 2018|title=On this day a real nigga was born 💫 Happy Birthday to myself 🛸🚀 21|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727180124/https://twitter.com/kaycyy______/status/1043932735834861569|archive-date=July 27, 2021|url-status=live|link=no}} known professionally as KayCyy or KayCyy Pluto, is a Kenyan-American rapper, singer and songwriter.
Born in Keroka, Kenya, Mbogo moved with his family to the United States at an early age. Throughout his career, he has released five mixtapes, and several singles with his debut studio album Who Is KayCyy? set to release within 2025. KayCyy has worked as a songwriter and credited vocalist alongside several major artists, including Kanye West, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, and Travis Scott amongst others. Most notably, KayCyy had a large contribution towards the production of West's tenth studio album Donda, writing and recording references for a multitude of tracks.
Early life
Mark Makora Mbogo was born in Keroka, Kenya on September 23, 1997. At the age of nine, he and his family moved to the United States and resided in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He attended Tartan Senior High School in the nearby suburb of Oakdale.{{cite web |url= https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/05/17/minnesotan-to-meet-kaycyy-pluto/|title=Minnesotan To Meet: KayCYY Pluto|last=Lucia|first=Ali|work=WCCO-TV|publisher=CBS|date=May 17, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727191655/https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/05/17/minnesotan-to-meet-kaycyy-pluto/|archive-date=July 27, 2021|url-status=live}} During school breaks, he spent time in New York City collaborating with other musical artists.{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2021 |title=From Kenya to Kanye West, KayCyy's unique journey has Minnesota roots |url=https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/from-kenya-to-kanye-west-kaycyys-unique-journey-has-minnesota-roots/89-af24ea02-7ef0-4120-8d6f-c9e0542754fb |access-date=November 12, 2021 |website=kare11.com |language=en-US}} After he graduated from high school, Mbogo moved to New York City and later Los Angeles in pursuit of his music career.
Career
In 2016, while still in high school, he signed to Alive Productions, a record label founded by music producer Reefa, with him later leaving in 2021. He released two mixtapes, Patient Enough and Ups & Downs, in 2020 and 2021 respectively.{{cite web |url= https://open.spotify.com/album/6nmVYWQ5OIpEeEO6AgTCPE|title=Patient Enough on Spotify|work=KayCyy|publisher=Spotify|date=March 27, 2020|access-date=July 28, 2021}}{{cite web |url= https://open.spotify.com/album/4Wdf89A4ECnBoLW7Y5Pjyu|title=Ups & Downs on Spotify|work=KayCyy|publisher=Spotify|date=February 14, 2021|access-date=July 28, 2021}}
Mbogo has worked with multiple other artists, having writing credits on Lil Wayne's album Funeral and Kanye West's single "Wash Us in the Blood".{{cite web |url= https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/showbiz/2001374065/kenyas-kaycyy-pluto-collabos-with-lil-wayne|title=Kenya's KayCyy Pluto collabos with Lil Wayne|author=Pulse|work=The Standard|publisher=The Standard Group|date=2020|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728184234/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/showbiz/2001374065/kenyas-kaycyy-pluto-collabos-with-lil-wayne|archive-date=July 28, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=West|first=Kanye|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLxL5Q-WmkU|title=Wash Us In The Blood|publisher=Universal Music Group|via=YouTube|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828103244/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLxL5Q-WmkU|url-status=live}}
Mbogo has worked closely with West since 2019. The rappers met through record executive Abou "Bu" Thiam, who later became West's manager, as well as KayCyy's.{{cite magazine |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/abou-bu-thiam-kanye-west-at-work-1067294/|title=At Work With Abou 'Bu' Thiam, Kanye West's Elusive Manager|last=Hissong|first=Samantha|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=September 28, 2020|access-date=July 28, 2021}}{{cite AV media |people=Arshan|date=February 27, 2021|title=KayCyy Interview: Kanye's New Protégé? DONDA, New Music (1on1)|medium=Video|language=English|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=53etLp-5tV8|access-date=July 28, 2021|time=4:11|publisher=Kids Take Over|quote=}} KayCyy is currently signed to Bu's record label BuVision and Columbia Records{{cite web |url= https://www.complex.com/music/kaycyy-interview-flew-by-you |title=KayCyy Is a New Star From the School of Kanye West|last=Skelton|first=Eric|work=Complex|publisher=Complex Networks|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021}} and is credited as a performer and writer on West's tenth studio album Donda, including on the single "Hurricane", which topped multiple international song charts.{{cite web |url= https://www.complex.com/music/kanye-west-donda-album-predictions/|title=8 Predictions for Kanye West's New Album 'Donda'|last=Skelton|first=Eric|work=Complex|publisher=Complex Networks|date=July 21, 2021|access-date=July 28, 2021}}{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9625714/kanye-west-hits-number-1-streaming-songs-first-time-since-2018 |title=Kanye West Hits No. 1 on Streaming Songs for First Time Since 2018|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Lynne Segall|date=September 7, 2021|access-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910175802/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9625714/kanye-west-hits-number-1-streaming-songs-first-time-since-2018|archive-date=September 10, 2021|url-status=live}}
Mbogo was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work on Kanye's studio album Donda, and won a Grammy Award for contributing background vocals to the single, "Hurricane" by Kanye West which won Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.{{Cite web|date=February 13, 2022|title=15 Rappers from Minnesota you should know in 2022|url=https://www.musicinminnesota.com/rappers-from-minnesota/|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=Music In Minnesota|language=en-US}} Mbogo released a collaborative EP with Gesaffelstein titled TW20 50 on March 11, 2022, and he released the mixtape, Get Used To It on June 2, 2022. On May 26, 2023, he released his second collaborative EP with Gesaffelstein, TW2052. Mbogo was featured and involved with the songwriting on the song, "Thank God" on Travis Scott’s album Utopia.
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| KayCyy
|
|
|---|
= Collaborative albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of collaborative albums, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Saddest Truth (with Sign Crushes Motorist, as Hiibryd)
|
|
|---|
= Extended plays =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of extended plays, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Extended plays details |
| scope="row"| Pluman 2
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Plumixes
|
|
| scope="row"| Having My Way
|
|
| scope="row"|TW20 50 {{cite web |last1=Callas |first1=Brad |title=KayCyy Drops New EP 'TW20 50' and Shares Video for "The Sun" |website=Complex Networks |url=https://www.complex.com/music/kaycyy-tw20-50-stream}} {{small|(with Gesaffelstein)}} |
|
| scope="row"| Who Else Would It Be
|
|
| scope="row"| #NewMusicMondays
|
|
| scope="row"| TW2052 {{small|(with Gesaffelstein)}} |
|
= Mixtapes =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of mixtapes, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Mixtape details |
| scope="row"| Pluman {{small|(as KayCyy Pluto)}}
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Vacation
|
|
| scope="row"| Pluman 3
|
|
| scope="row"| Patient Enough
|
|
| scope="row"| Ups & Downs
|
|
| scope="row"| Get Used To It {{cite web |last1=Mahdevan |first1=Tara |title=Listen to KayCyy's New EP 'GUTI' f/ 070 Shake |url=https://www.complex.com/music/kaycyy-new-ep-guti-get-used-to-it |website=complex.com |publisher=Complex |access-date=19 July 2022}}
|
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| scope="row"| PLUM4N
|
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| scope="row"| Never Been So Sure
|
|
= Other charted songs =
References
{{reflist}}
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:African-American songwriters
Category:Musicians from Minnesota
Category:Songwriters from Minnesota
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:American male songwriters
Category:Artists from Minnesota
Category:Artists from Minneapolis