Kydd

Who is Kydd?

Randell Jones, better known by the stage name Kydd, is an independent rapper/emcee and hiphop artist from Austin, Texas.

Growing up in Austin, he was heavily influenced by music as a child including artists such as Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, J Dilla, Mary J. Blige, Miles Davis, Kanye West, and Tribe Called Quest. He was nicknamed "Kid" by his older brother for being the youngest in a group which performed at local talent shows. After being picked up by an independent record label in his early teenage years, he joined another group and started performing at clubs and shows, opening for artists such as Curren$y, Chip tha Ripper, The Cool Kids, Big Sean, Mickey Factz, Action Bronson, Mannie Fresh, Bun B, Paul Wall, Trae, Big Krit, Theophilus London, Future, G-Side, Air Dubai, Killer Mike, Mistah FAB, Mobb Deep, Danny Brown, RJD2, Method Man and Redman, Schoolboy Q, Mos Def, Kendrick Lamar, Slum Village, Public Enemy, Tha Alkaholiks and The Beatnuts among others; in 2011, he began hosting electronic/hip-hop shows put together by Austin DJ group Applied Pressure; in February 2012, he participated in a Red Bull sponsored tour of Texas featuring up-and-coming artists from the state. Kydd opened for the final show at LA for the Hip Hop Gods Tour, the Official XXL Freshmen Showcase and the Converse/Thrasher Death Match during South By South West for 2012 and also was a featured performing artist for A3C 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2013, Kydd performed at Fun Fun Fun Fest and released "Anunnaki," a compilation of b-sides.