Trocon Markous Robert Jr., better known by his stage name FKi 1st, 1$T or 1st Down, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. He is a member of the production and songwriting team FKi. FKi 1st's production has yielded 20 Gold and Platinum records, including Iggy Azalea's "

Work Work may refer to: * Work (human activity), intentional activity people perform to support themselves, others, or the community ** Manual labour, physical work done by humans ** House work, housework, or homemaking ** Working animal, an animal t ...

Travis Porter Travis Porter is an American hip hop trio from Atlanta, Georgia. The group consists of stepbrothers Ali and Quez, and their friend Strap who they met in middle school. In November 2010 the trio signed with Jive Records. The group's biggest hits ...

's " Make It Rain", " Bring It Back" and " Ayy Ladies", " Watch Out" by

2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, al ...

, and " Pick It Up" by

Famous Dex Dexter Tiewon Gore Jr. (born September 6, 1993), better known by his stage name Famous Dex, is an American rapper and singer. His 2018 debut album ''Dex Meets Dexter'' peaked at number 12 on the ''Billboard'' 200, while its singles " Pick It Up ...

featuring

ASAP Rocky Rakim Athelaston Mayers (born October 3, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Rocky ( ; stylized as A$AP Rocky), is an American rapper, music producer and record executive. Born and raised in Harlem, he embarked on his musical career as a membe ...

. He also co-wrote the 5× platinum single "

White Iverson "White Iverson" is the debut single by American rapper and singer Post Malone. It was released through Republic Records on August 14, 2015, as the lead single from his debut studio album, ''Stoney'' (2016). It was originally released on Februar ...

" by

Post Malone Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his variegated vocals, Malone has gained acclaim for blending genres and subgenres of hip ...

. In 2016, FKi 1st released his own EP, ''First Time For Everything'', on

Mad Decent Mad Decent is an American record label founded by Diplo. The label has helped introduce Brazilian baile funk and Angolan kuduro to clubs around the world. Recently, it has popularized moombahton, a genre of electronic dance music created by D ...

and toured with

Fetty Wap Willie Junior Maxwell II (born June 7, 1991), better known by his stage names Fetty Wap or Harlem Fetty, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence after his debut single "Trap Queen" reached number two on the U.S. ''B ...

, Post Malone,

Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...

Diplo Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...

, and others. He was also executive producer of Post Malone's debut album, '' Stoney'' (2016), which later went 3× platinum.

Career

Beginnings

FKi 1st embarked on his music career in the production and songwriting team FKi with Sauce Lord Rich. The duo grew up together in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

. When they first met, they realized they had the same music interests and tastes and started to build their own production company. The duo studied audio engineering at

Full Sail University Full Sail University is a Private university, private For-profit higher education in the United States, for-profit university in Winter Park, Florida. It was formerly a recording studio in Ohio named Full Sail Productions and Full Sail Center ...

."FKi, Music, Atlanta." FKi, Music, Atlanta. Web. 20 July 2015. FKi subsequently began working with

Collipark Music Michael Antoine Crooms (born October 5, 1972), better known by his stage name Mr. Collipark (and also known as DJ Smurf), is an American hip hop producer and the president of his own Atlanta-based record label, Collipark Music, which was starte ...

, where they were introduced to

and produced the singles "Make it Rain" and "Bring it Back", inside a basement with a microphone and an Mbox. In 2009, FKi shared studio space with Jon Jon Traxx,

Iggy Azalea Amethyst Amelia Kelly (born 7 June 1990), known professionally as Iggy Azalea (), is an Australian rapper. At the age of 16, Azalea moved from Australia to the United States in order to pursue a career in music. Azalea earned public recognitio ...

(then known by her birth name, Amethyst Kelly), and

Natalie Sims Natalie Lauren Sims (born June 25, 1984), also known by her stage name Natalie Lauren and former stage name Suzy Rock, is a musician, songwriter, graphic designer and visual artist, writer, and music executive from Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a solo ar ...

. In 2012, FKi met American EDM producer

, at a small local club in Atlanta and introduced him to Iggy Azalea. They flew out to Los Angeles to

studios and to produce Azalea's ''TrapGold'' mixtape. FKi opened for her TrapGold European tour.

2014–2015

In 2014, FKi 1st met

and came out with "

". It was released on

SoundCloud SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming se ...

and received one million plays within three weeks. Other noteworthy productions include "Watch Out"

, "A Milli Billi Trilli"

ft.

Wiz Khalifa Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 200 ...

, " Weekend" by

Mac Miller Malcolm James McCormick (January 19, 1992 – September 7, 2018), known professionally as Mac Miller, was an American rapper and record producer. Miller began his career in Pittsburgh's hip hop scene in 2007, at the age of fifteen. In 2010, h ...

ft. Miguel, "Sloppy Toppy" by Travis Scott, "Pleazer" by

Tyga Michael Ray Nguyen-StevensonMicheal Ray Stevenson ...

, and more. Alongside these tracks, FKi 1st also produced a few songs on Lil Uzi Vert's debut mixtape under

DJ Drama Tyree Cinque Simmons (born April 22, 1978), professionally known as DJ Drama, is an American DJ, record executive and music promoter. He is the co-founder (with Don Cannon) of Generation Now, an Atlantic Records imprint with artists including ...

and

Don Cannon Donald Cannon (born August 2, 1979) is an American DJ, record producer, songwriter, and record executive. Cannon is a co-founder of the Atlantic Records imprint, Generation Now. He was also a member of the prominent Atlanta mixtape collective, ...

Generation Now label, Luv Is Rage. These tracks include "Moist"

Lil Uzi Vert Symere Bysil Woods ( ; born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. They are characterized by their face tattoo, facial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous ...

, "Wit My Crew x 1987"

, and "Nuyork Nights at 21"

. FKi 1st deejayed numerous events such as Low End Theory, Brownies & Lemonade, Trap City, Control Avalon, and more. In August 2015 he opened for

Rita Ora Rita Sahatçiu Ora (born Rita Sahatçiu; 26 November 1990) is a British singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence in February 2012 when she featured on DJ Fresh's single, "Hot Right Now", which reached number one in the UK. Her debut studi ...

at the El Rey theatre in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

and Drais Beach Club in

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

. FKi 1st has also deejayed

's Mad Decent Block Party in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Phoenix.matrixartists.com

2016–2017

In 2016 FKi 1st released his solo EP ''First Time For Everything'' on

. The EP features artists

Njomza Njomza Vitia (; ; born 22 April 1994), known professionally as Njomza, is an American singer and songwriter. She is currently signed with Capitol, Motown, and SinceThe80s. Since 2013, she has released one mixtape and three EPs. Life and career ...

ILoveMakonnen Makonnen Kamali Sheran (born April 12, 1989), better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen (often stylized as ILOVEMAKONNEN), is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. Makonnen is best known for his 2014 hit "Tuesday" which featured Ca ...

, Danny Seth, and more. In April, FKi 1st joined

Diplo & Friends Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...

at the Heineken House at

Coachella Coachella may refer to: * Coachella, California * Coachella Canal, in California * Coachella (festival), an annual music and arts festival in California * "Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind", a 2017 song by Lana del Rey See also

* Coachell ...

. He also went on to tour with

on his Welcome to the Zoo Tour,

's Purpose Tour, and

's Hollywood Dreams Tour. FKi 1st won an award for "White Iverson" at the BMI R&B Hip Hop Awards. FKi 1st was the executive producer for Post Malone's debut album ''Stoney'', and has recently collaborated with artists Njomza,

Party Favor A party favor is a small gift given to the guests at a party as a gesture of thanks for their attendance, a memento of the occasion, or simply as an aid to frivolity. Occasions It is traditional in some Western cultures for the guests at b ...

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accent ...

, Anne Dereaux, and more. FKi FKi 1st teamed up with fellow Atlanta rappers Drugrixh Peso and Yakki releasing single "Do What Bosses Do" through his own label Zooly the Label.

2018–Present

In February 2018 he started the ''Good Gas'' series of albums featuring artists such as

ASAP Ferg Darold Durard Brown Ferguson Jr. (born October 20, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Ferg (stylized as A$AP Ferg), is an American rapper from New York City's Harlem neighborhood. Aside from his solo career, he is a member of the hip hop collec ...

, and

MadeinTYO Malcolm Jamaal Davis (born April 12, 1992), better known by his stage name MadeinTYO (pronounced Made in Tokyo), is an American rapper and singer born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He rose to prominence in 2016 after the release of his single "Uber Everyw ...

. He released the album ''Tokyo Project'' in December 2019.

Musical style

FKi 1st's musical style ranges from

trap A trap is a mechanical device used to capture or restrain an animal for purposes such as hunting, pest control, or ecological research. Trap or TRAP may also refer to: Art and entertainment Films and television * ''Trap'' (2015 film), Fil ...

EDM EDM or E-DM may refer to: Music * Electronic dance music * Early Day Miners, American band Science and technology * Electric dipole moment * Electrical discharge machining * Electronic distance measurement *Entry, Descent, and landing demonstrat ...

. He has referred to himself as the black

. His record production and songwriting team, FKi, does a blend of

glitch hop Glitch is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the 1990s. It is distinguished by the deliberate use of glitch-based audio media and other sonic artifacts. The glitching sounds featured in glitch tracks usually come from audio recording de ...

, hip hop,

drum and bass Drum and bass (also written as drum & bass or drum'n'bass and commonly abbreviated as D&B, DnB, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by fast breakbeats (typically 165–185 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-ba ...

and

. Their sound was first heard on their premier

mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...

''Transformers n the Hood'', which was presented and produced by

, alongside

HXV Daniel Pollard (born August 23, 1983), more commonly known by his stage name HXV (Heroes x Villains), is an American music producer. The first release from HXV was a mixtape titled ''We Off That'', which was introduced under Diplo's Mad Decent la ...

as well as Mayhem, and received attention from electronic, hip hop and trap music forums throughout the US and abroad. FKi went on to produce

's entire ''TrapGold'' and in 2012 served as the official DJs for her European tour. FKi has also collaborated with other producers like

Borgore Yosef Asaf Borger ( he, יוסף אסף בורגר; born 20 October 1987), known professionally as Borgore, is an Israeli EDM producer, DJ, singer-songwriter and rapper. He is the founder of the label Buygore Records. Biography Yosef Asaf Bo ...

Flosstradamus Flosstradamus is the stage name of American DJ and musician Curt Cameruci. From 2007 until 2016, Flosstradamus consisted of Cameruci and Josh Young from Chicago. The duo announced they would both be pursuing solo careers, with Cameruci to continu ...

The Invisible Men The Invisible Men is a songwriting and music production trio consisting of Jason Pebworth, George Astasio and Jon Shave. Invisible Men's songs have so far achieved over 7 billion Spotify streams, 30 million record sales worldwide and the trio ...

and

, among others.

Discography

Solo albums

* ''First Time for Everything Part 1'' (2016) * ''Tokyo'' ''Project'' (2019)

Productions

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:1st, FKi

FKi 1st Trocon Markous Robert Jr., better known by his stage name FKi 1st, 1$T or 1st Down, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. He is a member of the production and songwriting team FKi. FKi 1st's production has yielded 2 ...

1989 births