The K.I.D. (King Of Distress)
The K.i.D. (King In Distress), is a upcoming singer born in Charlotte, NC on October 29th, 2000. But proclaims Jersey City, NJ and Queens, NY as home due to family ties. Born as Titus Prince Jasper, The K.i.D. grew up listening to all kinds of music. To Marvin Gaye, TLC, Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Nirvana, Metallica, and Bob Marley to name a few. To even modern early 2000’s and present acts such as Chris Brown, Omarion, Kehlani and so on. Music unbeknownst to him, music was his outlet and a way of escaping the rough childhood he had.
Growing up in foster care, living in bad neighborhoods filled with gangs and drugs, in and out of Charlotte and Jersey City for most his life. The K.i.D. never thought he’d make it to see 15, but despite all odds he was good in school academically. But socially while popular, he was often times an outcast due to his anger issues and such. Something he’s not ashamed of speaking on, and also being diagnosed with ADHD himself. Much like one of his favorite rappers Joyner Lucas. The only time he had a moment of child hood innocence and a taste of suburbia and the “American Dream” was when he lived with his adoptive father Jeron C. Hawkins.
As a child, The K.i.D. was into the arts but mainly drawing and acting. Being in a school play once in the third grade at Smithfield Elementary. While he liked music, and singing he never took professional lessons. Or even joined the choir. “I was always the kid singing in the back of the car, around the house or in the shower kinda vibe”, he would say.
While maintaining his innocence, and sense of strong morality. It wasn’t until The K.i.D., left his father’s house at 16; after leaving Jersey City; and began to bounce between being on the streets and his mother’s house. There due to sharing an apartment with his brother, and technically being an emancipated minor he began working. When money wasn’t enough, he took to illegal activities. Selling drugs, and stealing electronic appliances or “hitting licks” as he would say. None of these he was caught for, but he has been in and out of jail five times before 21 due to other less serious charges he says.
Being in state of darkness while on probation for two years at 17, The K.i.D. made the conscious decision one day to let out all his pain from childhood to relationships in music. “One day I was writing what I thought were poems, but turns out it was lyrics”, he states. He released his first song on Soundcloud October 25th, 2019. But it wasn’t until after he got out of jail for his suspended probation sentence, that he released his song “Crawling Back To You” on all major streaming platforms.
From there he released rough, but well received underground hits such as “Dragon” and “#SKARYHOURS”. Both released in early 2020. It wasn’t until he relocated to Saint Paul, Minnesota and released the anticipated EP titled “Morningstar”. While it didn’t go viral as he hoped, he didn’t let that discourage and embraced the cult classic success. He’s constantly perfecting his voice, lyricism, and style to standout amongst the rough in the local and underground scene of music. “I’m always trying to be the best”, he says. “I may be insecure about my voice but I didn’t get this far without a reason. I know I’m meant for this and the Gods are with me”. He’s an artist who’s determined, headstrong and not ashamed of who he is and where he stands in the industry. A proud Ásatrú-Pagan he’s also not afraid to talk about his faith and acknowledges it both inside and outside of music.
He’s currently in the works of a new EP, and plans on coming into the industry full sail ablaze. “My hope is to capture the glory days of 90’s and 00’s Pop and R&B. But with that unfiltered vibe we got going on in 2020, you know. Bring everything full circle”. Be sure to check out The K.i.D. (King In Distress) now!
