Kevin Abstract
Abstract performing in 2018 inQuebec City
Background information
Birth name	Clifford Ian Simpson
Also known as	Kevin Cinema Milo goshpixie Billy Star Ian Simpson
Born	(1996-07-16)July 16, 1996 (age 28) Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop pop R&B alternative rock[1]
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter
Years active	2009–present
Formerly of	Brockhampton AliveSinceForever[2]
Website	kevinabstract.co

Clifford Ian Simpson^[3] (born July 16, 1996), known by his stage nameKevin Abstract, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter^[4] known for his role as a founding member ofBrockhampton. He released his debut album,MTV1987, in 2014 to critical acclaim, and received attention from a number of major music blogs and magazine publications. His second album,American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story, was released in November 2016, his third,Arizona Baby, was released in April 2019, and his fourth,Blanket, was released in November 2023.

Abstract was born inCorpus Christi, Texas.^[5] Abstract was not close with his mother, not even knowing what her profession was. As Abstract began to realize his sexuality, he isolated himself from his family, feeling ashamed. Many speculate that this is one of the reasons that he ran away from home.^[6] He has stated that his family members are "extremely religious"Mormons.^[7] Abstract began producing music at 11 and ran away from home at 15, staying at a friend's house for a year before moving toGeorgia to live with his sister.^[8]

In 2009, a thirteen year-old Abstract made a forum post on internet forum KanyeToThe, recruiting rappers, singers, producers, to form an internet based collective known as AliveSinceForever. In 2014, Abstract, along with select members of AliveSinceForever, formed a newSan Marcos based collective named Brockhampton.^[9]

In 2016, Brockhampton released their debut mixtapeAll-American Trash.^[10] In 2017, the group moved toLos Angeles and received attention for their critically acclaimedSaturation album trilogy, comprisingSaturation,Saturation II, andSaturation III. In April 2018, the group signed toRCA Records, and that same year released their major label debutIridescence.Iridescence became the groups first album to debut atop theBillboard 200.^[9][11] The group next album,Ginger, was released in 2019 and spawned the double-platinum single "Sugar".^[12][13]

In January 2022, following the release ofRoadrunner: New Light, New Machine (2021), the group announced an indefinite hiatus and the cancellation of all remaining tour dates. The final Brockhampton albums,The Family andTM, were released in November.^[14]

In May 2013, Abstract released the single "Angels", a collaboration with AliveSinceForever and Brockhampton bandmate Dom McLennon.^[15] In July, he was a featured artist on bandmateAmeer Vann's single "Rabbits".^[16] In September, Abstract released his eponymous debut EP.^[17]

At the beginning of 2014, Abstract began working on his debut album with Brockhampton producer Romil Hemnani.^[18] On April 1, 2014, he released the record's first single, entitled "Save".^[19] The second single from the album, "Drugs", was released on May 6, 2014,^[20] with the music video following around a month later.^[21] The album was released on July 15, 2014, and was met with positive reviews from a number of music blogs, such asBillboard,^[18]Complex,^[22]Spin,^[23]Pigeons & Planes,^[24] and2DopeBoyz.^[25] After the release ofMTV1987, Abstract began working on the music video for the song "Hell/Heroina", using more than $3,000 accrued from fans through aKickstarter campaign.^[26] The crowdfunded project was directed by Tyler Mitchell and finally released on November 4, 2014.^[27]

On June 23, 2015, Abstract released a video for "Save", directed by Ian Gilner, Henock Sileshi and Franklin Mendez.^[28]

In March 2016, Abstract joined alternative bandThe Neighbourhood on a week-long tour through England, opening up shows in Portsmouth, Birmingham, Manchester, and London. The final show of the tour was live streamed via the Periscope app, in which he also teased his new albumThey Shoot Horses, expected to be released in 2016. He also provided confirmation that his next single would be calledEmpty.

In April, Abstract announced that he would be going on tour with The Neighbourhood again, but this time in the US, during May and June. Abstract exclusively performed new songs from his upcoming album.

At the end of June, Abstract announced that he had changed the title of his upcoming album toAmerican Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story and reassured fans that it would still be coming later that year.

Abstract, along with fellow members of Brockhampton, appeared in theViceland television seriesAmerican Boyband, which premiered on June 8, 2017. The series followed Abstract on his first headlining tour across North America, while also capturing moments of other Brockhampton members still at home in South Central, Los Angeles.

Abstract is currently managed by longtime manager and business partner Anish Ochani as well as Christian and Kelly Clancy of 4 Strikes.

In June 2018, Abstract added a picture with the text "ambfII" to his Instagram story, presumably standing for "American Boyfriend II". Later that year, in October, he tweeted the words "american boyfriend",^[29] seemingly teasing something. On March 19, 2019, Abstract tweeted a photo, which appears to be the cover of a new album or a single.^[30] He also changed his profile picture and his header image. In early April, he expressed in a series of now deleted tweets that once he released as much music as he can in 2019, he would like to retire and focus on filmmaking. Throughout the following weeks, Abstract released more teasers for his upcoming third studio album,Arizona Baby. With the album to be released in three separate parts, Abstract released a new single titled "Big Wheels" on April 9, 2019, with the first part ofArizona Baby releasing just two days later on April 11, along with a music video for "Georgia".^[31][32] On the same day, Abstract announced the second part to theArizona Baby album,Ghettobaby, released April 18, with a music video for "Baby Boy".^[33] Finally, the full album was released on April 25, alongside a music video for the song "Peach".^[34]

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On January 18, 2021, Abstract teased a song titled "It's Alright". He later teased another song called "Sierra Nights" on February 6, 2021. He would go on to preview the tracks in full in an Instagram stream, and played snippets of 3 other songs on February 23, 2021.

On May 16, 2021, Abstract posted snippets of 2 songs, "Tucker" and "Seven Days a Week", the latter being worked on withBrockhampton member HK. On May 22, he shared a snippet for "4Sure". On May 24, Abstract posted a picture of him and a text saying "1978". He teased the track "Everything" the following day. A different version of "Everything", with pitched up vocals and drums, was teased on June 4, 2021.

On July 16, 2021, Abstract released a single titled, "Slugger", featuring$NOT andslowthai. On August 18, 2021, he released the single, "Sierra Nights", alongsideRyan Beatty.^[35]

On October 5, 2023, Abstract released the single "Blanket", a more rock-inspired cut with no traditional rap verses. The track was paired with a music video, the first of which to not be released on Brockhampton's official YouTube channel. On October 11, he officially announced that his albumBlanket would be released on November 3.

In 2021, Abstract started the clothing brand Video Store Apparel (VSA) with fellow Brockhampton member Romil Hemnani.^[36] Stylist Nick Holiday is a frequent collaborator.^[37]

Abstract also became a creative consultant in the second season of the HBO teen drama,Euphoria.

Abstract said his influences forMTV1987 wereFrank Ocean,Justin Timberlake, andKid Cudi.^[38] Abstract has describedKanye West,Pink Floyd,Radiohead,Childish Gambino,Outkast,Lana Del Rey andTyler, the Creator as influences on his music, with Tyler's group,Odd Future, being a large point of reference and inspiration for Brockhampton.^[39]

Abstractcame out as gay in 2016 and his lyrics often mention his sexuality. He has stated he will rap about being gay as long as he can imagine a fan in need of a voice.^[40] As of 2022, Abstract is dating Brockhampton collaborator and stylistNick Holiday.^[41]

• All-American Trash (2016)
• Saturation (2017)
• Saturation II (2017)
• Saturation III (2017)
• Iridescence (2018)
• Ginger (2019)
• Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (2021)
• The Family (2022)
• TM (2022)

• Official website

• 1996 births
• 21st-century African-American male singers
• 21st-century American LGBTQ people
• African-American LGBTQ writers
• African-American male rappers
• 21st-century American male rappers
• African-American male singer-songwriters
• Alternative hip-hop musicians
• Alternative R&B musicians
• American alternative rock musicians
• American alternative rock singers
• American bandleaders
• American gay musicians
• American LGBTQ rappers
• American LGBTQ songwriters
• American male singer-songwriters
• Brockhampton (band) members
• Dream pop musicians
• Gay rappers
• Gay singer-songwriters
• LGBTQ people from Georgia (U.S. state)
• LGBTQ people from Texas
• Living people
• Musicians from Corpus Christi, Texas
• Rappers from Texas
• Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
• Singer-songwriters from Texas

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